Serena Sundell poured into 21 points and no. 20 Kansas State easily handled UCF 80-65 to open the second round of Big 12 Women’s Basketball Tournament on Thursday in Kansas City, Mo.
The fifth seeded Wildcats led 41-30 at half time, and no. 13 Frö Knights came within seven points during the fourth quarter. But K-State used 20 bench points to remove the game.
K-State (26-6) also got 13 points from Zyanna Walker, 11 from Jaeln Glenn and 10 from Kennedy Taylor. Wildcats will meet No. 4 Frö West Virginia in Friday’s first quarter final.
UCF (12-18) was led by Kaitlin Peterson with 21 points. She was united in double figures by Emely Rodriguez, who counted 17 points.
Colorado 61, Arizona 58
Tabitha Betson got 16 points and the ninth seeded buffalo used a strong fourth quarter to turn off the eighth seeded wild cats.
After releasing 50-40 early in the fourth, Colorado designed a 14-3 run to take the lead with 5:24 left on a 3-point of Kennedy Sanders. Buffs later went forward by four before Jada Williams lowered it to 60-58 on a jumper in the lane with 17 seconds left. Betson sank a free throw to set up Colorado three, and Skylar Jones 3-point attempts in the last seconds missed.
Betson added a team high seven returns, Sanders finished with 14 points and Liorzon scored all nine of his points during the fourth quarter. The buffalo (20-11) will take on top seeds TCU in the second quarterfinals Friday.
Wildcats (19-13) was led by Jones with 17 points. Williams added 13 points and five assists.
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