Recap: In a Game of Runs, Iowa State Women Fall to the Sooners at Hilton

The Iowa State women dropped their fifth straight game in a 71-77 loss to the Oklahoma Sooners on Saturday at Hilton Coliseum. After a quiet game on Wednesday, Seanna Johnson returned with her typical double-double performance against the Sooners. The junior guard led all scorers with 18 points, and she added 12 rebounds.

It was a game of runs on Saturday, and Iowa State (11-9, 3-6) ultimately could not make a final push in the 4th quarter. The Sooners shot the ball well in the 1st quarter to jump out to a 17-9 lead after the first eight minutes of action. Iowa State, as it has for much of the season, struggled early in the paint. Oklahoma held a 12-2 advantage in the paint after the 1st quarter. It looked like Iowa State might be in for a very long afternoon, but the Cyclones were able to make a vital 8-0 run in the final two minutes of the quarter.

Iowa State buckled down on defense at the beginning of the 2nd quarter. The Cyclones were able to draw a couple offensive fouls on the Sooners that contributed to six turnovers on Oklahoma in just under four minutes. Iowa State also got in the bonus early in the 2nd quarter. Emily Durr got her tenth point of the game on a banked three that gave Iowa State its first lead at 23-21 midway through the quarter. The sophomore guard led all scorers and played 12 minutes in the first half. Meredith Burkhall added a layup to give the Cyclones a four-point advantage, but a quick 6-0 run helped the Sooners regain the lead. With a 10-1 run of its own, Iowa State went ahead 35-28 to end the half. By the end of the half, Iowa State had tied Oklahoma with 16 points in the paint.

Oklahoma started the 3rd quarter on a 11-3 run that left the game tied midway through the quarter. Things did not improve as the quarter progressed. Oklahoma went into a 2-3 zone and trapping press in the 3rd that limited Iowa State to just 13 points. Turnovers plagued Iowa State and helped Oklahoma to a 54-48 lead going into the 4th quarter. Like it did on Wednesday against TCU, Iowa State gave up another big quarter that proved to be the deciding factor. Oklahoma scored 26 points in the 3rd.

A Bridget Carleton three pointer, followed by a free throw from the freshman, brought the Cyclones within four points with eight minutes to play. Both teams extended possessions early in the quarter with offensive rebounds. Johnson converted on a three point play to trim Oklahoma's lead to just three points. On the next possession, Jadda Buckley was fouled, and she hit two free throws to bring Iowa State within 59-60 with six minutes to play. A sudden 6-0 run helped the Sooners go up seven points just a minute after it appeared the Cyclones might use a 4th quarter rally to get the victory. Iowa State was able to claw within three points with three minutes to play, but a Kidd Blaskowsky three to tie the game would not fall. Oklahoma scored on its next possession, and Iowa State could not get any closer than three points the rest of the game.

Along with Johnson, Buckley (16 points), Carleton (15 points), and Durr (10 points) scored in double figures for the Cyclones. Maddie Manning, an Ankeny native and junior guard, contributed 13 points for the Sooners.

The Cyclones travel to Lawrence, Kansas, to take on the Jayhawks at 7pm on Tuesday at Allen Fieldhouse. The game will be available on ESPN3. Iowa State defeated Kansas 65-49 on January 9th at Hilton Coliseum.