(2) Texas vs (3) Kansas State | 2024 Big 12 Tournament: Semifinals | 3.11.24

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — March 11th, 2024

Tied 61-61 with 1:29 to play Shay Holle knocked down a 3-pointer and added another bucket to give Texas a 66-61 lead which the Longhorns carried on to a 71-64 victory over Kansas State on Monday in the semifinal of the Phillips 66 Big 12 Women’s Basketball Championship.

The Longhorns (29-4) had five players score in double figures in the game. Freshman Madison Booker led Texas with 17 points and Aaliyah Moore added 14 points and eight rebounds. Holle scored 11 points and Shaylee Gonzales and DeYona Gaston each recorded 10 points. Gaston pulled down eight rebounds.

The Longhorns shot 51.7 percent from the field in the first half and led 38-30 at the halftime break. Going into the fourth period Texas held a 51-44 lead, but the Wildcats took a 57-55 lead with four minutes to play.

Booker made a basket on the next possession to tie the game 57-57. Kansas State with get a pair of free-throws to go up 59-57, but Texas answered again with a Gaston jumper to tie it 59-59.

At 61-61 Holle took a pass from Moore and knocked it down to give Texas a 64-61 lead. Moments later on an inbounds play Gonzales found a wide open Holle for a layup to put Texas up 66-61 with 35 seconds to play. The Longhorns held on for the 71-64 victory.

Texas will take on Iowa State tomorrow at 8:00 p.m. CT on ESPN2 for the championship.

Postgame Notes

• With the win Texas improves to 29-4 on the season. The Longhorns have won 11 of their last 12 games.

• Madison Booker led Texas with 17 points as she scored in double figures for the 22nd straight game.

• Booker moved into fourth on the Longhorns all-time freshman scoring list and now has 533 points for the season. Booker has 157 assists, which ranks third on the all-time freshman assist list.

• Texas limited Kansas State to 3-of-11 from 3-point range (27.3 percent).

• Texas outrebounded Kansas State and have outrebounded their opponent in 28 of 33 games this season.

• The Longhorns got 15 points from their bench players. Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda scored five points and Gaston scored 10 off the bench.

• Moore scored in double figures for the 16th time this season and her third straight game.

• Texas limited All-American Ayoka Lee to seven points in the second half.

A great crowd on hand and we’re ready for tip off as Texas controls the first possession of the game Texas with the win over Kansas yesterday 76- 60 Kansas State got the victory over West Virginia and Jones able to score on the first play Serena sandel we talked about the

Point guard Briley and Jaylen Glenn the wins Gabby Gregory in her final year and aoka Lee just named to the wooden list top 15 today as she gets the first basket for the wild cats as we look at the Longhorns Shah Holly and Gonzales have had some tough game shooting this

Year we’ll see how today goes against the different looks from Kansas State Holly misses that Shay Holly played 40 minutes in the first match up between these two also in the second no points in either game pretty shocking it’s very shocking because Shay Holly is a baller

And she showed that the other day in their game against Kansas Jaylen Glenn Off the Mark there but Jeff midy wants her to be aggressive today he said we’re a better team when Jaylen Glenn is aggressive excuse me that was that was Bry Glenn so both of him putting the

Ball on the floor and attacking that’s right the Glen the Glen twins massen Booker and that is who is going to be a problem they’ve made the last two big 12 championship finals last year they lost to Iowa State the year before they won both times they had the services of Rory

Haron and of course it’s well documented she went down with the knee injury right before Big 12 play this year but she has become coach Rory Harmon on the sideline but he talked about the respect that the players have for her and and her just being that that voice of calm for them

In moments when they need it Nick schaer said to her I haven’t heard your voice lately and she said well we’ve been playing pretty well no need for me to say much coach exactly aiyah Moore boy she had a good game yesterday gets her own offensive rebound and puts it back [Applause]

In she had 19 points and 11 rebounds in the win against Kansas Jeff midy and his Squad off to a great start early this year they climbed to as high as number two in the country but then aoka Lee had to have surgery and was out for seven

Games it kind of disrupted things a little bit for Kansas State and she misses that attempt at The Rim yeah definitely an adjustment the post State just being in a position where you know sometimes you have to just play without your best player and they found themselves in a situation

Where other players had to step left Gonzalez off the mark on the three they go back into gonzale or excuse me into Lee nice back door cut from Serena sundell beautiful pass from Gabby Gregory and and Gabby Gregory had herself a game the other day came up big

And clutch moments she’s one of those players that if if Kate can get her going we know what AOK is going to do Walker into the game the red shirt freshman bringing the B up the court against Madison Booker sell zip passes it insidee with that it it it’s reminiscent

Of what we just saw with Crooks right when AA Le gets that deep position and you’re just going to play behind her night night [Applause] exactly Gonzalez using the screen got that one just inside the three-point line great sign for Texas Walker in between a couple of Defenders and she commits the offensive

Foul Texas off to a 10 to6 lead here in our second semifinal the winner of this game will advance to face off against Iowa State who dispensed of the regular season Champion Oklahoma and Gonzalez knocks down a three so a couple of buckets from going into postseason play you want to

Be clicking on all cylinders having every single player on this squad step in their game up and Shaylee Gonzalez has come to play today Texas moved up to number five in the AP Pole today Kansas State stayed steady at 16 with a nice block and then chased it

Down in the corner her foot kind of slid out from under her I mean thund Del doing a nice job of attacking but Gast and said oh not today great hustle great rotation great helps [Applause] Side the Le posting up on Gaston turns rolls it in ride her up the lane so that she can’t get that deep position cuz there’s just not much you can do when she catches with that L Cason trying to tip it in here com the wild cats nice give and go setting up

[Applause] Sundown andison Booker being defended by jayen Glenn too strong and Lee rebounds it but Booker just rips it away from AOK Lee what it back she said I want that back that’s nice Lee posting up again and again scores now she’s got eight ooh

Ooh yeah she already picked up a foul on Jones so Dian Gaston comes in puts a a forearm in her back can’t do anything to stop her there’s Shah Hol her first basket of the year against Kansas State Gabby Gregory we talked about what a great game she had yesterday Sanchez

Misses Lee BS it in the refs are let them play right now Gonzalez with a little hesy Gaston nice little hook but when these two met in Austin aoka lead did not play that’s when she was recovering from her ankle surgery as Sanchez travels and turns it

Over so Texas hasn’t beaten Kansas state with aoka Lee in the lineup this year so Madison Booker not on the court aiah Moore and Gabby Gregory that’s that’s a fun match up you can see Moore’s numbers over the last three games that’s the first foul on Gabby

Gregory as Moore makes the first free throw we’re here at the T-Mobile Center where the Philip 66 men’s Big 12 Championship will be starting tomorrow afternoon with the second round Wednesday and the quarterfinals on Thursday in the past the women’s and men’s Big 12 have been going on at at the same time

The women over at Municipal Auditorium down the street the men here at T-Mobile but this year they move the women’s tournament up and the only overlapping day will be tomorrow with the first round of the men’s and the championship game for the women’s tomorrow night but rightfully so the women should

Absolutely be playing here Sanchez skying between a couple of Texas players and it gets away Texas shooting 47% from the field big schaer team’s always known for their defense but they have been pretty good offensively this year shooting over 50% on the year aiyah Moore gets it to go and

One you just see the great strength from aiyah Moore who missed games at the beginning in of this year still recovering from that knee injury from last year a seven to nothing Run for the Longhorns bumps into Sandell Lee grabs it no and Texas with a 10-point lead at the

End of the first quarter but one thing that tells you is they’re they’re definitely not afraid of the moment and that they’re either never out of the game or they’re going to continue to play hard until they can make something happen and right now down by 10 kstate

Is the type of team that can get back in it quickly they’re down by 10 as we start the second quarter here at the T-Mobile center it’s the semifinals of the Big 12 championship and that one stripped away from Serena sundell yeah and when you

Look at K State it’s it’s Lee and M so Texas absolutely has the advantage when you start talking about the P that they can constantly bring in the game Shah Holly at the free throw line the six foot senior out of Austin Texas graduated from the UT business school in three

Years Mig schaer calls her of the glue without Rory in the lineup she has stepped up in a big way to really keep this team together and she she had some big shots with Texas though today how about that catch in traffic and managed to hold on to it and drop

Out Lee misses her first free throw attempt yall Big 12 first teamer has received that honor all four years I think the case could have been made for her to get big 12 Player of the Year this year but she missed about seven games with injury I think that had to

Have had an impact on it instead it was Madison Booker and Skyler van who shared co- Big 12 Player of the Year Gaston over Lee and look at that rebound by m [Applause] andand just went and grab that one we going to work on Gaston boy a lot of contact

There and it was touched by Texas so sides chased it into the back court there’s Lee there’s the double team and she’s Still’s able to score wow and aoka Lee doing what Lee does posting up strong I have no idea how she got that shot off but it went in and she was

Going to the free throw line I mean she wasn’t even looking at the basket and she turned and just she knows where the basket is right she’s she’s made enough baskets in her career yes she turns and completes a Point play to draw Kansas state within 10 well State now in a two3 [Applause] Zone Gonzalez got it second three-pointer of the game for Gonzalez on a nice inside out there’s no better time to get hot than the moment that there is Walker high on the backboard she only had two points against West Virginia in the quarterfinals and that’s her first

Basket of the game here that was a great tape I Walker more nice face up so even in the two three Zone because more could step out to the short corner and whoever is defending the middle in this case is she has to come out and guard her and

Gabby Gregory because I physically you may have an off night but this team today today they’ve come out shooting the ball really well Jaye Gonzalez has been a big part of that as she has eight points minuta how about that only two three-pointers all year long for Manda and she drains a

Three and and Coach schaer had a big smile on his face after she jo that one I think that might have been one of those no no no oh good shot biggest lead of the game for the long horns Lee still a machine inside we’re going

To let Lee get hers because we know she’s going to get hers we don’t want other players to have an impact and make a difference in this game five on the shot clock Gaston Rises up over Gregory Texas’s post plays right now they are just dominating the pain on the offensive

End Kansas state is four of their last five the problem is that Texas is five of their last six but AOK KH scoring again in so long 62 sophomore that one gets away from Gonzalez Walker Dives on the floor shot clock’s going to run out that’s going to be a shot clock viol

On Texas so Jones is back into the lineup Taylor Jones for Texas she picked up a quick foul early against aoka Lee Lee catches there one-on-one decides a kick out nice back door cut by Glenn who scores and a travel babby Gregory the defense I I love it [Applause]

Ghost Lee tries to get it to Gabby Gregory the shot clock is winding down good pressure on the ball from Jones Jaylen Glenn got it to fall and it’s a single digigit game matter of time case f will find a way to get back in the ball game Texas

Led by as many as is 14 when they were up 38- 24 so it’s a six to nothing Run for the Wildcats Gonzalez attacks no Lee with a rebound they’ve got time two seconds and Jones blocks the sundell he all of that in the first half mostly

Without Madison Booker who picked up her second foul just seven minutes into the game game so they they extended their lead to 14 points Kansas State cut it to eight but now Madison Booker is back on the court for the Longhorns and K State starting the third quarter out in their two3

Zone an empty possession for the Longhorns a trip to the Big 12 Championship final tomorrow night is on the line if Texas wins it would be a rematch of last year’s championship final that Iowa State won if Kansas state would win it’d be their first trip to the final since

2005 Kansas State 0 for five from three-point range and a foul off the ball by Jaylen Glenn committed that’s her first foul Shay Holly from the short Corner sh H has a really nice jum and a strong Drive fromy Jay Holly with a back door cut and it’s stolen away by [Applause] Sandell

[Applause] sell that’s the second foul for Jo coming up coming up and that one gets away from Glenn and then she saves it back to Aaliyah Moore who’s out in front of everybody for an easy layup aah Mo yeah you probably should have just I know it’s a turnover

But you probably should have just let that go at least you can get your two pits back and aiah Moore now in double figures the first player for Texas with 11 nice move with 10 Mo’s only made three three-pointers all year long but she was feeling pretty good about things

There I’ll take it AOK Le has now moved up to third most points in Kansas history in their excuse me Kansas State history they had their um she surpassed Kendra Wecker on the rebound chart the other day as Gabby Gregory hits the first three-pointer of the game for K

State and all a sudden Cheryl we got a five-point ball game and that’s exactly what Gabby Gregory did the other night she stepped up and made some big buckets to get K State back in the game Booker so easy Lee catches it over Gaston and more rips it Away Booker wow that is not an easy shot stop it Madison Booker she makes it look easy but that was a tough shot because that was actually pretty good [Applause] defense dby Gregory just hit a three a moment ago got another and she immediately points to Lee saying I got you big girl Madison Booker just going to work my goodness we got a good one though another thing that makes her so tough to defend is besides the fact that

She’s really really really good with a tea and and and her size is that she doesn’t get sped up she plays at her own pace and when she’s ready to shoot it she is just going to jump over Walker Banks it in Gonzalez too strong off the backboard

But it gets away from Glenn oh and aiyah Moore comes up hobbling something happened that right away she grabbed her leg she’s had a a terrific Big 12 season and just continues to get better so hopefully that is just a temporary setback for her yeah cuz she’s having an

Incredible game 11 points seven boards playing hard playing making things happen on both ends of the basketball Texas has led this entire game Kansas State got back within five earlier this Quarter and the shot clock is winding down sell blocked by Gaston gets the rebound and puts it back [Applause] in to stay with it and a lot of times when a player gets their shot block they immediately take off going to the other end of the floor Sundale doing a nice

Job of just sticking with it and she didn’t have much time on the shot clock so the awareness to just catch it and put it back up 10 on the shot clock Texas taking their time on this possession 4 seconds Booker going to try to use the screen Rises up over Gabby

Gregory and Gaston with the rebound and then a foul [Applause] called but Booker understanding shot clock running now but Gaston she just went up and grabbed it I don’t know I thought that was a jum ball before the fou and called upon to defend aoka Lee with Taylor Jones picking up fouls early

In each of the first and third quarters Gaston connects and Texas hasn’t missed a free throw in the game [Applause] today yok Le is on the bench so mopin is in the game for K [Applause] State Jaylen Glenn commits an offensive foul that book a pretty good Defender oo

Gave her a nice look going to the mid section I think I read lips pretty good so I’m not going to say what I think he said nice shot clock is off under 10 here in the third the double team Booker gets rid of it Gonzalez short Gaston comes

Flying in again Sandell has time half court shot if it goes no just short for Serena sundell never quit fighting and we got a good ball [Applause] [Applause] game so we start the fourth quarter here in Kansas City at the T-Mobile Center missed on a back door opportunity there The Walker and Glenn were not on the same page and Texas was able to turn them over that a great start to the fourth quarter and then an offensive [Applause]

Foul Lee has position on on gon she was held to just two points in the third quarter after 18 in the first half Le no Walker keeps it alive inch frck draws the foul so Walker with four points this will be her first trip to the free throw

Line an 82% free throw shooter on the year it’s Sports Center at 6 Eastern followed by Bracketology at seven with breakdowns of each region then at 8 Eastern the women’s field of 68 will be revealed everybody realizing you have to think right now what’s on the line as Moore can’t finish

It both these teams want to make it to the Big 12 Championship final on Tuesday night over the top to Lee takes her time kicks it out to Sundale rled in and out W and then it gets away from Booker wow that was a tough break that would

Have been a big Breet by sell and Kansas State forces another turnover sundell two on two leading in got it it’s a four-point ball game this is the closest Kansas state has been this in case they we are exactly where we want to be right now now with 6 and 1/2 minutes to

Go the nerves are in Full Effect right now right you look up at the clock I mean it’s 6 minutes a lot of basketball left to play but understanding what these players are playing for you can understand why loose ball falling on the floor you can understand the nerves right now no foul

Called Gaston goes up high Lee can’t defend and Gaston finishes that was a tough catch finish by Gaston eight points by Gaston now a Le scored 18 points in the first half she’s only got two here in the second half she gets the ball clears a pass scores it and one opportunity going

Through contact headed to the free throw line and and Lee completes the three-point play and it’s a three-point ball game this is the closest that Kansas state has been here in the second half Booker misses and Kansas State can draw within one or possibly tie it on this

Possession that was that was a tough shot Booker Texas has had the lead the entire enre game today they led by as many as 14 and now Serena sundell will go to the free throw line to draw within one and Gaston who did so good not fouling

Throughout the game now has four fouls all of them in the second half as Taylor Jones checks in for Gaston Gaston has been so active on both ends of the court for Texas finishes the first the Big 12 now on ESP along with most of the games from

Both Conference Championship if you’re a big 12 fan you got to have it sign up today and Serena sundell with both free throws makes this a onepoint ball game Ry Glenn is pressuring Booker all over the floor aiah Moore scores on that one to give a three-point cushion to

Texas these two teams split this year Kansas State won a close one in Manhattan without AOK Lee in the lineup Texas won in Austin and how about that a just muscled up inside and she was looking for the foul right fiso that was a lot of contact on that

Shot 59th career double bubble for Lee Madison Booker no Bry Glenn has done a really nice job on Madison Booker this fourth quarter Booker had that stretch where she made six in a row here in the second half she’s only had a free throw since then sundell look at all by

Herself first lead in the ball game for the wild cat say they get a huge three from Jaylen Glenn and now and now Bry just picking Madison Booker up trying to make her uncomfortable with the ball in her here and quiting the crowd is Madison Booker who ties it up and then a

Collision and it gives Texas another possession so the foul is on late after the shot that is correct that is correct Shay Holly misses that so Texas can’t capitalize [Applause] Sundell it looked for a while like Texas was going to dominate this game they had a 14-point lead in the second quarter and now a foul on Texas Booker that’s her fourth foul [Applause] Cheryl and she looks over at viig schaer and says that’s my fourth so with 306

Remaining well Booker’s going to stay on the court it looks like Gaston is coming in to replace Aaliyah Moore so Gaston and Madison Booker each have four fouls with 3 minutes left in the game this is the time where Madison Booker has to grow up and she’s just a freshman

But it’s important for her to be on the floor for her team right now and the difference is when you look at K State the reason why they didn’t panic when Texas had the big leag is the experience that this K State team has Sandell makes both free throws

Kansas State up by two again Gonzalez heaves it up G muscles in Gabby Gregory for the rebound and it’s tied up again that’s why it’s so important to have Gaston on the floor for Texas Diana Gaston is a beast on the boards soon as the shot goes up she is crashing the

Glass trying to give her team another opportunity Gabby Gregory looking for [Applause] Lee jayen Glenn for the shot clock short on that attempt long rebound two minutes to play a trip to the championship final on Tuesday night to meet Iowa state is on the the line shayy

Gonzal and a little bump and an UNR [Applause] opportunity Texas is finding a way to get it done and Dianna Gaston a big part of that just crashing the boards going to get it putting it back and Shaylee Gonzalez putting the ball on the deck getting all the way to the hole and

Shaylee Gonzalez who had a great start to this game now is in double figures this is her first trip to the free throw line and she misses Caston tries to keep it alive but doesn’t a great Box by Gabby Gregory Texas leading by two Kansas State six and three in games

Determined by three points or rest this year and they tie it up again bryley Gonzalez I see you Bley Glen excuse me I see you two in the game up two in the game sh Holly got it and we not scoring against Kansas State in either game this year she’s got

Nine and hits a huge three big bucket big bucket Selle tries to get inside the defense and no call and Texas has the basketball Kansas state has fouls to give with only two team fouls yeah coach Shake was like just be patient we’re not going to get it to rush had a three-point

Lead and that foul at 9 seconds on the shot clock resets to 20 seconds bryy Glenn’s second foul what do you do here [Applause] I was trying to read oh oh W over the to to sh H she said we don’t care if you’re going to fou or not we’re going to go

Score like you don’t give up a layup another stretch for Texas five players in double figures for Texas after Kansas state had regained the lead and then a turn over sundell hesitant drags her pivot foot and they do sundell picks it up that’s the fourth team foul come up big more [Applause]

Catches more short on this one so even if she makes the second it’ll still be a two-possession game and she connects on the second Kansas State chooses not to call the timeout they push it up the court gln gets the screen from Lee and that’s the fifth foul on

Gaston he needed to let that one go yeah and you’re already in foul trouble so 10 points for Gaston eight rebounds a couple of assists a terrific job he scored a few lately but just seven points in the second half after 15 Point first half yeah somebody’s going to go deep as

Aiyah Moore goes the trigger 19.8 remaining she’s looking she’s looking and calls a timeout does she get the timeout in time yes she calls the timeout 19.8 remaining and they inbound it Walker loses her shoe and somebody needs to foul Booker Madison Booker an 88 % free

Throw shooter on the year she’s only been to the line once today made that connects on the second sundell slow developing play sundell just going to go all the way to the rim and she is fouled by Jones with the body 9 seconds you could there not

Rebound kick it out for a three she makes it Texas doesn’t use their timeout and sundell fouls Taylor Jon Jones gets that one to roll [Applause] in sundell drives the length of the Court misses and that that’s going to do it we’ve got a rematch of last year’s Big 12 Championship fin