The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Kansas State
No. 12/13 Women’s Basketball holds off Kansas State, 63-58
02.04.2017 | Women's Basketball
With the win, the Horns tie their program record for most consecutive Big 12 wins.
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AUSTIN, Texas – In a match that came down to the wire, freshman Joyner Holmes posted a team-high 21 points as No. 12/13 Texas Women's Basketball (18-4, 12-0 Big 12 Conference) overcame Kansas State (17-7, 7-5 Big 12 Conference) inside the Erwin Center on Saturday evening, 63-58.
With the win, the Longhorns tie their program record for consecutive Big 12 Conference wins with 12. The last time Texas has reached this mark was during the stretch between Jan. 29, 2003 to Jan. 10, 2004.
Texas leads the all-times series over Kansas State, 19-14, and has swept the last two season series.
"This was a really fought hard game," said Texas head coach Karen Aston. "I thought our players showed some resilience today."
Holmes also added nine rebounds and a game-high three steals.
Senior Kelsey Lang became the 41st player in program history to reach the 1000-point milestone. She was one shy of her double-dip for the night with 10 points and nine boards. Lang also posted a game-high five blocks, moving her into seventh place on UT's all-time career blocks list with 160.
Junior Brooke McCarty rounded out the Horns in the double-figures with 11 points while senior Brianna Taylor totaled a team-high three assists.
As a team, Texas shot 43.3 percent (25-60) from the floor while holding Kansas State to a 39.3 shooting percentage (22-56). The Longhorns dominated every category, including a 37-34 rebounding margin and 9-3 advantage in steals.
Kansas State was led by senior Kindred Wesemann with 21 points.
The Wildcats opened on a 6-0 spread, but the Longhorns regrouped with an 8-0 rally of their own to take their first lead at the 6:32 mark. Texas pushed its lead to as many as seven, but a KSU three-point play ended the stanza, 20-16 Horns.
The low-scoring second quarter included a nearly four-minute scoreless period, and a 10-7 Wildcat scoring advantage made it a narrow 27-26 ballgame in Texas' favor at the half.
Kansas State lifted the lid on the second half with the first eight points to regain control, 34-37, at the 8:23 mark. The Texas offense caught fire with a 14-0 run including eight-straight points from Holmes, and the Longhorns closed the third with the 44-38 lead.
The Wildcats found their strength from beyond the arc in the closer to make it a tie ball game at 57 with 2:54 remaining in regulation. Two layups from Holmes pushed the momentum in favor of Texas, and free throws ended the game, 63-58 Longhorns.
Coming up next, Texas will play No. 2/2 Baylor in Waco, Texas on Monday, Feb. 6. Tip inside the Ferrell Center is set for 7 p.m. and the game will be carried live on FS1.
