Iowa State Held to Three Points in Second Quarter by #2 Baylor, Come Back and Win 57-56

No. 2 Baylor started their day 28-1 and looking forward to putting a sour note on the Senior Day of Nia Washington, Jade Thurmon, Adriana Camber and Inès Nezerwa.

Nezerwa got the Cyclones on the board to open the game up but a technical foul (with two ensuing Juicy Landrum free throws) found the game tied at two.

A very back and forth remainder of the first quarter went on until Inès scored five straight points to put the Cyclones up 19-14.

Ashley Joens scored all three Cyclone points in the second period and Iowa State would trail 28-22 at half.

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The eight point lead Baylor had soon was whittled down thanks to three-point baskets by Espenmiller-McGraw and Camber.

Two Ashley Joens free-throws would tie the game at 30.

A layup by Thurmon and two three-point baskets by Espinmiller-McGraw nullified a Moon Ursin jumper and a Nalyssa Smith to put the Cyclones ahead by one.

Queen Egbo, Baylor’s 6’3” center, made two more baskets near the basket to improve her 60% field-goal clip. The score after three quarters would see No. 2 Baylor ahead, 38-35.

Baylor would open the last act of this dramatic four part play with Nezerwa committing a shooting foul which led to two made free throws by Didi Richards.

Ashley Joens would connect on another of the Cyclones 10 three-pointers of the day, Richards would respond with a jumper but then Rae Johnson got another three and Baylor’s lead was one.

Lauren Cox would score ten seconds later, but after the 8:39 remaining mark, Baylor would only lead by one twice more in this game. (7:43 and 1:44 remaining)

Morgan Kane’s jumper off a Lady Bears turnover broke the 46-all stalemate.

Iowa State kept nudging ahead on the scoreboard but it wouldn’t be settled until Didi Richards committed a shooting foul on Joens which led to the final result seen below.