KANSAS CITY, Missouri – K-State extended its stay at the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Women’s Basketball Tournament with a second straight second half comeback to capture a 74-73 win over Oklahoma State on Friday in the quarterfinals at T-Mobile Center.
K-State (18-16) is the first 12-seed to reach the semifinals of the Big 12 Tournament. This is the second time in program history and first time since 1997 that K-State has won three games in a Big 12 Tournament.
The Wildcats saw four players reach double figures led by freshman guard Jordan Speiser with a game-high 21 points on 8-of-13 shooting including 5-of-10 from long distance.
Joining Speiser was junior forward Nastja Claessens with 15 points on 7-of-12 shooting, five rebounds, five assists, two steals and a block.
Freshman guard Aniya Foy added 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting with three rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block off the bench. Junior guard Taryn Sides notched 10 points.
Oklahoma State (23-9) was led by Stailee Heard with 18 points and eight rebounds, while Jadyn Wooten added 16 points and five assists off the bench.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Cowgirls would use a 14-0 run spanning the end of the first quarter and the start of the second to take a 24-17 lead with 8:27 left in the second quarter.
- K-State would pull to within one, 32-31, as Sides buried her second 3-pointer of the quarter with 58 seconds remaining. Oklahoma State would connect on a free throw with 41 seconds remaining to hold a 33-31 advantage at halftime.
- Oklahoma State would open the third quarter with a 9-2 run to send its lead to 42-33 with 7:45 to play in the third quarter and force K-State into its first timeout.
- Trailing by seven, 44-37, Speiser scored 11 straight points for K-State to bring the Wildcats to within one, 46-45, with 4:30 to play in the third. Speiser opened with a layup and then hit a three-pointer on K-State’s next three possessions.
- K-State would trail by one entering the fourth quarter, as Claessens connected on a jumper in the lane with 35 seconds remaining in the third stanza. The Wildcats would win the frame, 22-21, and shoot 64.3 percent (9-of-14) from the field in the third, including 50.0 percent (4-of-8) from long range.
- Oklahoma State kept the Wildcats at arm's length for the first five minutes of the fourth quarter, holding a 64-61 edge with 4:41 remaining.
- K-State would push into the lead with a 9-0 run, as Claessens finished a reverse layup and Foy buried her career-best third 3-pointer of the game to give the Wildcats a 66-65 lead with 3:05 to play in the fourth. A jumper in the paint by Speiser and a layup from Sides sent the Wildcats in front 70-65.
- With 14 seconds left, Oklahoma State’s Haleigh Timmer made two free throws to cut the K-State lead to three, 73-70. Following a jump ball on K-State’s ensuing inbound play with the arrow in favor of Oklahoma State, the Cowgirls’ Timmer hit a three-pointer to tie the game at 73 with five seconds left.
- As K-State attempted to race up the floor for a final shot, Tess Heal was fouled by Stailee Heard with 1.3 seconds remaining. Heal made her first free throw for the 74-73 lead and intentionally missed the second to end the game.
- K-State shot 53.6 percent (30-of-56) from the field, including 46.2 percent (12-of-26) from 3-point range.
- The Wildcats held a 17-7 advantage in points off turnovers and a 32-16 edge in bench points.
QUICK FACTS
- K-State leads the series, 45-38. Head coach Jeff Mittie is 17-13 in his career against Oklahoma State. This was the second meeting between the schools in a Big 12 Tournament game.
- K-State head coach Jeff Mittie owns a career record of 690-394 (.637), including a mark of 236-159 (.597).
- The Wildcats are 27-28 in its history in Big 12 Women’s Basketball Championship games. The Wildcats are 18-16 in its history in Big 12 Women’s Basketball Tournament games played in Kansas City.
- The Wildcats are 147-110 (.572) in games played in the month of March. Under head coach Jeff Mittie, K-State is 30-26 (.536) in games during the third month.
TEAM NOTES
- K-State's starting five consisted of guards Gina Garcia, Brandie Harrod, Tess Heal, and Taryn Sides and forward Nastja Claessens. This was the 11th time this lineup has started together this season. This is the most used starting lineup for K-State this season. This was the 33rd career start for Sides. This was the 32nd career start for Garcia. Heal made her 21st start this season and her 95th career start. Claessens made her 30th career start. This was Harrod’s 30th career start.
- With its 12 made three-pointers on Friday, K-State has made 10 or more 3-pointers in 10 games this season (7-3), including two games of the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Women’s Basketball Tournament. Since the 2014-15 season, K-State has made 10 or more 3-pointers in a game 61 times (52-9).
- K-State pocketed 12 steals on Friday. This was the 20th time this season K-State has carded 10 or more steals. For the season, the Wildcats have recorded 332 steals. The 332 steals this season ranks fourth in program history for a single season.
- Since the start of the quarter-system in women’s college basketball in the 2015-16 season, K-State is 176-75 (.701) when scoring 20 or more points in any quarter in a game, including a 16-10 mark this season. The Wildcats have 48 quarters this season with 20 or more points scored.
- This season, K-State owns 44 quarters with an effort of 50.0 percent or better shooting from the field, including the first (53.8), third (58.8) and fourth (64.3) quarters on Wednesday.
- K-State handed out 22 assists on Friday. This was K-State’s eighth game this season (8-0) with 20 or more assists, including its second in the 2026 Big 12 Tournament.
PLAYER NOTES
- Speiser registered her second career game with 20 or more points. This was her 18th game this season with double digits in points.
- Speiser made a five 3-pointers on Wednesday. This was her 19th game this season with two or more connections from long distance, including six games with four connections.
- Claessens reached double figures for the 19th time this season.
- Claessens pulled in five or more rebounds for the 14th time this season.
- Claessens has 13 games this season with two or more steals.
- Foy reached double figures in scoring for the third time this season and second time in the Big 12 Tournament.
- Foy made a career-high three 3-pointers on Friday. This was her fifth game this season with two or more connections from long range.
- Sides tallied 10 or more points for the 38th time in her career and 20th time this season.
- Sides connected on two 3-point field goals. This was her 21st game this season and the 52nd of her career with two or more connections from long range. Sides is tied for ninth on the K-State career 3-point field goals list with 185 in her career.
- Sides pocketed two steals. This was 31st career game, including her 19th this season, with two or more steals.
- Garcia handed out nine assists. She is third in program history for assists in a freshman season with 173. Garcia owns the school record for assists in a season by an international player. This was her 18th game this season with five or more assists.
UP NEXT
K-State will face the winner of top-seed TCU/nine-seed BYU on Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m., in the semifinals of the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Tournament in T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri.