HOUSTON, TEXAS – K-State overcame an 11-point halftime deficit with a big fourth quarter from Tess Heal to down Houston, 71-62, on Wednesday night at Fertitta Center.
The 11-point halftime deficit was its largest to overcome for a win this season. Overall, the Cougars held a 14-point lead in the second quarter, which is K-State’s largest deficit overcome for a win this season.
K-State (9-8, 2-2 Big 12) was paced by Heal with 31 points, including 21 points in the fourth quarter. The 21 points were a school record for points in any quarter since the institution of the quarter system in 2015-16 season. Heal was 9-of-16 from the floor and shot 11-of-12 from the free throw line. She also added five rebounds and two steals.
Junior forward Nastja Claessens tallied 14 points and a team-high eight rebounds.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- With Houston (6-9, 0-4) leading 53-49 with 6:38 remaining in the fourth quarter, K-State’s Jenessa Cotton pulled in an offensive rebound that resulted in a heldball in favor of K-State. Following the whistle, Houston’s Amirah Abdur-Rahim and TK Pitts threw punches at Cotton. After a lengthy replay review of the situation, the Cougars lost four players due to ejection while Cotton for the Wildcats was removed. K-State was awarded six free throws, which Heal made all of and put the Wildcats in front, 55-53. On the ensuing possession, Heal hit a midrange jumper for a 57-53 lead.
- Heal then knocked down a wing 3-pointer with 5:17 left to give K-State a 61-55 lead and cap a 12-2 run.
- After a four-point play from Houston to narrow the game to two, 61-59, Heal again made a layup and made two more free throws for a 65-59 K-State advantage with 2:56 left.. In the final quarter, Heal was 10-of-10 from the foul line.
- K-State shot 40.4 percent (23-of-57) from the field.
QUICK FACTS
- K-State leads the series with Houston, 5-0. The Wildcats are 2-0 in games played in Houston. Head coach Jeff Mittie is 14-6 in his career against Houston.
- K-State head coach Jeff Mittie owns a career record of 681-386 (.638), including a mark of 227-151 (.601).
- In its 30th season of play in the Big 12, K-State owns a record of 247-249 (.498) in Big 12 action.
- The Wildcats are 302-331 (.477) in road games during its 58-season history. Under Mittie, K-State is 53-74 (.417) in road games.
- The Wildcats are 266-196 (.576) in games played in the month of January. Under head coach Jeff Mittie, K-State is 46-44 (.511) in games during the 1st month.
TEAM NOTES
- K-State's starting five consisted of guards Gina Garcia, Brandie Harrod, Taryn Sides and forwards Jenessa Cotton and Nastja Claessens. This was the eighth time this lineup has started together this season, the most of any combination this season. This was the 16th career start for Sides and Harrod. This was the 15th career start for Garcia. Cotton and Claessens made her 13th career start.
- This season, K-State owns 25 quarters with an effort of 50.0 percent or better shooting from the field, including the third (50.0) quarter on Saturday.
- The Wildcats’ bench outscored the Cougars’ bench, 42-21. The Wildcats have had the edge in bench points in 14 games this season (8-6).
PLAYER NOTES
- Heal reached double figures for the 81st time in her career, including her seventh time this season. This was her 28th career game with 20 or more points and her first this season. This was her second career 30-point game. She has led K-State in scoring in four games this season. Heal’s collegiate career point total now stands at 1,618 points.
- Claessens scored in double figures for the ninth time this season and the third straight game.
- Claessens pocketed eight rebounds. This was her fifth game this season with five or more rebounds.
- Brandie Harrod pocketed a career-high four steals. This was her fifth game this season with two or more steals.
- Harrod pulled in eight rebounds. This was her 11th game with five or more rebounds.
- Jordan Speiser hauled in six rebounds on Wednesday. This was her fifth game this season with five or more rebounds.
FROM THE HEAD COACH
K-State Head Coach Jeff Mittie
On second half defense…
“I just thought we played tougher, a lot tougher, and a lot more physical and lot more desire. The biggest thing that was wrong with our defense in the first half was we fouled them, put them on the line 15 times, and we were fouling jump shooters too, right on the elbow, easy calls. I mean all the easy stuff that the officials want to call. I thought our positioning was really good in the first half, but our discipline wasn’t for the end of it. Second half, much better in that regard, much tougher. I thought they didn't get as many loose balls. We were able to keep Pitts under control better in the second half. We catch a break in the altercation and we get some freebie points. But you know, our kids showed some discipline by not punching back. Our kids showed some discipline. Staff did a great job of keeping our group off the floor. They didn't come onto the floor right away when it kind of got going, because, you know, those things happen so fast, and staff did a great job of keeping them off. Staff did a great job of recognizing one of their players. Madison came with film that another player had entered the court that they didn't see. So that's when we got the extra two free throws. So I mean, every every point was important.
On Tess Heal’s performance…
“I thought she was phenomenal. I mean, and it was every which way, too, right? It was a three on the right side. It was a ISO play. It was a pull up jumper. Obviously, it's not easy to go step in a gym where people are mad about you shooting, people are mad about it, right? And the little crowd that was here was pretty vocal at that point. Houston's angry. She steps up, knocks them down, but you take those free throws away and she just played with a really good pace to her and she kind of wills her way, and she's able to bully drive enough, but now what she's doing better than she was two months ago is she's not throwing up weak stuff. She has more patience than she had a couple months ago. So yeah, she played great, and obviously we wouldn't be on the winning side without her tonight.”
On Garcia and Sides…
“(Gina) Garcia and Taryn (Sides) really struggled tonight. Both of them really, really struggled, and both did not have a good look at all. Taryn was really frustrated and really struggling, and Gina was, in stretches of this game really struggling. So I think (Aniya) Foy gave us really good minutes. Obviously Tess gave us good minutes. I thought Nastja played inspired all night, and that was a pretty big key.”
On hustle of Harrod and Cotton…
“I thought they hustled. You could say a couple times. I thought we left the floor when maybe shouldn't have, but it's hard to argue, right? I thought we were we wanted to play tougher. We felt like we didn't play as tough, and honestly felt like the first quarter we missed a golden opportunity. We had too many turnovers, we had an open floor, we had back door cuts that we were throwing bad passes on, and we really missed an opportunity to have a lead there. We haven't been able to win games where we haven't played very well, and particularly on the road. I think that hopefully we can grow from this, because this is one of those nights where we didn't have a lot of players playing very well.”
UP NEXT
K-State returns to Bramlage Coliseum on Saturday, as the Wildcats host Utah at 4 p.m. Tickets for Saturday’s game are available by visiting kstatesports.com/tickets or by calling (800) 221-CATS.