AUSTIN, Texas – A slow start proved to be the difference for (25/rv) Kansas State on Wednesday night, as (9/10) Texas downed the Wildcats, 66-48, in K-State’s final game at the Frank Erwin Center.
K-State (15-5, 5-3 Big 12) was forced into six turnovers and went 2-of-13 (.154) from the field in the first quarter, as the Wildcats trailed 12-4 after the opening 10 minutes. Defensively, the Wildcats held the Longhorns to 5-of-16 shooting and forced five turnovers.
Despite K-State ending the second quarter with 5-of-7 shooting from the floor, Texas (15-3, 5-2 Big 12) would build its lead to 13, 30-17, at the end of the frame. In total, K-State shot 66.7 percent (6-of-9) from the field in the second quarter to improve to 36.4 percent (8-of-22) in the first half.
The Wildcats were paced in the first half by Ayoka Lee with six points, four rebounds and two blocks. The 17 first half points matched its season-low for an opening half, matching the 17 points scored at South Carolina on December 3.
In the third quarter, the teams traded baskets for much of the frame as Texas kept K-State at a 15-point deficit for much of the frame. K-State briefly cut the Longhorn lead to 11, 43-32, as Emilee Ebert buried a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 2:16 to play. After a Texas three-pointer, Ebert added two free throws to bring K-State to within 12, 46-34, entering the fourth quarter.
Serena Sundell led the Wildcats with seven points in the quarter, while Ebert chipped in with her five.
Texas used a 7-0 run to turn an 11-point lead into an 18-point advantage, 56-38, with 5:27 left in the fourth quarter. The Longhorns’ Audrey Warren would gather an offensive rebound on a missed free throw and finish a layup to force a K-State timeout.
K-State used an 8-1 run to pull back to within 11, 57-46, with 3:04 to play. Texas was able to slow the comeback attempt and ended the contest on a 9-2 run.
Lee led K-State with 20 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks. Lee reached double figures for the 25th straight game, dating back to the final five games of the 2020-21 season. This was Lee’s 14th double-double of the season, which ties her for fifth in school history for double-doubles in a season.
Sundell notched 13 points, four assists and four steals.
Texas was guided by Aaliyah Matharu with 18 points including 11 in the first half. Audrey Warren came off the bench with 16 points including eight in the third quarter.
K-State finished the night shooting 34.7 percent (17-of-49) from the field. The Wildcats shot 76.5 percent (13-of-17) from the foul line. Texas shot 48.1 percent (26-of-54) from the field and held a 33-31 edge on the glass.
K-State will end the first half of its 2022 Big 12 schedule on Saturday night, as the Wildcats host TCU at 6:30 p.m. Saturday’s game is Junior Wildcats Club Day, as K-State welcomes members of the Junior Wildcats Club to experience Wildcat Women’s Basketball up close. The exclusive pregame event will include concession discounts and autographs from Willie Wildcat. Tickets for Saturday’s game can be purchased at kstatesports.com/tickets, calling (800) 221-CATS or in person at the K-State Athletics Ticket Office in Bramlage Coliseum.
Saturday’s game will be broadcast on Big 12 Now on ESPN+. The game can also be heard on the K-State Sports Network, for free at kstatesports.com and on the K-State Sports app.
– kstatesports.com –