Ayoka Lee scores an NCAA-record 61 points to lead Kansas State past 14th-ranked Oklahoma

MANHATTAN, Kan. — Ayoka Lee poured in 61 points to set the NCAA women's single-game scoring record for Division I and Kansas State romped to a 94-65 victory over No. 14 Oklahoma on Sunday.

Lee buried 23 of 30 shots from the floor — all 2-pointers — for the Wildcats (15-4, 5-2 Big 12 Conference).

Lee broke the record on a layup with 2:53 remaining in the game. Cindy Brown of Long Beach State scored 60 against San Jose State on Feb. 16, 1987 and Rachel Banham had 60 for Minnesota on Feb. 7, 2016 against Northwestern.

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"Coming into this game, I wasn't like, and I don't think anyone is like, 'Oh yeah, we're just going to set a record today.' But I think it just goes back to our preparation," Lee said. "This wasn't an easy scout. You knew it wasn't going to be easy but we just executed so well, and it started with our defense."

Lee had 32 points in the first half to help Kansas State take a 51-27 lead. She surpassed her school-record 43-point effort — set in the first game this season — on a layup with 1:55 left in the third quarter. The bucket gave K-State a 66-49 lead. Lee had 49 points and K-State led 70-51 heading into the final period.

"I'm just so thankful for the people around me," Lee said. "For my teammates and my coaches trusting me. We came out and just took care of business. We still have so much season to play, so I'm just excited to see how the rest of it goes."

Lee, a junior, had 14 points in the first quarter to stake the Wildcats to a 19-11 lead. She made 15 of 17 foul shots and grabbed 12 rebounds for her 13th double-double of the season. Freshman Serena Sundell pitched in with 11 points, eight assists and five boards.

"I think it says a lot about the type of player that she is when she is trying to take charge in a 20-point game late in the game, and still doing the right things defensively and talking and not taking plays off," Kansas State coach Jeff Mittie said.

"This is a complete player. We focus sometimes on the offensive end, but she was tasked with defending guards today at the three-point line. Ayoka is the same person good, bad, everyday."

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“There’s not a lot to say after that one. That was a really incredible performance by Ayoka Lee,” OU coach Jennie Baranczyk said. “You obviously never want to be on the wrong side of an NCAA record, but I thought that she (Lee) was absolutely phenomenal and we just didn’t have an answer.”

Taylor Robertson paced the Sooners (16-3, 5-2) with 19 points and Madi Williams scored 11. Robertson and Williams are just one of four tandems averaging better than 18 points per game this season.

The Sooners cracked the Top 15 this week for the first time since Nov. 28, 2016. Oklahoma came in averaging 88.3 points per game, second best in the nation.

Kansas State hits the road to play No. 15 Texas on Wednesday. Oklahoma heads home to host Oklahoma State on Wednesday.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU vs. Kansas State: Ayoka Lee sets NCAA record in Wildcats' win