March 22, 2009

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico (AP) - Marlies Gipson scored 18 points on 8-of-10 shooting while Shalee Lehning matched a career high with 13 assists as fifth-seeded Kansas State beat No. 12 Drexel 68-44 Saturday night.

Ashley Sweat and Kari Kincaid each added 11 points for the Wildcats (25-7), who will play No. 4 Vanderbilt on Monday night. Earlier, the Commodores beat No. 13 Western Carolina 73-44.

The Dragons (24-9) saw their 16-game winning streak end because Gabriela Marginean, the nation's No. 3 scorer with a 23.6 average, was never a factor. She was whistled for two fouls in the first 4 minutes and didn't return until halftime.

Marginean finished with 15 points on 6-of-15 shooting.

Lehning had eight assists by halftime, when Kansas State led 26-19. Kincaid made two 3-pointers and beat the shot clock with a banked jumper as the Wildcats began the second half on a 17-4 run.

After a timeout, Sweat made a layup, Danielle Zanotti hit a 3-pointer and Gipson tipped in a missed shot, lifting Kansas State to a more-than-safe 43-23 lead with 12:34 remaining.

Lehning briefly went to the bench for a break, and the Dragons took advantage by going to a fullcourt trap. Marginean scored twice and Tyler Hale had a three-point play as Drexel cut the margin to 46-31 with 10:49 to go. Advertisement

But Lehning returned and calmed the scene for the Wildcats. She found Zanotti for a 3-pointer and distributed another assist underneath to Sweat, who drew a foul and made two free throws for a 51-33 advantage with 8:44 remaining.

Jasmina Rosseel scored 13 for the Dragons, who were making their NCAA tournament debut. Drexel will have to be happy about winning the Colonial Athletic Association and setting a school record for wins.

Marginean sat with a towel wrapped around her neck through most of the first half. She came off the floor with just over a minute to play and buried her face in her hands.