Tucson, Arizona – Kansas State University’s women’s basketball team suffered a 72-62 defeat at the hands of Arizona on , ending a run where they had hoped to secure a sweep of their Arizona road trip. The loss brings K-State’s record to 12-12 overall and 5-6 in Big 12 conference play, while Arizona improves to 11-11 with a 2-9 record in the same conference.
Despite the setback, K-State saw a strong performance from senior guard Tess Heal, who returned to the lineup and led the team with 18 points and nine rebounds. Junior guard Taryn Sides contributed 13 points to the Wildcats’ scoring effort. Notably, freshman center Ivona Scekic achieved a career-high eight points and four rebounds, demonstrating promising development for the young player.
Arizona’s victory was fueled by a balanced offensive attack, with four players scoring in double figures. Noelani Cornfield led the Wildcats with 21 points. The home team established a significant lead early in the game, capitalizing on a 12-2 run to close the first quarter and establish a 27-11 advantage. Arizona’s efficient shooting in the first quarter, connecting on 61.1 percent of their field goal attempts, proved difficult for K-State to overcome.
K-State mounted a determined comeback in the second quarter, fueled by a 16-2 run that narrowed the deficit to just four points at halftime, 33-29. Heal and Scekic were instrumental in this resurgence, combining for 17 of the team’s 18 points in the first half. Scekic’s eight points in the first half marked a significant contribution for the freshman.
However, Arizona responded in the third quarter, rebuilding their lead to 10 points, 43-33, with just over five minutes remaining. A subsequent 10-2 run extended their advantage to 16 points, 53-37, forcing K-State to call a timeout. The Wildcats entered the fourth quarter trailing 53-42.
K-State attempted to close the gap in the final quarter, reducing the margin to eight points, 62-54, with just under four minutes left to play. Heal contributed a three-point play, and Aniya Foy converted two free throws during this push. However, Arizona responded with six quick points, effectively sealing the victory and preventing K-State from mounting a final comeback.
K-State shot 38.3 percent from the field (23-of-60), struggling from beyond the arc with a 23.5 percent success rate (4-of-17). Arizona’s shooting performance was significantly better, contributing to their win.
Ivona Scekic, a freshman center from Ljubljana, Slovenia, has been a developing presence for K-State this season. According to the K-State Sports website, Scekic has participated in numerous European events with her national team, including the 2025 FIBA U20 Women’s EuroBasket and the 2025 FIBA U18 Women’s EuroBasket. In the 2025 FIBA U18 Women’s EuroBasket, she averaged 5.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.1 assists over seven games, ranking 17th in the event for rebounds per game. She recorded a notable performance against Greece, scoring 13 points and grabbing nine rebounds in 19 minutes of action.
The K-State roster, as of , includes Izela Arenas, Brandie Harrod, Nastja Claessens, Aniya Foy, Gina Garcia, Mikayla Parks, Taryn Sides, Ramiya White, Jordan Speiser, Jenessa Cotton, Tess Heal, and Alexis Hess, alongside Ivona Scekic. The team is navigating a competitive Big 12 conference, with both K-State and Arizona seeking to improve their standings as the season progresses.
Looking ahead, K-State will need to address their shooting consistency and defensive vulnerabilities to regain momentum in conference play. Arizona, having broken a six-game losing streak, will aim to build on this victory and continue their climb in the Big 12 standings. The series between the two teams is currently tied 1-1.
