LUBBOCK, Texas – K-State, ranked 25th in the Associated Press top-25 this week, got off to a slow start on Saturday afternoon at United Supermarkets Arena and were unable to overcome a double-figure halftime deficit to fall at Texas Tech, 64-45.
Texas Tech (9-7, 2-3 Big 12) dashed out to a 23-7 lead after the first quarter. The Wildcats were held to 23.1 percent shooting (3-of-13) from the field, while the Lady Raiders checked in at 52.6 percent (10-of-19). The 23 points allowed by K-State in the first stanza were the most the Wildcats have allowed in an opening quarter this season.
K-State (13-4, 3-2 Big 12) closed the deficit to 14, 34-20, with 3:34 remaining in the second quarter after Serena Sundell buried a 3-pointer. The Lady Raiders used a 6-0 run to increase its lead to 40-20 before Cymone Goodrich ended the quarter with a layup to pull the Wildcats within 18, 40-22.
The 18-point halftime deficit was the largest of the season for the Wildcats, as they shot 28.1 percent (9-of-32) in the opening the half.
K-State used a 21-13 third quarter to pull to within 10, 53-43, at the end of the frame. Sundell tallied nine of K-State's 21 points in the third quarter on 3-of-5 shooting and a 2-of-2 effort from the free throw line.
Texas Tech used an 11-2 fourth quarter to increase its lead back to 17, 62-45. Over the final five and a half minutes of the fourth quarter, K-State was 0-of-12 from the field
Sundell and Ayoka Lee led the Wildcats with 12 points each. Lee paced the Wildcats with eight rebounds and three blocks.
K-State finished the afternoon by shooting its second-lowest percentage of the season at 28.6 percent (18-of-63). Texas Tech shot 45.0 percent (27-of-60) from the field. The Lady Raiders held a 44-36 edge on the boards. Texas Tech was paced by Vivian Gray with 23 points, while Bryn Gerlich added 16.
K-State will return to Bramlage Coliseum on Wednesday night, as the Wildcats host Kansas in the Dillons Sunflower Showdown at 6:30 p.m. Tickets for Wednesday'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.
Wednesday's game will air on Big 12 Now on ESPN+. The game will also be available on the K-State Sports Network and for free at kstatesports.com and on the K-State Sports app.
What They Said
JEFF MITTIE, HEAD COACH
On the slow start...
"Well it's a 40-minute game. I think, though, anytime you let them be the aggressor coming out they get confidence. They get energy from that so we certainly didn't do our part about showing up and winning in the first five minutes of this game and we dug a hole and they were more confident team going forward."
On Gerlich's performance for Texas Tech...
"We know Gerlich can make those plays, particularly the deep three. That's in her arsenal. But once again, when you let somebody get open looks early and get that confidence, then that's a problem."
On Lee's foul trouble...
"Well, I think Yokie got frustrated and kind of lost her discipline there. She picked up, I think the third one, she should not be in that situation. She should not be reaching. Then when you pick up one of those then all of a sudden the game gets to you. Yeah, she's got to be able to play smarter. She's got to be able to keep her headspace where she's not picking up those frustration fouls."
On the struggles offensively...
"I didn't think we were very tough all day, and those opportunities we didn't take advantage of very well. And we've got to be tougher on the drive. We got to be more physical on the drives and when you go 1-for-17 you got a lot of issues. You're not making open shots. You're not making guarded shots."