On Saturday, the K-State women’s basketball team survived a nail biter against TCU in Fort Worth, Texas. They ultimately prevailed 75-72 to go to 17-10 on the season and 8-7 in Big 12 play.
K-State got out to a quick 9-2 lead in the first quarter behind four early points form senior forward Kali Jones.
The Wildcats maintained a comfortable, but not large, lead through the rest of the first quarter. They took a 22-14 lead into the first break.
K-State kept up with the Horned Frogs until a jump shot from junior forward Peyton Williams at the 2:41 mark. The Wildcats went ice cold after that and allowed TCU to come back and tie the game at 36 at the half.
Williams led K-State on the night with 18 points and nine rebounds. She also blocked a team-high two shots.
The Wildcats’ cold stretch continued nearly halfway through the third quarter, when K-State was down 47-36.
Jones scored four straight points for the Wildcats with 6:28 left to wake them back up. The Wildcats would climb to within three within a minute on Jones’ points.
Two free-throws from senior guard Kayla Goth put K-State up 56-55 with 44 seconds to play in the quarter.
The Wildcats led by one, 58-57, going into the final period.
A back-and-forth fourth quarter ensued where the Wildcats and the Horned Frogs traded baskets and no one led by more than three in the final ten minutes of play.
Just inside of the final minute, K-State went ahead 73-72 after Williams found junior forward Jasauen Beard for a layup.
Beard came off the bench to provide 15 points; she also had three steals.
TCU’s junior guard Jayde Woods attempted to fire a pass into the paint with just 12 seconds left. Senior guard Kayla Goth jumped in front of the pass and rejected it back at Woods with two hands.
Goth dove for the loose ball and was fouled by TCU’s sophomore guard Lauren Heard in the resulting scrum.
Goth knocked down both of her free throws to make K-State’s lead 75-72. She finished the night with 12 points and seven assists.
TCU head coach Raegan Pebley called a timeout after the free throws so that her team could inbound the ball at half with eight seconds left.
Senior forward Amy Okonkwo, who makes up one half of a dangerous scoring duo for TCU, missed a buzzer-beating three-pointer to end the game.
K-State’s next action will be at home against West Virginia at 7 p.m. Wednesday. The Mountaineers beat K-State 60-30 in their first meeting. The game will be televised on FOX.
