Short-Handed Cougars Fall to Wildcats

Wednesday, January 7

Houston, Texas

6:30 p.m.

University of Houston

6-9,0-4Big 12

Kansas State

9-8,2-2Big 12

Kansas St.

Houston

1/7/2026 10:34:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Game Book (PDF)Postgame Press Conference - Houston (YouTube)Postgame Press Conference - K-State

Houston drops Wednesday contest against Kansas State

HOUSTON – Down to six available players left in the fourth quarter, the University of Houston Women's Basketball team fell in a tightly contested 71-62 loss against Kansas State inside the Fertitta Center on Wednesday evening.

Senior guard TK Pitts was Houston's (6-9, 0-4 Big 12) only scorer in double figures, finishing with 16 points. Tess Heal led Kansas State (9-8, 2-2 Big 12) with 31 points.

Five players were disqualified in the fourth quarter, including four Cougars. Pitts, graduate forward Amirah Abdur-Rahim, graduate guard Briana Peguero and redshirt-senior guard Kyndall Hunter exited the game for Houston and Jenessa Cotton was the lone Wildcat who was ejected.

A game of runs saw both sides trade momentum in the opening period with Houston taking an early 9-8 lead. A 7-2 run gave Kansas State a lead in the period before the Cougars capped off the quarter with five-straight points to lead 16-15.

Houston produced two major runs in the second, ending the quarter with seven-consecutive makes at the free throw line to extend its lead to 37-26 at the half.

The Wildcats pieced together several runs to cut into the deficit before free throws from sophomore guard Shun'teria Anumele knotted up the score at 45-45 to end the third period.

The Cougars were leading 53-49 with 6:38 remaining in the fourth quarter before Abdur-Rahim, Pitts, Peguero, Hunter and Cotton were ejected due to an altercation. After review, Kansas State was awarded six free throws, converting all six to regain the lead and escape Fertitta Center with the victory.

UP NEXT
Houston welcomes BYU at 1 p.m., Saturday, for Youth Basketball Day. Fans can stick around for postgame autographs with junior forward Jorynn Ross.

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– UHCougars.com –