LUBBOCK, Texas – A career and record-setting performance from Serena Sundell and a third quarter rally were not enough for K-State as Texas Tech held on for a 78-68 win on Sunday at United Supermarkets Arena.
K-State (14-10, 3-8 Big 12) had three players reach double digits for the 20th time this season. The Wildcat attack was led by sophomore Serena Sundell, who registered a career-high 27 points. Among Sundell's 27 points was a career-best 16-of-18 effort from the free throw line. Her 16 made free throws rank as the second-most free throws made in a game in K-State history, trailing the record of 17 held by Angie Bonner against Georgia on Jan. 6, 1983.
Sundell's free throw performance set a number of school records including: most free throws made in a conference game in school history, most free throws made in a half (15 in the second half), tied the school record for free throw attempts in a half (16 in the second half) and set the school record for free throws made in any quarter and in a third quarter (9).
Sundell also added five rebounds, four assists and four steals to her final line.
Joining Sundell in double figures were senior guard Gabby Gregory with 16 points and sophomore guard Brylee Glenn with 12 points.
Texas Tech (16-7, 4-6) put four in double figures and were led by Bre'Amber Scott with 18 points, including 17 in the second half. Jasmine Shavers added 17 points and seven rebounds, while Bryn Gerlich and Bailey Maupin added 16 each.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- With Texas Tech holding a 38-28 lead at halftime, K-State cut the deficit to six, 40-34, after Sarah Shematsi dished to Emilee Ebert for a layup with 8:10 to play in the third quarter. The Lady Raiders answered with an 8-0 run over a 90 second stretch to push its lead to 48-34 with 6:27 to play and force a Wildcat timeout.
- The Wildcats used a 12-1 run to pull within three, 49-46, with 3:42 remaining in the third quarter. Sundell recorded 10 of the 12 points during the rally including six consecutive free throws.
- K-State would be held without a made field goal for the final 4:31 of the third quarter, but two more free throws by Sundell with less than a second to play brought the Wildcats within seven, 58-51, entering the fourth quarter. Sundell scored 13 points in the third quarter.
- A Gregory 3-pointer in transition brought the Wildcats within five, 61-56, with 8:11 remaining in the fourth quarter, but a 9-0 run pushed the Lady Raiders back into a 14-point advantage, 70-56, with 5:54 left.
- With Texas Tech leading 77-60 with 2:14 remaining, the Wildcats made a late 8-1 run for the final margin.
- K-State ended the day shooting 43.2 percent (19-of-44) from the field, including just 20.0 percent (4-of-20) from beyond the arc. The Wildcats boosted their scoring total with a 26-of-29 (.897) effort from the free throw line.
- Texas Tech shot 48.2 percent (27-of-56) from the floor and shot 42.3 percent (11-of-26) from 3-point range.
- The Lady Raiders held a 25-17 advantage in points off turnovers, in which the Wildcats committed 18.
QUICK FACTS
- K-State leads the series with Texas Tech, 28-17. The Wildcats have won 15 of its last 20 meetings against the Lady Raiders.
- The Wildcats are 12-9 all-time against the Lady Raiders in games played in Lubbock.
- Kansas State owns a 227-194 record in the month of February including a 30-35 mark in the Jeff Mittie era.
TEAM NOTES
- Sunday's starting five were Sarah Shematsi, Jaelyn Glenn, Serena Sundell, Brylee Glenn and Gabby Gregory. This was the 11th time this group started a game together this season (5-6).
- The Wildcats trailed at halftime, 38-28. This was the 13th time this season K-State trailed on the scoreboard after the first 20 minutes.
- The Wildcats scored 20 or more points in the third quarter for the third straight game. This season, K-State owns 34 quarters with 20 or more points scored.
- K-State saw three or more players in double figures for points for the 20th time this season.
- K-State's 89.7 percent effort from the foul line on Sunday was the 11th time this season K-State shot 80.0 percent or better from the charity stripe.
- The 44 field goal attempts by the Wildcats were a season-low.
PLAYER NOTES
- Sundell reached double figures in points for the 16th time this season and the 35th time in her career.
- Sundell scored 20 or more points for the third time this season and the seventh time in her career.
- Sundell hauled in five rebounds, her 14th game this season and the 21st of her career.
- Gregory tallied her 61st career game in double figures for points and her 20th at K-State. She has scored in double figures in six straight games.
- Gregory ended the day with two 3-pointers. This was her 17th game this season and the 45th of her career with two or more connections from 3-point range.
- Brylee Glenn scored in double figures for the 12th time this season and the 22nd time in her career.
- Jaelyn Glenn pulled in six rebounds on Sunday, her 14th game this season with five or more rebounds and the 24th of her career. Glenn has hauled in five or more rebounds in all 11 games of Big 12 play this season.
- Shematsi pulled in a team-leading six rebounds on Sunday, her seventh game this season with five or more rebounds and the ninth of her career. Shematsi has led the Wildcats in rebounding five times this season.
FROM THE HEAD COACH
K-State Head Coach Jeff Mittie
On Texas Tech's offensive success…
"Just pass it to the open player. I mean if they found the open player, we were slow to her. Gerlich came in hot, you know she comes off a game where she was four of six from three. So we were awful slow to that rotation to her."
On K-State's defensive approach to Bre'Amber Scott…
"She schooled us in Manhattan. We didn't want to get her to the free throw line. We did a good job in the first half on that, second half, not so much. But, you know, Gerlich certainly hurts us. I thought the player in the second half was Maupin in the stretch where we made the push back out Maupin seemed to make every play. So credit to them and credit to her."
On defense…
"If you're asking me if I'm pleased with our defense, no, I'm not pleased with our defense. I'm not pleased with our rotations. I'm not pleased with those things now. I don't want to take anything away for Texas Tech. They do some good things so give them credit for taking advantage of what I thought we were slow rotating to. If they don't make the right play. They don't burn you so credit to them for making the right play."
UP NEXT
K-State will have a week of preparation before playing its next game, as the Wildcats host (20/17) Oklahoma on Sunday, February 12 at 1 p.m. For tickets, call (800) 221-CATS or visit kstatesports.com/tickets.
Sunday's game will air on ESPNU and can be heard on the K-State Sports Network.