MANHATTAN, Kansas – K-State concluded its 2022-23 season on Saturday evening at Bramlage Coliseum, as (12/17) Texas captured a share of the 2022-23 Big 12 regular season title with an 80-52 win. In a postgame ceremony, K-State recognized the careers of its two departing seniors, Emilee Ebert and Sarah Shematsi.
K-State (16-15, 5-13 Big 12) was led by sophomore Serena Sundell with 12 points, six assists and three steals while Shematsi tallied 11 points.
Texas (23-8, 14-4) placed four in double figures led by Shaylee Gonzales with 21 points, while Taylor Jones came off the bench to add 17.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- K-State was forced into 15 first half turnovers and scored a season-low 14 points in the first half, as Texas held a 39-14 advantage at halftime.
- The Wildcats shot 26.3 percent (5-of-19) from the floor in the first 20 minutes, while the Longhorns carded a 44.1 percent (15-of-34) effort. Texas built its advantage with a 22-8 edge in points in the paint and a 8-of-9 (.889) effort from the foul line.
- K-State struggled from the field in the third quarter, shooting 25.0 percent (3-of-12) from the floor and 1-of-6 from beyond the arc. However, the Wildcats only dropped the frame, 16-14.
- In the final quarter, K-State found its range and shot 87.5 percent (7-of-8) from the field and 4-of-4 from beyond the arc to register 24 points in the fourth quarter.
- The Wildcats finished the evening shooting 38.5 percent (15-of-39) from the field, including 42.9 percent (6-of-14) from three-point range.
- Texas ended the game shooting 46.9 percent (30-of-64) from the floor, including 40.0 percent (4-of-10) from 3-point range. The Longhorns registered a 38-18 advantage on points in the paint and converted 15 offensive rebounds into a 19-2 edge in second chance points.
QUICK FACTS
- Texas leads the series, 30-17, and has won seven straight in the series.
- Kansas State owns a 135-102 record in the month of March including an 18-18 mark in the Jeff Mittie era.
- K-State is 8-10 all-time against teams ranked 12th in the Associated Press top-25 poll.
- K-State is 13-4 in games played in Bramlage Coliseum this season. Over the last two seasons, the Wildcats are 27-7 in games played in Bramlage. The 27 wins are tied for the second-most home wins over a two-season span in the Mittie era.
TEAM NOTES
- Saturday's starting five were Sarah Shematsi, Jaelyn Glenn, Serena Sundell, Gabby Gregory and Emilee Ebert. This was the fourth time this group started a game together this season (1-2). Sundell has started all 64 games in her K-State career. Jaelyn Glenn started her 60th career game and her 29th this season. This was the 73rd career start for Gregory and her 27th at K-State. Shematsi tallied her 27th career start and her 25th at K-State. Ebert started her 61st career game and her 10th this season.
- The Wildcats trailed at halftime, 39-14. This was the 18th time this season K-State trailed on the scoreboard after the first 20 minutes.
- With its six 3-pointers made on Saturday evening, K-State has made 232 three-pointers this season. This season's three-point field goals made total is a new season-high in the Jeff Mittie era and the tied for the fifth-most in school history.
- With its 14 3-point attempts on Saturday, K-State increased its season total for 3-point attempts to 794. The 794 attempts ranks second in school history for 3-point attempts in a season.
- With its 24 point fourth quarter, K-State has registered 43 quarters this season with 20 or more points. This equals the program-high set in the 2017-18 season.
PLAYER NOTES
- Sundell reached double figures in points for the 22nd time this season and the 41st time in her career.
- With her six assists, Sundell moved into 12th on the K-State career assists list with 334. Saturday was the 18th game this season and the 38th of Sundell's career with five or more assists. She has led K-State in assists in 51 of her 64 career games.
- Sundell carded three steals on Saturday. This was her 23rd career game and her 14th this season with two or more steals.
- With her six made free throws on Saturday, Sundell has made 144 free throws this season. With her total, Sundell ranks second in school history for free throws made in a season. Sundell's free throws attempted of 183 ranks sixth in school history for a single season and the most by a guard in program history. Her 183 free throw attempts are the most by a Wildcat since Nicole Ohlde attempted 196 free throws in the 2003-04 season.
- Shematsi notched her sixth game with 10 or more points this season and the eighth of her career.
- Shematsi made 3 three-pointers on Saturday, her 14th career game with two or more connections from 3-point range.
- Gregory improved her season total for free throws made to 142. She ranks third in school history for free throws made in a season and has set the school record for free throws made by a senior in a season.
- Jaelyn Glenn pocketed two steals on Saturday. She has a career-high 75 steals this season, which is tied for the 10th most steals in a single season in program history. Glenn owns 22 games this season and 33 career games with two or more steals.
FROM THE HEAD COACH
K-State Head Coach Jeff Mittie
On playing Texas…
"I think you had two things. I think that you had a team that knew they're playing for a championship that played very well. You had us coming off of a really physical and mentally tough loss the other night. We just couldn't quite seem to get our energy and focus where it needed to be. And then, you know, we've been a team that at times haven't figured out how to match up with certain teams very well. And we just didn't play very well. You know, Texas turns people over, but we really handed them turnovers early in this game. And that's what we couldn't do early in the game was to give them free offense. And we did."
On what made Texas a tough opponent…
"Their guard pressure really forced us where we have not been able to run offense very well and their size gives a lot of people trouble certainly. I think they have two things. I think those two things give us two really big problems and while we've been able to counter one at times with people from an offensive standpoint, it gave us a lot of trouble today. And defensively, I mean, the second chance points, Jones was killing us early in the game and so we just have not countered that very well."
On what Texas did to shut down Gabby Gregory…
"I think it starts with we just weren't able to get ball movement and we weren't able to get her free at all. And then, I think Gabby was questioning at times. I think she had windows but those windows closed pretty fast. So we are just not on time with passes. Their guard pressure had a lot to do with that and in any type of a small window that Gabby had she had trouble trusting it. "
On what he told the team at half time…
"I wanted us to compete harder quite frankly, every loose ball went to them in the first half, every effort play went to them. We were a little stunned. I wanted us to compete and win some one-on-one matchups. We've talked about that before. We were losing every one-on-one matchup. The half time speech is more about playing the game the right way, playing with tremendous energy, and pride. Those kinds of things because there wasn't X's and O's we might try and run a few things but you don't win those one-on-ones there's not anything you can run if your players aren't winning some of those battles."
UP NEXT
K-State completed the 2022-23 regular season schedule and will turn its attention to the 2022-23 Phillips 66 Big 12 Women's Basketball Championship at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri. The Wildcats, slotted as the nine-seed, will face eight-seed Texas Tech on Thursday, March 9, at 5 p.m. Session and single-game tickets are available at big12sports.com.
Thursday's game will air on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ and can be heard on the K-State Sports Network.Print Friendly Version