It has been a season of overcoming for Kansas State women's basketball player Ayoka Lee. While dealing with a fracture in her foot, the center wanted to make sure to return to the court this year. For someone with her resume and accolades, it's easy to see that she will do whatever it takes to play. The nature of this injury can often be enough to keep players sidelined indefinitely. For Lee, however, it was important to not only return to the court but to be as effective as she knows she can be.
From the opening tip-off against Fairfield, KSU made a concerted effort to feed Lee early down low. She started 4-4 from the field, and her first miss ended up resulting in a basket anyway as she grabbed her own rebound on the putback.
Coach Jeff Mittie did well to balance her playing time with not overextending her first minutes back. Although the five-year player insists that she is at 100%, the staff will know enough to not ask too much of the center too soon.
Even in limited time, however, Lee managed a 17-point and 10-rebound double-double in only 15 minutes of action. In the 85-41 win over Fairfield, it was clear that K-State had a decided size advantage, and they were going to take advantage of it. Moving forward, unless major upsets happen around the bracket, it's not likely to be that clear of a difference in the frontcourt. It will be an area for the Wildcats to always consider looking at, particularly with Lee looking as strong as she was against the Stags.
Against forwards and centers closer to her height, Kansas State fans know that she is still more than capable of single-handedly deciding a game. As the program leader in multiple categories, including blocks and double-doubles, she typically makes her presence known.
Friday afternoon proved to be the ideal starting point for K-State and Lee for their opening game in the NCAA tournament. The center showed her abilities and didn't show rust despite missing a lot of games recently with her setback.
After the win, the senior shared her thoughts after seeing her first significant action in a while. As shared on X by Landon Reinhardt, the K-State player elaborated:
"It felt great, it's been a minute. I think our support staff, our trainers, strength coach just did a great job just keeping everything where it needed to be...It's not fun going through that many rehabs, but they're great."
Battling through injuries can be one of the more mentally draining and toughest aspects of being a student-athlete. In her response, fans can see the meaning for Lee to still be playing and playing a part in her team's advancing to the Second Round of the NCAA tournament.
They will now face Kentucky in front of their opponent's fans in the Lexington arena. Lee will be further tested against Clara Strack, who herself is coming off a double-double performance in UK's opening win against Liberty. Considering how sharp Lee looked and how fresh she should be for that matchup, Kansas State could see their season extended through the reentry of their star center into the lineup.