On a crowd-filled day inside United Supermarkets Arena, the Wildcats stunned No. 17 Texas Tech with a gritty 65\u201359 victory. They did it by snapping the Lady Raiders\u2019 19-game winning streak in front of a loud crowd of 9,261. It was a result that reshaped the Big 12 picture and showcased just how dangerous this young Kansas State team can be.<\/p>\n
Jeff Mittie\u2019s Kansas State Wildcats Take Center Stage<\/p>\n
Texas Tech entered the matchup unbeaten, riding a winning streak that matched a program record set during its 1992\u201393 national championship season. The Lady Raiders had not lost at home all year and were perfect in Big 12 play. By the time the final seconds ticked away, Kansas State had handed them their first home loss of the season and their first conference defeat.<\/p>\n
CATS WIN!!!#EMAW<\/a>\ud83d\udc4c pic.twitter.com\/DvIDrm8Fyr<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 K-State Women’s Basketball (@KStateWBB) January 17, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n In his 12th season at the helm, head coach Jeff Mittie delivered a clear message before tipoff. The coach asked them to play with toughness and poise. <\/p>\n Texas Tech came in with six core returners and nine seniors, boasting an experienced roster that had been outscoring opponents by more than 21 points per game. Kansas State, on the other hand, is one of the youngest teams in the country. <\/p>\n Ten of the Wildcats\u2019 13 players are freshmen or sophomores, and ten had never worn a K-State uniform before this season. Junior guard Taryn Sides was the only player on the roster who had scored a point for Kansas State prior to the year.<\/p>\n Freshman guard Gina Garcia leads Big 12 freshmen and ranks second nationally among freshmen with 89 assists. She scored 11 points while calmly navigating Texas Tech\u2019s pressure. Jordan Speiser, one of the top high school prospects in the Class of 2025. Brandie Harrod helped Kansas State dominate the glass in a stunning 46\u201320 rebounding advantage that set the tone for the entire afternoon.<\/p>\n How Kansas State Closed the Door<\/p>\n The game itself was a back-and-forth battle. Kansas State used a 14\u20133 run in the second quarter to take a 30\u201325 lead into halftime. Texas Tech responded with an 11\u20130 surge in the fourth quarter, grabbing a six-point lead with 8:17 remaining. <\/p>\n Instead, the Wildcats stayed composed. Locking in defensively, Kansas State allowed just one three-pointer over the final 2:24 and closed the game on an 8\u20131 run. The Wildcats outscored Texas Tech 28\u201314 in the paint and turned that dominance into a 14\u20133 edge in second-chance points.<\/p>\n Tess Heal led with 12 points, while Gina Garcia, Taryn Sides, and Jordan Speiser each added 11. Speiser\u2019s all-around impact stood out, as she also recorded seven rebounds, three assists, two steals, and one block in just 17 minutes.<\/p>\n The win marked Kansas State\u2019s second victory over an AP Top 25 opponent this season, following a 61\u201360 win over then-No. 13 Ole Miss on December 7. Now 10\u20139 overall and 3\u20133 in Big 12 play, the Wildcats head back to Manhattan with momentum and belief.<\/p>\n Kansas State will look to build on that confidence when it returns home to Bramlage Coliseum to face the Houston Cougars on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. <\/p>\n More from Kansas State On SIStay up to date with the Wildcats by bookmarking \u00a0\u00a0Kansas State On SI<\/a> \u00a0 and follow us on Twitter<\/a>.\u00a0