After a first round bye, No. 1-seed Texas defeated No. 9-seed Kansas State in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 tournament in Kansas City, 60-42. In its regular season matchups, Texas swept the Wildcats winning 87-41 and 80-52.

In the first half, Texas struggled without graduate guard Sonya Morris, who has missed the last eight games due to a leg injury. The Longhorns had their lowest scoring half of the season, putting up only 18 points, shooting 17% and turning the ball over 11 times. 

Kansas State found offensive success around the rim, scoring 12 points in the paint in the first half. On defense, the Wildcats were able to eliminate sophomore guard Rori Harmon from the game, holding her to only one point, one assist and one rebound in the first half.

Freshman forward Amina Muhammad was the Longhorns’ only spark on offense, scoring five first half points, the most of any Texas player. Muhammad also grabbed four of Texas’ 27 rebounds. Junior forward Taylor Jones hauled in eight first half rebounds, the only area Texas had an advantage. 

In the second half, Jones continued her momentum from the first half, starting the second half scoring Texas’ first five points. Jones’ offensive momentum sparked the rest of the Longhorns after a slow first half.

In the third quarter, Texas outscored Kansas State 21-4, the 23rd time its defense held a team to single digits in a quarter this season. Four points is the Wildcats’ season low for points scored in a quarter. 

Before getting into foul trouble, Muhammad scored nine points, filling in for junior forward DeYona Gaston while she sat on the bench, also in foul trouble. When Muhammad picked up her fourth foul, Gaston returned to the court and provided Texas with immediate offense.

Gaston showed out with 13 points and five rebounds, Texas’ highest scorer and only player in double figures. The Longhorns’ bigs — Gaston, Faye, Muhammad and Jones — made up for the guards’ offensive struggles. 

Harmon did not make her first field goal until time expired at the end of the third quarter, but made her presence on court known in other ways. The Big 12 defensive player of the year only scored five points but recorded four steals, seven assists and four rebounds. 

Texas outrebounded Kansas State 48-35 and pulled 16 boards off the offensive glass leading to 16 second chance points, giving the Longhorns a chance with the team shooting 32% from the floor.

Texas’ defense forced 22 turnovers and the Longhorns move to 20–0 on the season when holding an opponent to 59 points or less. Despite a sloppy first half, the Longhorns trailed by nine points at one point, then bounced back and led by as many as 23 in the second half.

Tomorrow, Texas will face Oklahoma State for a spot in the tournament finals and a chance to play for back-to-back Big 12 tournament titles.