AMES, IOWA – The Iowa State women’s basketball team (10-3 overall, 2-0 Big 12) defeated Oklahoma State (11-2 1-1 Big 12), 49-42 at Hilton Coliseum on Saturday. The Cyclones locked down on defense in this one to overcome their second-lowest offensive output of the season and found a way to continue their eight-game winning streak. Iowa State held OSU to just 18-of-56 shooting (32.1 percent) and forced 17 turnovers in the victory.
While it was a strong team defensive effort across the board, Nicole Blaskowsky was tremendous in putting the clamps on Oklahoma State star Brittney Martin. Martin, a senior guard, came into the game averaging 24 points while shooting the ball at a 51 percent clip. With Blaskowsky getting the bulk of the defensive assignment, the Cyclones held Martin to six points on 3-of-9 shooting.
The Cyclones shot just 21 percent from the field in the first half, including just 2-of-15 from three-point range, as they trailed 21-19 after 20 minutes. Seanna Johnson and Bridget Carleton led the Cyclones in the first half with five points each, while Jadda Buckley assisted on four of Iowa State’s six field goals in the half.
Oklahoma State opened up its biggest lead of the game early on in the third quarter after going ahead 28-21 on consecutive layups by Kaylee Jensen with 5:54 to play in the third quarter. The Cyclones would then put together a 9-1 spurt over the next three and a half minutes. A triple by Blaskowsky late in the quarter gave ISU its first lead since early in the first quarter. The Cowgirls would regain a 32-31 lead to end the quarter.
The last stanza was all Cyclones, with Johnson scoring the first six points of the quarter. In total the junior would score nine of her 16 points in the fourth. She also assisted on a crucial basket by Bryanna Fernstrom to put the Cyclones ahead 44-40 with 1:23 to play in the game. The Cyclones, who shot 22-of-25 from the free throw line for the game, put the game away at the charity stripe to move to 2-0 in Big 12 play.
Seanna Johnson put up 16 points and 13 rebounds in what has become typical during the monster junior campaign she is putting together. While her shooting percentage was a bit lower against the stingy OSU defense, she came through would buckets when it counted. Her nine points in the final quarter led all scorers, and ultimately tipped the scales in Iowa State’s favor.
Jade Buckley recorded the 21st game of her career with at least five assists.
Iowa State will be back in action on Wednesday, Jan. 6 as they travel to Austin, Texas to face the No. 5 Texas Longhorns at 7 p.m. CT.
