AMES – Bill Fennelly’s Cyclones topped Kansas State in their first Big 12 Conference game of the season.
The Iowa State women’s basketball team (10-2, 1-0 Big 12) improved to 9-0 in Hilton Coliseum with its defeat of the Kansas State Wildcats (10-2, 0-1 Big 12) 60-55 in the Big 12 opener. Iowa State is now 14-5 in Big 12 home openers and 11-8 all-time in Big 12 openers.
Former Mohawk basketball star Jadda Buckley scored 7 points and had 3 rebounds before a dislocated finger slowed her down.
The Cyclones started to open things up at the 8-minute mark in the first half, when senior Brynn Williamson netted her third 3-pointer of the game to give Iowa State its largest lead of the game, 24-18, forcing a K-State timeout. The Cyclones pushed the envelope with a K-State team that leads the nation in scoring defense. The Cyclone defense would hold the Wildcats scoreless for over 6 minutes as they mounted a 28-20 lead.
In the second half, Iowa State would allow the Wildcats to come back with 11 second-half turnovers. The Cyclones saw a lead of as large as 13 points shrink to nothing as Ashia Woods tied it at 50-50. The next possession, Iowa State got its lead back for good when Fallon Ellis netted a 3-pointer off an assist from Williamson to give the Cyclones a 53-50 lead. The final stretch came down to free throw shooting and Iowa State delivered as the Cyclones closed out the game going 6-of-7 from the line in the closing minutes.
Brynn Williamson got the Cyclones started early with three 3-pointers in the first half as the Cyclones struggled early against the K-State zone defense. Williamson would finish the game with her second-career double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds, tying a career-high. Williamson also added three assists.
Iowa State hits the road to take on TCU in Fort Worth, Texas on Wednesday at 7 p.m. Iowa State returns to Hilton Coliseum next Saturday at 7 p.m. as it takes on No. 3 Texas in Hilton Coliseum. Iowa State will celebrate head coach Bill Fennelly’s 20th anniversary and the game will be broadcast on FSN.
We're not sure if this was before or after she dislocated her finger, but it was more #buckets from Buckley. pic.twitter.com/bgqZfR1nn5
— Cyclone Basketball (@CycloneWBB) January 3, 2015