From K-State Athletics
Facing its fifth Associated Press top-25 opponent this season, Kansas State looked to spring the upset but (4/4) Baylor defended the Ferrell Center with a 65-50 win on Wednesday night.
Baylor (12-1, 2-0 Big 12) used a 10-0 run midway through the opening quarter to capture a 16-7 lead. Peyton Williams ended the run with her second jumper of the quarter and Kayla Goth added a pair of free throws to bring K-State into a seven-point deficit, 18-11, at the end of the first quarter.
Kansas State (10-5, 1-2) was strong in the second quarter and kept the matchup close, as Baylor led 34-25 at halftime. K-State narrowed the deficit in the quarter to four, as Goth buried a jumper and Jasauen Beard finished a reverse layup through contact following a Baylor layup. The Lady Bears would score the final five points of the frame to hold the nine-point lead.
In the third quarter, K-State started the first six minutes by outscoring Baylor 14-6 and to pull within one, 40-39, with 4:39 remaining in the quarter. Williams opened the quarter with a 3-pointer and then finished an acrobatic layup later in the frame. K-State pulled within one, as Christianna Carr buried a 3-pointer.
K-State took a brief lead, as Goth converted a jumper just outside the lane, 42-41, with 3:03 remaining in the third quarter. The Lady Bears then went on a 7-0 run to build a 48-42 lead with 1:26 to play and force a K-State timeout.
Entering the fourth quarter, Baylor led K-State, 50-42. Williams started the final quarter with a three-pointer to pull K-State within five, 50-45. Baylor then used an 8-0 run to build a 13-point advantage, 58-45, with 6:13 to play.
Rachel Ranke buried a three-pointer with 4:27 remaining to bring K-State within eight, 58-50, but Baylor kept K-State at arm’s length with seven points to build the lead to the final margin.
K-State end the night shooting 32.1 percent (18-of-56) from the field. The Wildcats attempted a season-high 26 three-pointers and found the mark on seven (.269). Baylor shot 46.0 percent (29-of-63), but were held without a 3-point field goal. The Lady Bears registered a 52-16 advantage in points in the paint.
Williams led K-State with her eighth double-double of the season with 18 points and 10 rebounds.
