The Wildcats fell in their final game in Bramlage Coliseum to the No. 6 Texas Longhorns 69-61 on Monday night.
“We made a nice push to get back in,” head coach Jeff Mittie said. “We got to the free throw line. I think our group did some good things to get back in it, but ultimately too many mistakes with a quality team like Texas.”
The Wildcats were led in scoring by junior guard Karyla Middlebrook who had 14 points in the losing effort while senior center Breanna Lewis had 12 points and senior guard Kindred Wesemann finished with 11 in their last games in Manhattan.
It was a very slow offensive start for both teams, as the score at the end of the first quarter was 9-5 with Texas holding the four-point advantage.
K-State took a 17-16 lead, but the Longhorns regained it and took a halftime lead 27-19.
The Longhorns came out of the gate strong on a 6-0 run and had a 14 point lead just a few minutes into the second half.
The Wildcats had an answer though, as they went on their own 8-0 to cut the gap to 39-31 with four minutes left in the third quarter.
K-State got even closer, getting within four points at 45-41 with just 10 minutes to play in the game.
The Wildcats could not get over the hump in the fourth quarter, as they eventually fell 69-61 on senior night at Bramlage Coliseum.
This was the final game in Manhattan for Lewis, Weseman, Jessica Sheble, Kelly Thomson and Erica Young, unless K-State is selected to host the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament in March.
“We were just honoring what they have done for the program,” junior forward Kaylee Page said. “They have just really set a standard that we want to live up to, and continue to live up to. I would say it was a special night, and we were playing for them. However, it was another league game and we wanted to come out with a win. We just fell a little bit short.”
Next up for K-State is the Big 12 Tournament in Oklahoma City as the Wildcats will take on the Iowa State Cyclones at 11 a.m. Saturday.
