ABILENE, Texas (Interstat) — In a defensive struggle defined by missed shots and turnovers, the Kansas State Wildcats escaped Moody Coliseum with a 46-44 victory over the SMU Mustangs in a non-conference women’s basketball game Saturday.

The contest, played in front of 1,233 fans, was a far cry from an offensive showcase. Both teams combined to shoot under 30 percent from the floor, with Kansas State converting 17 of 55 attempts and SMU managing just 18 makes on 64 shots. The Wildcats’ ability to grind out possessions and secure key rebounds in the final minutes proved the difference.

Kansas State improved to 2-0 on the young season, while SMU fell to 1-1.

The game was a tale of contrasting halves and quarters. SMU held a narrow 7-6 lead after a sluggish first quarter, but surged ahead by outscoring the Wildcats 18-12 in the second period to take a 25-18 advantage into halftime.

The Wildcats chipped away in the third quarter, narrowing the deficit, and saved their best offensive stretch for the final period. Trailing by one point entering the fourth, Kansas State outscored SMU 15-8 down the stretch to secure the win. The decisive basket came from Gina Garcia, who drove for a layup with under a minute remaining to provide the final margin.

Nastja Claessens was a force for Kansas State, posting a double-double with 8 points and a game-high 11 rebounds in 32 minutes of action. Her work on the glass was critical for a Wildcats team that held a 12-10 advantage in offensive rebounds. Teammate Brandie Harrod also recorded a double-double with 5 points and 10 rebounds, adding two blocks to anchor the interior defense.

SMU was led by Zahra King, who came off the bench to score a team-high 9 points. The Mustangs’ defense was active, generating 12 steals and forcing 20 Kansas State turnovers, which they converted into 10 points. However, SMU’s own offensive struggles, including a 4-for-8 performance from the free-throw line and 14 turnovers of their own, ultimately cost them the game.

The contest was as inefficient as the final score suggests. Kansas State scored 46 points on 70 possessions for an offensive rating of 66.0, while SMU managed just 44 points on 72 possessions for a rating of 61.3. Both teams were ice-cold from beyond the arc, with Kansas State hitting 3 of 21 and SMU making 4 of 20.

Kansas State will look to build on its undefeated start when it hosts Lamar on Monday. SMU seeks to get back on track when it travels to face Texas Tech on Thursday.