LUBBOCK, Texas – Despite a 42-point second half, an elongated first-half scoring drought doomed the Texas Tech Lady Raiders in a 65-53 loss to Kansas State on Sunday at United Supermarkets Arena.

Texas Tech (10-9, 1-7) went on a 7-0 run to take a 7-5 lead at the 6:12 mark of the first quarter before failing to score again until the 1:35 mark of the second quarter. By then, Tech’s 14:37 scoring drought allowed Kansas State (14-5, 4-4) to take a 27-9 lead, which was 29-11 at the half.

The 11 first half points and four second quarter points were each season lows for the Lady Raiders, who shot 2-13 in both the first and second quarters (.154), which were season lows for quarter shooting percentage, creating a first half total of 4-26 shooting from the floor.

“We got the people we want shooting the shots, and I thought most of them were pretty open,” Texas Tech head coach Candi Whitaker said. “It was one of those things where this team really feeds off each other and we just couldn’t buy a basket.”

Despite the first half troubles, Tech was able to stage a run in the third quarter. The Lady Raiders went on an 18-6 spurt, charged by three consecutive threes from Ryann Bowser, and then a Bowser pass to Leashja Grant for a layup. Suddenly, Tech was within 12, at 41-29. Bowser finished with 15 points, all coming on a career-high five second-half threes.

“Ryann played like a senior plays this time of year,” Whitaker said. “You can just see the fire in her and her wanting to make plays for her team, win and compete. Obviously she hit some shots but I thought she did a lot of other things. She really attacked the zone with the bounce and was getting in there, making plays and giving us some points. I’m just really proud of her and how hard she played.”

However, the Lady Raiders just couldn’t get over the hump. K-State immediately responded with five quick points to push the lead back to 16. The Wildcats led 49-34 after three quarters. From there, Tech went on another drought to start the fourth. This one, 4:20 in length, allowed K-State’s lead to balloon to 55-34. The Lady Raiders went 17-36 (.472) from the field in the second half, but allowed K-State to shoot 11-22 (.500). Tech finished the contest at 21-62 (.339), while K-State shot 22-47 (.468).

K-State also went 9-13 at the free throw line in the second half, where the Lady Raiders were just 2-11 (18.2%) for the game.

“We dug a huge hole in the first half, couldn’t get a shot to fall and couldn’t make a free throw,” Whitaker said. “K-State switches defenses a lot, and I think that plays a big role in keeping people out of rhythm and from making shots, but I thought we did much better in the second half.”

Dayo Olabode (13 points) and Ivonne CookTaylor (13 points) joined Bowser in double figures. Olabode tied a career high with three threes to go along with eight rebounds, and CookTaylor scored in double figures for the fifth-straight game.

The Lady Raiders lost despite grabbing 20 offensive rebounds, and winning the battle on the glass, 41-31. Today marked just the second time this season Tech has lost when outrebounding its opponent (9-2).

The Lady Raiders will be back in action on Wednesday, Jan. 27, at No. 4 Baylor. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.

Courtesy: TTU Sports Information Department