SLATE: Chambers number retired, but Kansas State loses to Kansas

It should have been a glorious day.

The guests at Bramlage Coliseum were the Kansas Jayhawks, a team which hadn’t beaten K-State in ten tries dating back to 2014. What better environment to raise the sixth Wildcat women’s jersey to the rafters of the Octagon?

Unfortunately, a brutal 21-9 second quarter put K-State in a 32-20 hole at the half, and that put a damper on the halftime ceremony honoring former Cat star Brittany Chambers. Justin Toscano of the Mercury has that story.

The athletic department characterized the second half as a “furious comeback”, but the reality is that K-State (10-6, 1-3) only outscored the Jayhawks (11-3, 1-2) 34-29 over the final 20 minutes, bowing 61-54 in the end. A new reality is settling in over this rivalry, as Kansas finally seems to have gotten its act together in women’s basketball.

Peyton Williams led the way for K-State with 19 points, adding eight boards and five blocked shots. Kayla Goth (11) and Rachel Ranke (10) also reached double figures. Kansas also had three players in double figures, led by a game-high 20 from Christalah Lyons.

Things are not going to get easier. Next up for the Cats is a Wednesday clash at Bramlage with Texas, a team K-State hasn’t beaten since a 66-57 upset on February 4, 2015.

But yesterday wasn’t all bad news. Tyrone Lewis, a three-star corner from Hammond, La., announced on Twitter that he’s committed to the Cats. Kellis Robinett fills in the details over at the Eagle, including the fact that we can hang this one on Blake Seiler.