MANHATTAN, Kansas – Kansas State entered the fourth quarter with a two-point lead on Wednesday night in Bramlage Coliseum against Oklahoma, but the Sooners rode a hot-shooting quarter to capture the 76-71 road win.
Kansas State (11-7, 3-4 Big 12) had three players in double figures, led by sophomore Peyton Williams with a game-high 23 points on 10-of-17 shooting and eight rebounds. She also registered a block and steal. Williams is the first Wildcat since Breanna Lewis in the first round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament to make 10 or more shots in a game.
The product of Topeka, Kansas, has scored 20 or more points in a team-high four games this season. She has reached double figures in 13 games this season including a current streak of 10 straight games.
Joining Williams in double digits was junior Kayla Goth with 16 points, six assists and three steals. The guard from DeForest, Wisconsin, moved into 27th on the K-State career assist list (206), passing Missy Decker (1994-97; 205).
Also in double figures was freshman guard Rachel Ranke with 13 points and four rebounds. The native of Burnsville, Minnesota, has made two or more 3-point field goals in 14 games this season.
Oklahoma (9-9, 4-3) featured four players in double figures, paced by senior Gabbi Ortiz with 20 points, which included 6-of-11 shooting from beyond the arc. Senior center Vionise Pierre-Louis added 18 points, seven rebounds, six assists and two blocks.
The Wildcats finished the night shooting 47.4 percent (27-of-57) but just 35.7 percent in the second half. The Sooners carded a 56.6 percent night (30-of-53). K-State forced 22 Oklahoma turnovers, including a season-high 14 steals.
K-State overcame a fast start by Oklahoma in the first quarter to end the frame with a 21-15 advantage. The Wildcats used an 11-3 run over a 3-minute stretch to pull into the lead, as Goth and Williams each scored four points during the run.
Oklahoma tied the game at 13 with 3:25 remaining, but the Wildcats ended the stanza on an 8-2 run highlighted by a pair of Ranke 3-pointers, including a buzzer-beater to end the quarter.
Williams scored 13 points of K-State’s 20 points in the second quarter to give the Wildcats a 41-38 lead at the half. The Sooners started the second quarter on an 8-2 run to tie the game at 23 with 7:37 remaining.
K-State answered with a 9-2 run, as Williams recorded seven points during the stretch to push K-State in front, 32-25, with 5:35 left in the quarter. Oklahoma’s Ortiz brought the Sooners within three at the half with three 3-pointers in the final 4:32 of the quarter.
Both teams were hot from the floor in the opening half, as K-State shot 58.6 percent (17-of-29), while Oklahoma registered a 60.0 percent (15-of-25) performance.
Each team cooled off in the third quarter, as Oklahoma outscored K-State 13-12, but the Wildcats remained in front 53-51 entering the final frame. Shaelyn Martin led K-State in the quarter with four points, all coming in the final 2:47 of the quarter.
For the game, Martin finished with six points, seven assists, six steals and four rebounds. With her six steals, Martin moved into 11th on the K-State career steals list with 188.
Oklahoma dashed out to a 65-60 lead with 5:47 remaining in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Wildcats 14-7 during the stretch. Kaylee Page started a 6-1 run with a jumper and K-State tied the game at 66 with 3:13 to play.
The Sooners received a layup from Shaina Pellington to retake the lead, 70-68, with 2:52 to play. Pellington contributed 16 points and six assists to the Oklahoma attack.
Martin converted a contested layup in the lane with just over a minute to play to bring K-State to within two, 70-68. The Sooners would use a three-point play from Pierre-Louis with 41 seconds left to hold back K-State. The Sooners shot 75.0 percent (9-of-12) from the floor in the final quarter, while K-State was held to a 42.9 percent effort.
Kansas State travels to (4/4) Baylor on Saturday to face the Lady Bears at 6 p.m.
— KSU Athletics —