AUSTIN, Texas – K-State opened Big 12 action on the road for the first time since the 2020-21 season, but were unable to come away with the win in its first game in the Moody Center, as Texas secured an 87-41 win in the league opener for both teams on Saturday afternoon.
K-State (11-3, 0-1 Big 12) was without the services of top scorer and rebounder Gabby Gregory, as she was out with a lower leg injury.
Sophomore guard Jaelyn Glenn led K-State with 10 points and a season-high nine rebounds.
Texas (10-4, 1-0) saw four players in double figures and were led by Rori Harmon with 15 points, 13 assists and eight rebounds. Joining Harmon with 15 points was DePaul transfer Sonya Morris with 15 points, while BYU transfer Shaylee Gonzales added 14 points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- K-State suffered through the first half, as the Wildcats shot 23.1 percent (6-of-26) and were forced into 11 turnovers including eight in the first quarter.
- The Wildcats pulled to within five, 17-12, to start the second quarter, but Texas used a 17-3 over an eight-minute stretch of the second frame to pull ahead by 21, 36-15, and would lead 39-19 at halftime.
- K-State's shooting woes continued into the third quarter, as the Wildcats shot 28.6 percent (2-of-7) from the field and were forced into four turnovers. The Longhorns extended their advantage to 59-30 entering the fourth quarter by winning the third frame with a 20-11 edge.
- Texas opened the fourth quarter with eight quick points and increase its lead to 67-30 with 8:58 remaining and force a K-State timeout.
- The rout continued as the Longhorns ended the fourth quarter
- For the afternoon, K-State shot 28.9 percent (13-of-45) from the field.
- Texas shot 48.4 percent (31-of-64) and outrebounded the Wildcats, 44-26.
QUICK FACTS
- Texas leads the series, 29-17, and has won six straight in the series.
- The Wildcats are 9-18 in Big 12 road openers.
- Kansas State owns a 237-103 record in the month of December including a 36-18 mark in the Jeff Mittie era. Over the last two seasons, K-State is 7-3 in the month of December.
TEAM NOTES
- Saturday's starting five were Sarah Shematsi, Jaelyn Glenn, Serena Sundell, Brylee Glenn and Emilee Ebert . This was the second time this group started a game together this season.
- K-State suffered its third-largest road loss by margin, 46 points, in the program history. This was the largest road defeat since a 46-point loss at Louisiana Tech on Jan. 6, 1990. Overall, this was tied for the fifth-largest margin of defeat by the Wildcats.
- K-State's field goal percentage of 28.9 percent was its second-lowest of the season.
- K-State suffered a season-high 24 turnovers and were outscored by Texas in points off turnovers, 36-5.
FROM THE HEAD COACH
K-State Head Coach Jeff Mittie
On today's game...
"Well, you never want to make excuses. I think that where it hurt us when things snowballed on us, we just didn't have an answer. And things just kept getting worse and worse. And you know, we played good enough defense to be in this thing. We got turnovers, we got some things that were really good but then we just struggled all day long and the Texas pressure really bothered our guards, but Gabby gives us a player that maybe can give us more confidence and, you know, anytime you have another score out there, maybe a knock a couple down and everybody else relaxes and plays better. We've got to find a way. I will say this, I said this to my team afterwards. We have practiced really well this week. I do not think this will be an indication if we had practiced poorly coming into this and I would have said 'wow, this is what we we get,' but this team has not practiced poorly. This surprised me that we played this poorly today because we have practiced really well coming back off the break. So, we'll flush it, hopefully leave it in Austin and get back to work."
On Gabby Gregory's injury…
"We'll have to look at it when we get back to Manhattan and see the doctors and see where we go from here.
On the message in the locker room postgame…
"Started 10 minutes ago, right after the game. I mean, I had the conversation with them. We had a good quick talk. I'm not going to make more of it than it is but we've got to correct those things that gave us trouble today and we've got to make sure that we're mentally tougher going forward and regardless of injuries, who's available. The five out on the floor have got to play better, and we've got to have a deeper group and that was my message to him in the locker room.
UP NEXT
K-State starts 2023 in Bramlage Coliseum, as the Wildcats host a two-game home stand beginning on Wednesday, January 4 at 6:30 p.m., against Oklahoma State. For tickets, visit kstatesports.com/tickets or call (800) 221-CATS. Wednesday's game will also air on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ and the K-State Sports Network.