Pierson Powers Texas Tech

Plenette Pierson scored 22 points as No. 8 Texas Tech rallied late to defeat No. 7 Kansas State, 71-65, on Thursday in the semifinals of the Big 12 Conference tournament at Dallas.

Texas Tech (25-4) trailed for most of the game, but started to come back after Kansas State center Nicole Ohlde picked up her third and fourth fouls in a four-second span. She was taken out of the game with 10:11 left and didn’t return until nearly seven minutes later.

With 2:46 left, Pierson scored inside to give Texas Tech a 66-61 lead. Kansas State (28-3) never got closer than three points.

No. 5 Texas 62, Colorado 47 -- Stacy Stephens had 20 points and 15 rebounds to lead the top-seeded Longhorns (24-5) over the Buffaloes (22-7) in a Big 12 semifinal game.