The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
20-1, 9-1
K-State
14-6, 4-5
No. 6 Women's Basketball picks up 20th win of season at K-State, 66-51
01.30.2016 | Women's Basketball
Sophomore Brooke McCarty led all scorers with 15 points on the night.
Box Score (PDF) | Postgame Notes
MANHATTAN, Kan.- Sophomore Brooke McCarty led all scorers with 15 points and a Big 12 career-high seven rebounds to lead the No. 6/6 Texas Longhorns past the Kansas State Wildcats, 66-51, inside Bramlage Coliseum on Saturday evening.
With the win, Texas (20-1, 9-1 Big 12 Conference) ties the 1986-87 squad by reaching 20 wins in 21 games. The Horns lead the all-time series against the Wildcats, 17-14, and have won four of the last five meetings.
"I thought this would be a difficult game for us. We've been on a really long stretch and not a lot of rest," said Texas head coach Karen Aston. "I was really pleased with Kelsey Lang. I thought she was the difference in the game. She came in and asserted herself in the first half, and she gave us some stability."
McCarty's 15 points included a 4-of-7 effort from behind the arc. Junior Kelsey Lang added ten points and brought down six boards, while junior Brianna Taylor tallied nine points, seven boards, and a game-high four steals. Senior Imani Boyette scored all eight of her points in the second half and led all players with eight rebounds on the night. Senior Celina Rodrigo led the Horns with seven assists.
As a team, Texas shot 37.7 percent (20-of-53) from the floor while holding Kansas State to a 35.6 shooting percentage (16-of-45). The Longhorns found their strength from the line, shooting 87.5 percent behind a 21-of-24 effort. The Horns dominated the boards, 41-23, and outblocked the Wildcats, 4-3.
Kansas State (14-6, 4-5 Big 12 Conference) was led by junior Breanna Lewis with 12 points.
The Wildcats would drill two triples early to jump off to a 11-4 lead at the 6:19 mark of the opening quarter, but Texas would utilize a perfect shooting percentage (6-of-6) from the line to trail, 12-15, headed into the second.
McCarty wasted no time knocking down a three to tie the game at 15, and the Longhorns would take their first lead of the night after a Lang jumper at the 5:05 mark. Texas would use this momentum as the beginning of a 14-0 run, holding K-State scoreless for just over five minutes. The Wildcats would end the half with two buckets from junior Jessica Shelbe, but Texas would hold a 29-21 advantage headed into the locker room.
The teams would trade baskets to start the third, and Boyette would add her first points of the night from a jumper at the 7:58 mark. It was even in the heart of the third, but McCarty was able to find her footing from downtown again to give Texas the 40-27 advantage with 1:28 remaining, and Boyette would close out the quarter with another jumper to make it 42-30 Longhorns.
It was a high scoring fourth quarter for both sides, with Texas narrowly outscoring Kansas State, 24-21. The Wildcats would try to use a 7-0 spurt to shift the momentum, but a McCarty triple would end their streak with 3:06 remaining in regulation. From there, it was a battle from the charity stripe, and Texas would take the game, 66-51.
The Horns hit the court again on Saturday, Feb. 6 as they take on Iowa State in Ames. Tip is set for 1:30 p.m. CT, and the game will be carried live on FS2.
