KANSAS CITY, Mo. — After losing to Iowa State twice during the regular season, the Kansas State Wildcats found a method that works: pound the ball inside. 

Kansas State outscored the Cyclones 36-18 in the paint in its 56-53 win Wednesday, totaling 65 percent of the Wildcats’ scoring in the shaded area.

“We felt like we could bring a little bit more,” said KSU point guard Brittany Chambers. “Especially because they played last night, we wanted to really go at them. It was time, it was definitely time.”

Kansas State outscored Iowa State in the paint both times during the regular season, but the disparity wasn’t nearly as large. In the teams’ first matchup, the Cyclones were outscored just 22-18 and 24-18 in the second meeting.

“We always emphasize points in the paint,” KSU forward Jalana Childs said. “That’s a good number for us.”

Childs finished the game with 14 points and four rebounds. All of her points came from the free-throw line or closer. Chambers finished with a game-high 20 points to go with her seven rebounds.

All three contests between these two teams have been close. With final scores of 61-53 and 58-51 in the first two contests, both teams knew what to expect. 

“It was another classic, gritty, possession-by-possession Big 12 women’s basketball game,” said KSU coach Deb Patterson. “We beat a great team and a great program today, so it’s a really special moment for us.”

While the teams’ were familiar with each other, the Wildcats’ physical play wore down the Cyclones in this matchup. Childs is known as one of the premier post players in the Big 12, and Branshea Brown helped out down low. 

Brown only had seven points, but they came early in the game and helped set the tone for the rest of the contest.

“We knew we had to keep Childs from scoring in the paint,” said ISU freshman forward Hallie Christofferson. “They’re very physical down there.”

Childs, who was nursing a sore hip during the game, was excellent defensively for the Wildcats as well. Iowa State had a chance to tie the game late in the second half, but Childs distracted senior shooting guard Kelsey Bolte enough to cause the shot to miss off the rim.

After the loss, the Cyclones await their fate for the NCAA tournament. The find out if or where they will play Monday.