Kansas State Rally Stuns No. 21 Texas Tech 60-51 as Wildcats Close on 21-0 Run in Big 12 Tournament

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas State delivered one of the most dramatic finishes of the 2026 Big 12 women’s basketball tournament, closing the game on a 21-0 run to defeat No. 21 Texas Tech 60-51 on Thursday and advance to the quarterfinals.

The comeback capped a remarkable late surge for Kansas State (17-16), the No. 12 seed, which erased a 14 point fourth quarter deficit to eliminate the fifth seeded Lady Raiders and secure a matchup with Oklahoma State in Friday’s quarterfinal round.

Nastja Claessens led the Wildcats with 14 points and eight rebounds and produced the defining defensive moment of the game with a block in the final minute that preserved Kansas State’s late lead. Taryn Sides added 13 points, Aniya Foy scored 12, and Tess Heal contributed 10 points including the go ahead basket with 52.7 seconds remaining.

Texas Tech (25-7) appeared in control entering the final minutes. The Lady Raiders pushed their lead to 51-37 with 7:43 remaining in the fourth quarter following a 10-0 run that stretched across the third quarter break. From that point forward, however, the offense stalled completely.

In a dramatic momentum shift, Texas Tech missed its final 13 field goal attempts and did not reach the free throw line during the fourth quarter. Kansas State capitalized with disciplined half court defense and timely scoring to mount the decisive rally.

Heal’s driving layup gave Kansas State a 54-51 lead in the closing minute. On the next possession Texas Tech secured an offensive rebound after a missed three point attempt, but Claessens blocked the put back and secured the ball before calling timeout with 36.1 seconds remaining.

Sides extended the lead by converting two free throws, and Heal followed with two more from the line with 19.2 seconds left to seal the victory.

Kansas State struggled offensively for much of the game, shooting 34 percent from the field and connecting on only 5 of 25 attempts from three point range. The Wildcats did not produce a double digit scorer until the fourth quarter but compensated with defensive pressure and rebounding in the closing stretch.

Snudda Collins led Texas Tech with 14 points and was the only Lady Raider to reach double figures. Texas Tech finished 16 of 56 from the field, shooting 29 percent in one of its least efficient offensive performances of the season.

The loss continues a difficult recent stretch against Kansas State for Texas Tech. Earlier this season the Wildcats ended the Lady Raiders’ 19-0 start with a 65-59 victory on January 17, marking the first defeat of Texas Tech’s campaign.

The latest tournament result carries significant postseason implications. Texas Tech entered the week with strong momentum toward its first NCAA tournament appearance since 2013, but the early Big 12 tournament exit adds uncertainty to its selection outlook. The Lady Raiders’ resume still includes 25 wins and a ranked finish, factors that will weigh heavily in the NCAA selection committee’s evaluation.

Kansas State, meanwhile, continues an unexpected tournament run. The Wildcats opened the event by tying a school record with 17 three point baskets in a 91-66 victory over Cincinnati, which also set a Big 12 women’s tournament record that had stood for 18 years.

The latest win sends Kansas State into a quarterfinal matchup with Oklahoma State. The Wildcats defeated the Cowgirls 70-61 during their only regular season meeting on February 10, offering a notable data point for Friday’s matchup.

With momentum from consecutive tournament victories and a defense that held Texas Tech scoreless over the final minutes, Kansas State now faces its next step in a Big 12 tournament run that has quickly become one of the event’s most compelling storylines.