Kansas holds on to defeat Kansas State 75-68

A K-State women's basketball player shoots a freethrow. Courtesy: Zoe Taylor

The K-State student section in bramlage coliseum. Courtesy: Zoe Taylor

A K-State women's basketball player dribbles the ball down the court. Courtesy: Zoe Taylor

A K-State women's basketball play shots a layup. Courtesy: Zoe Taylor

A K-State women's basketball player dribbles the ball down the court. Courtesy: Zoe Taylor

The Kansas State Wildcats had many opportunities to come back, but the Kansas Jayhawks were able to hold onto their late lead to win the 135^th edition of the Sunflower Showdown on Saturday evening at Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan, Kansas.

The Jayhawks got after the Wildcats early, scoring the first points of the game and holding that lead for the entirety of the first quarter. Kansas was up 19-15 after the first 10 minutes. 

Kansas continued to grow their lead as they started the second quarter on a 14-4 run, but Kansas State did not go away, scoring the final 14 points of the first half to tie the game 33-33 going into the halftime break. 

The lead changed hands many times in the third quarter, and neither team held a multi-possession lead in the first 10 minutes of the second half, and the Jayhawks held the 48-47 lead going into the final quarter. 

Kansas scored the first five points of the fourth quarter and would hold the lead for the remainder of the game. The Wildcats got within one possession on multiple occasions, but the Jayhawks pulled through, outscoring Kansas State 13-7 in the final four minutes to secure the season sweep of the Sunflower Showdown for the first time since 2013.  

The Wildcats saw three players reach double-figures. Tess Heal led the way with 19 points, making it the 11^th time in her last 12 games that she has surpassed 10 points. Kansas State also got 13 points from Brandie Harrod and Nastja Claessens, which is also a new season-high for Harrod. 

Kansas had four players finish in double-figures, with S’Mya Nichols leading the charge with 17. Both Jaliya Davis and Regan Williams finished with 16 points, and Lilly Meister accounted for 14 points. 

Kansas improves to 17-11 on the season and 7-9 in Big 12 play. The Jayhawks will get four days off before playing in their final home game of the season on Feb. 25 in a matchup with #20 Texas Tech. Kansas will not only look to avenge a loss that they took to the Red Raiders on Feb. 10, but improve their resume as they are currently listed in the First Four Out of the NCAA Tournament, according to ESPN. 

Kansas State is now 15-14 and 8-8 in Big 12 play. The Wildcats will now get ready for a quick turnaround at #15 Baylor on Monday. The game will be Kansas State’s final road game of the season and is scheduled for a 6 p.m. tipoff on ESPN2.