Recap: TCU Horned Frogs Use 17-2 Run to Leap Past the Cyclones

The Iowa State Cyclones dropped their fourth straight game on Wednesday night in a 62-72 loss to the TCU Horned Frogs at Hilton Coliseum. Iowa State (11-8, 3-5) fell victim to a 17-2 run late in the 2nd quarter that was ultimately the deciding factor. Seanna Johnson started the game and played 39 minutes, but the junior guard only managed to score three points on 1-11 shooting. Johnson was questionable for Wednesday's game after a fall against Baylor last Saturday. Freshman Bridget Carleton led Iowa State with 23 points and 11 rebounds.

Despite an early rebounding advantage, Iowa State was limited offensively in the 1st quarter due to five turnovers. Kidd Blaskowsky sank a three pointer from the right baseline on Iowa State's first possession, and Meredith Burkhall also hit her first shot to give the Cyclones an early 6-2 lead. Following the quick start, the Horned Frogs went on a 6-2 run of their own to tie the game at 8-8 midway through the 1st quarter. Carleton sank her first shot of the night at the very end of the quarter to give Iowa State a 14-12 lead after 10 minutes of action.

Iowa State had to rely on Claire Ricketts in the post for nearly the entire 2nd quarter due to two quick fouls on Burkhall. Jadda Buckley hit her first field goal early in the quarter to give the Cyclones an 18-15 lead. After three earlier misses, Emily Durr found her stride and hit a three pointer to give Iowa State a 26-21 advantage, the team's biggest lead of the game. The lead did not last long. TCU was able to quickly overwhelm the Cyclones with an 11-0 run over just two minutes. TCU hit a wide open three pointer at the buzzer to finish the quarter, and Iowa State was down 28-38 at the half. The Cyclones shot 31% from the floor in the first half. Both teams made four three pointers in the first half, but the Horned Frogs only attempted five shots from long range. Iowa State shot 15 threes in the first 20 minutes. Johnson finished the half with just three points and three rebounds.

Carleton got the Cyclones off to a quick start in the 3rd quarter with a three pointer, but it failed to spark a run or the Hilton crowd. Free throw shooting was a struggle all night for Iowa State; the Cyclones finished just 65% from the line. Burkhall, with less than two minutes expired in the 3rd quarter, picked up her third foul, which forced Bill Fennelly to bench the freshman in favor of Madison Baier. Iowa State trimmed the TCU lead to nine points several times in the 3rd, but the Horned Frogs always had an answer. By the end of the 3rd, TCU still had a 51-41 lead.

The Cyclones were within eight early in the 4th quarter, but, just as it had all game, TCU answered with a big three to extend the lead back to 11 points. Down 14 points with 7:42 to play, it appeared Iowa State would not be able to make a rally. The Cyclones did manage to get within seven points on a Burkhall bucket with 3:23 to play, but Iowa State could not stop the Horned Frogs from making a couple key baskets in the final minutes.

Iowa State, now desperate for a victory, takes on the Oklahoma Sooners on Saturday at 1pm at Hilton Coliseum. The game will be televised on Fox Sports Net.