K-State’s Run at the Big 12 Tournament Comes to an End

Saturday, March 7

Kansas City, Mo.

3 p.m.

Kansas State University

18-17,8-10Big 12

(10/10) TCU

29-4,15-3Big 12

Kansas St.

TCU

K-State Women's Basketball vs TCU - 2026 Big 12 Women's Basketball Tournament Semifinal - T-Mobile Center - Kansas City, Missouri - Final Score: KSU 62, TCU 74

Photo by: K-State Photo

K-State’s Run at the Big 12 Tournament Comes to an End

Mar 07, 2026 | Women's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (pdf)K-State Postgame Quotes (pdf)TCU Postgame Quotes (pdf)Photo Gallery Photo Gallery 2

KANSAS CITY, Missouri – K-State's incredible run at the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Women's Basketball Tournament came to an end in the semifinals, as TCU registered a strong second half to collect a 74-62 win at T-Mobile Center. The Wildcats were the first 12-seed to reach the semifinals of the Big 12 Tournament.

K-State (18-17) saw four players reach double figures, as freshman Jordan Speiser came off the bench to pace the Wildcats with 16 points including an additional three connections from long range. Since 1999-00, Speiser became the third player in Big 12 Tournament history to record 10 or more points off the bench in at least three games.

Speiser tied the national mark by a freshman in the last 15 years for three-point field goals made in any conference tournament in NCAA Division I, as she made 16 in the four games.

Junior forward Nastja Claessens carded 14 points on 6-of-13 shooting and added four rebounds.

Junior guard Taryn Sides notched 11 points, three assists and two rebounds, while senior Tess Heal tallied 10 points and four rebounds.

TCU (29-4) was guided by Marta Suarez with a double-double of 22 points and 11 rebounds and Olivia Miles with 18 points and eight rebounds.

HOW IT HAPPENED
- K-State would win a low-scoring first quarter, 13-10, forcing TCU into eight turnovers and recording an 8-0 advantage in points off turnovers. The Wildcats took their first lead at 10-8 on a Gina Garcia layup with 3:21 remaining and held the lead at the end of the first following a three-pointer from Speiser with 50 seconds remaining.
- The Horned Frogs scored the first eight points of the second quarter to pull in front, 18-13, with 8:30 remaining. K-State rallied as Sides connected on her first 3-pointer of the afternoon after a steal at midcourt to give the Wildcats a 24-22 lead with five minutes left in the frame.
- The Wildcats would extend its advantage to six, 31-25, as Claessens and Speiser hit back-to-back three-pointers. A Claessens layup with 1:14 left kept the Wildcats in front by six, 33-27, but the final five points of the quarter went to TCU to send the teams into the locker room with the Wildcats in front, 33-32.
- K-State tallied 20 points in the second quarter. This marked the ninth time this season in which K-State scored 20 or more points in the second quarter.
- TCU made seven straight field goals to capture a 52-45 lead with three minutes remaining in the third quarter. The Horned Frogs would win the quarter 24-16 by shooting 73.3 percent (11-of-15) from the field and hold a 56-49 lead at the end of the third.
- A Speiser layup with 5:14 to play in the fourth brought the Wildcats to within five, 62-57, but TCU knocked down consecutive three-pointers to take a 68-57 lead with 2:47 remaining and forcing a K-State timeout.
- The Wildcats got to within eight points, 70-62, with 56 seconds remaining but were unable to cut into the deficit any further.
- K-State shot 36.9 percent (24-of-65), including 26.9 percent (7-of-26) from beyond the arc.
- The Wildcats forced TCU into 16 turnovers and registered a 13-5 edge in points off turnovers.

QUICK FACTS
- TCU leads the series with K-State, 14-12. Head coach Jeff Mittie is 12-11 in his career against TCU.
- K-State head coach Jeff Mittie owns a career record of 690-395 (.636), including a mark of 236-160 (.596).
- The Wildcats are 27-29 in its history in Big 12 Women's Basketball Championship games. The Wildcats are 18-17 in its history in Big 12 Women's Basketball Tournament games played in Kansas City.
- The Wildcats are 147-111 (.570) in games played in the month of March. Under head coach Jeff Mittie, K-State is 30-27 (.526) in games during the third month.

TEAM NOTES
- K-State's starting five consisted of guards Gina Garcia, Brandie Harrod, Tess Heal, and Taryn Sides and forward Nastja Claessens. This was the 12^th time this lineup has started together this season, the most used starting lineup for K-State this season. This was the 34^th career start for Sides. This was the 33^rd career start for Garcia. Heal made her 22^nd start this season and her 96^th career start. Claessens made her 31^st career start. This was Harrod's 31^st career start.
- The Wildcats held a 33-32 lead at halftime on Saturday. Under Mittie, K-State is 186-24 (.886) when leading at halftime, including a 10-3 mark this season.
- Since the start of the quarter-system in women's college basketball in the 2015-16 season, K-State is 176-76 (.698) when scoring 20 or more points in any quarter in a game, including a 16-11 mark this season. The Wildcats have 49 quarters this season with 20 or more points scored.
- K-State pocketed nine steals on Saturday. For the season, the Wildcats have recorded 341 steals. The 341 steals this season ranks third in program history for a single season.
- With its seven made three-pointers on Saturday, K-State set the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Women's Basketball Tournament record for three-pointers made in a single tournament.

PLAYER NOTES
- Claessens reached double figures for the 20^th time this season. She scored in double figures in all four of K-State's Big 12 Tournament games.
- Speiser registered 10 or more points for the 19^th game this season. This was the eighth time this season Speiser led K-State in scoring.
- Speiser made a three 3-pointers on Saturday. This was her 20^th game this season with two or more connections from long distance. She is tied for second in program history for 3-point field goals made (16) in a Big 12 Tournament career. She is second in program history for 3-point field goal percentage (.485) in a Big 12 Tournament career.
- Sides tallied 10 or more points for the 39^th time in her career and 21^st time this season.
- Sides connected on three 3-point field goals. This was her 22^nd game this season and the 53^rd of her career with two or more connections from long range. Sides moved into ninth on the K-State career 3-point field goals list with 188 in her career.
- Sides handed out three assists. She moved into a tie for 15^th for career assists with 320, joining former teammate Jaelyn Glenn (2021-25).
- Gina Garcia handed out four assists. She is second in program history for assists in a freshman season with 177, passing Serena Sundell (2021-22; 176). Garcia owns the school record for assists in a season by an international player.
- Garcia pocketed a career-high five steals on Saturday. This was her 14^th career game with two or more steals and her first with four or more.

UP NEXT
K-State will now await its postseason destination, with the selection show for the 2026 WBIT on Sunday, March 15, at 8 p.m., on ESPN+.

How to follow the Cats: For complete information on K-State Women's Basketball, visit www.kstatesports.com and follow the team's social media channels on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram.