Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
Kansas State
No. 21 Tech begins Big 12 Tournament against K-State
March 04, 2026 | Women's Basketball
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The No. 21 Texas Tech Lady Raiders will face the 12-seeded Kansas State Wildcats on Thursday at 11 a.m. at the T-Mobile Center to open the Big 12 Tournament.
Texas Tech (25-6, 12-6 Big 12) will come into the game as a 5-seed, getting the first-round bye. Kansas State leads the all-time series against the Lady Raiders, 32-17, and is on a four-game winning streak against Tech. The Wildcats stopped Texas Tech's 19-0 undefeated start back on Jan. 17 with a 65-59 win in Lubbock.
With a win against K-State on Thursday, the Lady Raiders would earn their second-consecutive Big 12 Tournament quarterfinals appearance. Texas Tech is 2-4 over the Wildcats at the conference tournament, with Kansas State winning the last three meetings. The last time the Lady Raiders beat the Wildcats at the Big 12 Tournament was on March 13, 2003 by a 71-65 score in the semifinals.
The Lady Raiders earned multiple Big 12 Awards as announced by the league office on Tuesday afternoon. Krista Gerlich was named Coach of the Year after leading Tech to its highest conference finish since 2013 at tied for fourth with a 12-6 Big 12 record. Senior Snudda Collins was named the Sixth Player of the Year after leading all bench players in the nation in points (460) and points per game (14.8). Collins also earned a spot on the All-Big 12 Second Team, one of three Lady Raiders to receive All-Big 12 honors. Senior Bailey Maupin made the First Team, while junior Jalynn Bristow earned Honorable Mention.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
The Kansas State Wildcats are 16-16 overall and went 8-10 in conference play. The Wildcats were on a three-game losing streak to Kansas, Baylor and Iowa State heading into the Big 12 Tournament. However, K-State got a huge win in the first round over 13-seeded Cincinnati by a 91-66 score to advance in the competition. The Wildcats are shooting 43.2 percent from the field and 35.2 percent from behind the arc. Averaging 70.3 points per game on the season, Kansas State is also totaling 481 assists, 312 steals and 33.8 rebounds per game. There are three players who average double-figures on the year in Taryn Side (12.5), Nastja Claessens (11.8) and Tess Heal (11.1). On the rebounding side, both Claessens and Brandie Harrod lead the team with 4.9 per game. Gina Garcia (161) and Sides (123) lead the way in assists. Â
LIVE STATS/STREAMING
Live stats will be provided on StatBroadcast and the game will be streamed on ESPN+. Fans can also listen to the games in the Varsity Network App.
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