In a packed Moody Center, the No. 12 Texas women’s basketball team achieved a notable 61-54 victory over No. 2 Kansas State. A total of 8,325 fans attended the highly anticipated top 25 matchup to support both teams.
Junior forward Aaliyah Moore expressed her gratitude to the enthusiastic crowd, particularly acknowledging the spirited student section. She credited the fans for their unwavering support, emphasizing their significant role in the team’s victory.
Prior to this game, Kansas State had only suffered two losses, one against Iowa before the start of conference play and the other in a surprising upset by Oklahoma. This marks the second consecutive loss for the conference leaders. Meanwhile, Texas, also coming off a disappointing loss to Oklahoma, is now on a three-game winning streak as they vie for the second-place spot in the Big 12 against the Wildcats and West Virginia.
Coach Vic Schaefer expressed his confidence in the team’s capabilities and emphasized the need for continuous improvement. He praised the team’s performance while acknowledging that there is still room for growth.
Throughout the game, Texas maintained a lead; however, it was a hard-fought battle. Although the Longhorns opened with a 6-0 run, Kansas State quickly closed the gap to 6-4.
By halftime, the Wildcats were trailing by 10 points, and Texas extended their lead to the largest margin of 19 points in the third quarter, showcasing strong defensive prowess.
Towards the end of the fourth quarter, Kansas State staged a comeback, scoring 10 consecutive points in the final two minutes of the game and narrowing Texas’ lead to just five points. However, they were unable to overtake the Longhorns.
Freshman forward Madison Booker stood out once again, scoring 20 or more points for the third consecutive game and maintaining double-digit scoring for 13 games. Despite committing five turnovers in the first half, Booker’s exceptional performance was praised by Kansas State’s head coach, Jeff Mittie, who highlighted her mental resilience and ability to recover from a challenging start.
Senior forward Taylor Jones, who had scored only two points in the previous matchup against the Wildcats, redeemed herself with an impressive 13 points and eight rebounds in their second encounter. Additionally, Aaliyah Moore led the Longhorns in rebounds and achieved a double-double with 10 points and 15 rebounds.
Sophomore guard Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda, despite not being a starter, delivered a notable performance with seven points. Coach Schaefer commended her confidence and noted her increased playing time in recent games. Mwenentanda, in turn, expressed her trust in her teammates and emphasized the positive team dynamics.
Looking ahead, the Longhorns will have a six-day break before their next home game against Iowa State on February 17, followed by an away game against TCU in Fort Worth on Saturday.
The victory against Kansas State has undoubtedly bolstered the team’s morale and their pursuit of a top position in the Big 12, setting the stage for an exciting continuation of their season.