Kansas State falls to 13-8 (3-5) after a hard 82-74 loss to Oklahoma State. K-State has fallen to its third loss in away games during conference play.
From the opening tip, K-State found themselves stumbling to start, falling to a quick 5-0 deficit and shooting 33.5% to OSU’s 55%. The Cowgirls were able to control the pace and run the floor in the first half, scoring 12 fast break points in the first half.
Turnovers persisted as a nagging problem for the Wildcats, committing eight in the half. Entering the second half, the Wildcats had carried a bit of momentum, outshooting Oklahoma State in the second quarter, 22-20. However, the Wildcats turned the ball over six more times, leading to the largest deficit on the night of 18 points.
In the first half, Oklahoma State’s defense was able to force many turnovers and turn them into points, scoring 15 points off turnovers. K-State’s defense in the second half began to lock in, capitalizing off of sloppy ball control by the Cowgirls.
Oklahoma State committed 15 turnovers in the second half, helping K-State to score 15 points off of turnovers and close in on tying the game. The Cowgirls were dominant in transition and in the pain — scoring from fast breaks favored Oklahoma State 22-17.
K-State began to create more turnovers in the final six minutes and also started making more shots. They were able to close the gap from an 18-point deficit to only two until cooling off for the final score of 82-74.
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For Oklahoma State, Naomie Alnatas and Terryn Milton’s stats mirrored each other, both scoring 17 points, six rebounds, and seven assists. For K-State, forward Sarah Shematsi and guard Serena Sundell lead the stat sheet with 36 points and eight rebounds combined.
The loss follows a K-State victory at home against TCU where three Wildcats hit double figures. That win snapped a four-game skid for the Wildcats.
Moving forward, the Wildcats look to play their in-state rival — the Kansas Jayhawks — at 5 p.m. at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence on Sunday, January 29.
