The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Kansas State *
Women's Basketball defeats Kansas State in Manhattan, 69-63
02.12.2014 | Women's Basketball
Chassidy Fussell's 15 points, including three 3-pointers, lead Texas to fifth win in six games.
MANHATTAN, Kan. – The University of Texas women's basketball team defeated Kansas State 69-63 on Wednesday night at Bramlage Coliseum. Texas has won five of their last six games and move into a tie for third place in the Big 12.
Senior Chassidy Fussell led Texas (17-7, 8-4) with 15 points on 5-of-10 shooting including 3-of-7 from beyond the arc. Sophomore Empress Davenport contributed 12 points and junior Nneka Enemkpali chipped in 10 points and grabbed a game-high nine rebounds.
Texas and Kansas State (9-14, 3-9) traded baskets for the first four minutes of the first half, but the Longhorns gained an 8-6 advantage at the 16:09 mark off a 3-pointer by Fussell.
Fussell's 3-pointer sparked a 10-4 Texas run over the next five minutes to give the Longhorns an eight-point advantage, 18-10, at the 10:59 mark. Over the next two and half minutes, the Longhorns were able to build their largest lead of the half off a 3-pointer from sophomore Celina Rodrigo that put Texas ahead 24-15.
The Wildcats answered with a 7-0 run to cut the lead to two, 24-22 with just over six minutes remaining in the first half, yet a six-point outburst by freshman Nekia Jones gave Texas a five-point lead at the 3:39 mark.
The Longhorns finished the half on a 7-3 run to head into halftime with a seven-point cushion, 37-30.
Texas started the second half on an 8-3 run over the first 2:28 to gain a commanding 12-point lead, 45-33. However, the Longhorns did not score a field goal over the next 3:38 allowing Kansas State to cut the lead to one, 47-46. A layup on the ensuing possession by sophomore Imani McGee-Stafford ended Texas' scoring drought, but the Longhorns were unable to combat the Wildcats' 18-6 run which tied up the score 51-all at the 11:35 mark.
A layup by Enemkpali broke the 51-all tie, and the Longhorns went on an 11-4 run to lead 62-55 at the 3:48 mark.
Kansas State answered Texas' run and cut the Longhorns' lead to 3, 64-61, off a 3-pointer by Brianna Craig with 1:04 remaining in the game. A 3-pointer by Fussell sealed the win, giving Texas a six-point lead with 36 seconds left in the contest. Two ensuing Fussell free throws closed the game, giving Texas the 69-63 win.
Ashia Woods lead the Wildcats with 15 points off 5-of-6 shooting.
Texas returns to Austin to face first-place Baylor on Sunday, Feb. 16 at 12:00 p.m. Central. Fans are encouraged to wear pink as part of the Shoot for a Cure game to help raise breast cancer awareness.
TEAM NOTES
• Series: Wednesday's game marked the 28th meeting between Texas and Kansas State. Texas won the last meeting in Austin, 67-53 on Jan. 5, 2014.
• Starters: For the fifth time this season and the third straight contest, Rodrigo, Fussell, Sanders, Enemkpali and Lang have started for the Longhorns. Texas is 5-0 with this lineup.
• In the first half, there were five lead changes in the first 3:51 minutes alone.
• As a team, Texas delivered 20 assists for their second 20-plus assist game over a three-game span. Over the last three games, Texas has averaged 18 assists per contest.
• Texas, who is second in the Big 12 in rebounding margin at plus-12.3 rebounds per contest, out-rebounded Kansas State 37-27.
• Texas has won five of their last six contests and with the win move into a tie for third place in the Big 12 Conference.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
Chassidy Fussell
• Scored a team-high 15 points off 5-of-10 shooting, including 3-of-7 from beyond-the-arc.
• Recorded double-figures for the first time since scoring 18 points at Kansas on Jan. 15, 2014.
Nneka Enemkpali
• Scored 10 points and grabbed a game-high nine rebounds.
Empress Davenport
• Reached double-figures for the third straight game with 12 points off 4-of-8 shooting.
• Also grabbed six rebounds and delivered a team-high five assists (ties her season-high).
• Is averaging 12.3 points over the last three games.
Nekia Jones
• Scored nine points off 4-of-5 shooting, including a perfect 1-of-1 from the 3-point line.
• Also had two assists in the win.
