Twister Sisters Fall to Top-Ranked South Carolina, 83-65

After an incredible shooting display against TCU, the Cyclones welcome top-ranked South Carolina into Hilton Coliseum. Starters remain Kristin Scott, Ashley Joens, Kylie Feuerbach, Emily Ryan, and Lexi Donarski. Let’s roll.

South Carolina starts the game off torching ISU’s 2-3 zone, making 4 of their first 5 shots to get up 10-0 in the early going. The Cyclones counter with 7 straight of their own to get the Twister Sisters rolling. The Gamecocks kept the hot hand all throughout the first quarter, knocking down five first quarter 3’s to give them a 10 point advantage at the end of one, 27-17.

Iowa State had a rough start to the second quarter, turning the ball over and missing every shot they took, while South Carolina kept their foot on the gas. The Cyclones missed 12 straight shots and didn’t score for about 9 minutes, but the deficit is only 15 before SC calls their first timeout of the game. Iowa State chipped in to that lead ever so slightly, bringing it to just 14 points at the end of the first half, 44-30.

The Cyclones and Gamecocks trade baskets to start the second half, before Iowa State goes on an 8-0 run to bring it within 10. Ashley Joens slowly willing this team back into it midway through the third quarter. South Carolina remained calm, cool, and collected all throughout ISU’s quick spurts of scoring as they bring a 22 point lead into the final stanza.

Bill Fennelly and Co. just could not get anything going offensively in the 4th quarter. They were able to hang around, but just could not dig themselves out of an already huge hole. The Gamecocks would take this one, 83-65 .

South Carolina is a very good team, but so is Iowa State. Although they ran out of gas in the second half, they really did not play that bad. Shots just were not falling, you’ll have that. The Gamecocks shot lights out and rebounded back after a tough loss. Iowa State falls to 2-2, but that does not define this team early in the season. A little more attention to detail and the Cyclones will be a force to be reckoned with.