AUSTIN, Texas (AP) Brady Sanders scored 12 points and No. 8 Texas overcame a 14-point second-half deficit to defeat Kansas State 58-51 on Wednesday night.
Sanders made two free throws and a putback on consecutive possessions to give Texas a 47-43 lead with four minutes remaining. Kansas State never caught up.
Ariel Atkins and Imani Boyette scored 10 apiece for Texas (23-2, 12-2 Big 12).
Breanna Lewis led Kansas State (16-9, 6-8) with 20 points. Megan Deines added 10.
Kansas State led 27-18 at halftime, limiting Texas to its lowest point production in a half this season. The Longhorns scored 20 during the first half at Iowa State on Feb. 6, but they produced 45 in the second half and won 65-49.
Texas had twice as many turnovers - 12 - as baskets in the first half against Kansas State.
Boyette, Empress Davenport and Celina Rodrigo, all experienced seniors, committed three turnovers each in the half.
Lewis scored 18 in the half, converting 8 of 11 shots.
Kansas State stretched the lead to 14 early in the third quarter with a 3-point basket by Kindred Wesemann. Then Texas started its comeback, finishing the period with a 21-7 push to tie the game. Atkins scored eight points for Texas during that run.
TIP-INS
Kansas State: Guard Kindred Wesemann scored only six points for Kansas State, seven fewer than her average. She missed 10 of 12 shots.
Texas: Senior center Imani Boyette blocked just one shot - she averages 3.4 -- but that was good enough for her to take over sixth place among active players in the NCAA career rankings. . Texas has 12 Big 12 victories for first time since 2004-05. . The Longhorns have won five of their last six games against Kansas State.
RECOGNIZING A MILESTONE
This season Texas became the fifth women's basketball program to reach 1,000 victories. To recognize that achievement the Longhorns are honoring the three predecessors to current coach Karen Aston, at separate games: Rod Page, Hall of Famer Jody Conradt and Gail Goestenkors. First up, on Wednesday, was Goestenkors, who resigned in 2012 after five seasons and 102 victories. Goestenkors, who led Duke to four NCAA Final Four appearances before coaching at Texas, has worked as an assistant coach in the WNBA after leaving Texas and is now an analyst with the SEC Network. She has not ruled out returning to college. ''Right now I have no plans,'' Goestenkors said. ''I see life as an adventure. I'm open to whatever might come my way.''
UP NEXT
Kansas State hosts Texas Tech on Sunday.
Texas hosts West Virginia on Sunday.
