Box Score | Quotes | Notes

MANHATTAN, Kan. - Kansas State used a big fourth quarter to down UTA 62-49 on Wednesday night to remain undefeated on the season.

The Lady Mavericks trailed by just five points entering the final period, but a 10-2 run opened what was a close contest at Bramlage Coliseum. K-State ended the fourth by outscoring UTA 17-9.

Kansas State's win improved the Wildcats to 9-0 on the season and earned the program its 900th overall victory, just the 20th team to achieve the feat in NCAA Division I. UTA, falling for the second consecutive game, went to 5-2 in ending a span that saw the Lady Mavs away from home for three of their last four games.

K-State improved to 4-0 all-time in the series as the teams have met in each of the last three seasons, all in Manhattan, Kan.

Aysia Evans and Rebekah VanDijk led the offensive effort for UTA. Evans tied a season-high 13 points on 5-6 shooting from the field, including knocking down all three 3-point attempts. VanDijk had a team-high 14 points, falling one rebound short of a double-double.

With six steals, Cierra Johnson surpassed Gale Haynes for ninth on the all-time steals list. Johnson has 179 in her career. The effort is also tied for fourth in single-game history and one shy of her career high.

It was the Wildcats that jumped out of the gate early, scoring the game's first four points. After UTA quickly tied it up at 4-4, Kansas State built up the lead to seven points as UTA's shot went cold. The Lady Mavs turned the ball over on back-to-back trips down the floor, each converted into K-State points. Evans helped cap a quick UTA run with a 3-pointer that tied the game at 13-13 early in the second.

The Wildcats went into the break with a five-point advantage after it knocked down 45.5 percent of their attempts in the half. The teams had 15 turnovers apiece.

It appeared as though K-State would pull away from UTA early in the second half, scoring four quick points similar to the game's opening. However, Evans continued to be the Lady Mavs' lifeline. Evans took advantage of Wildcat turnovers to bring UTA back within four midway through the third.

Evans continued her trend with less than 10 seconds in the quarter, knocking down a corner 3-pointer. After the teams exchanged free throws, UTA was down just five going to the fourth.

KEY RUNS
First Half
UTA forced K-State into a timeout early in the second quarter with a 3-pointer from Aysia Evans that tied the contest at 13-13. The Wildcats responded out of the break with another run, pulling ahead 21-14 as UTA would miss on three consecutive trips down the floor.

Second Half
With UTA nipping at the Wildcats' heels, a 10-2 opening to the fourth quarter halted UTA's upset bid. UTA went four minutes without a bucket to start the period and were unable to get back into the contest for the remainder.

KEY STATS
Rebekah VanDijk's nine rebounds brought the junior center just three short of tying for 10th in program history at 642 rebounds. Kansas State out-blocked UTA 7-1 in the contest, four coming from Breanna Lewis.

UPCOMING GAME
After ending a stretch of playing three of four games away from home, UTA returns to College Park Center to begin a two-game homestand. The Lady Mavs welcome Eastern New Mexico on Sunday, Dec. 11 at 5 p.m.