Strong 2nd Quarter Helps No. 16 Texas Take Down Cyclones

Iowa State (9-4, 0-2) got ahead in the final minutes of the 4th quarter, but the Cyclones were unable to secure a victory against No. 16 Texas in a 68-75 loss on Sunday at Hilton Coliseum.

Jadda Buckley had 19 points to lead the Cyclones, who got down as much as 13 points in the second Big 12 game of the season. Texas pulled away in the 2nd quarter, and it appeared the visitors might coast to victory, but the Cyclones came ready to play in the 3rd quarter. Despite cutting Texas’ lead and even going ahead, the Cyclones couldn’t get enough stops in the final minutes.

Seanna Johnson scored 17 points and had nine rebounds for Iowa State, and Meredith Burkhall and Heather Bowe also scored in double figures.

Even with five turnovers in the 1st quarter, the Cyclones hung around with the Longhorns thanks to solid shooting that included a 5-5 streak from the floor to finish the quarter. Five Cyclones scored in the 1st, and Johnson and Bowe led Iowa State with six points apiece to build a 21-20 advantage over Texas. Bowe, fresh off a strong 11-point performance against Oklahoma State, made her first start on Sunday.

Two quick free throws and a layup by Buckley put the Cyclones ahead by five points early in the 2nd quarter, but the Longhorns went on an 8-0 run to storm ahead 28-25. Iowa State went without a turnover for a large portion of the quarter, but a 1-8 shooting stretch allowed Texas to pull ahead.

Burkhall had a solid 2nd quarter, and the sophomore finished the half with 7 points and 4 rebounds, but no Cyclone was able to stop an 11-0 run by the Longhorns to close the half with a 41-30 lead over Iowa State.

The Cyclones got down by 13 points early in the 3rd quarter, but a 9-0 run that was capped off by a Buckley trey helped Iowa State stay within striking distance at 39-43. The Longhorns hit a couple jumpers after a long scoring drought to extend the lead back to eight, but Iowa State had an answer of its own, and the quarter concluded with the Cyclones down by just three points at 46-49. Iowa State had a chance for a three-point play and a tie game, but a drive by Bowe that initially led to a basket and blocking foul on Texas was eventually overturned and called an offensive foul on the Cyclones.

In the 4th quarter, a quick 4-0 spurt gave Texas some breathing room, but Iowa State stayed close thanks to a Bridget Carleton three-pointer with 8:04 to play. Carleton struggled to get much going offensively throughout the game and finished with just eight points on 2-10 shooting. Burkhall, in perhaps her best game of the season, made a jumper midway through the 4th that put the Cyclones within a possession of Texas at 52-55. TeeTee Starks added a layup to bring the score to 56-57 with under five minutes to play, and Buckley got a layup of her own to put the Cyclones ahead 58-57.

Down the final stretch, both teams traded baskets, but a three-pointer by Texas put the Longhorns ahead for good with 2:48 to play. A three-pointer by Johnson brought the Cyclones to within 68-71 with 23 seconds to play, and the Cyclones even had the chance to tie the game thanks to a Texas turnover, but Iowa State could not capitalize on the opportunity.

Iowa State travels to Lubbock for a 6pm game against Texas Tech on Wednesday.