WBB: Cyclones fall short at Kansas State

The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletic Communications.

MANHATTAN, Kansas – The Iowa State women’s basketball team (15-11, 7-8 Big 12) battled hard but ultimately came up short at Kansas State (14-12, 8-7 Big 12), 60-51. KSU held a 16-point second-half lead that Iowa State would cut down to as few as five in the fourth quarter. ISU ultimately came up short in Manhattan, falling to KSU.

How it Happened
Iowa State got off to a slow start on the offensive end but was lifted by the play of Ashley Joens. She hit a layup as the first-quarter sounded, and the Cyclones trailed the Wildcats 13-11. Joens accounted for nine of Iowa State’s first-quarter points.

The Wildcats held Iowa State without a field goal for more than seven minutes in the second quarter. An Adriana Camber 3-pointer broke the Cyclones’ slump from the field to cut KSU’s lead to 21-15. Despite their offensive woes, the ISU defense kept the Cardinal and Gold in the game. Iowa State held KSU to just 1-6 shooting from deep in the first half and forced nine Kansas State turnovers. At the break, Kansas State held a 25-17 advantage over Iowa State.

Kristin Scott left the game in the second quarter with an injury and did not return to the contest.

The Iowa State offense began to click in the third quarter. After hitting just two 3-pointers in the first half, the Cyclones went 3-6 from downtown in the third quarter. Despite the uptick in offensive output, Kansas State stretched its lead to 44-31 heading to the fourth quarter.

Out of the final break, the Cyclones hit four of their first six field goals and the K-State lead that was once as large as 16, was suddenly just six (47-41). Kansas State pushed the lead back to nine, but ISU answered back and Morgan Kane’s first 3-pointer of the season made it a five-point game with under five minutes to play.

Kansas State showed its teeth down the stretch and came away with the 60-51 victory.

Players of Note
Ashley Joens secured her 15^th double-double performance of the 2020 season. She went for 17 points and hauled in 13 rebounds. She also added three steals on the defensive end.

Rae Johnson tallied her ninth double-digit scoring output of the season with 10 points on 4-8 shooting. She churned out two assists and nabbed a steal.

Next Up
Iowa State returns home on Saturday when they will host West Virginia in Hilton Coliseum. Tip is set for noon for the Cyclones and Mountaineers. The game will be available through Cyclones.TV.

Jared Stansbury

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Jared a native of Clarinda, Iowa, started as the Cyclone Fanatic intern in August 2013, primarily working as a videographer until starting on the women’s basketball beat prior to the 2014-15 season. Upon earning his Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Iowa State in May 2016, Jared was hired as the site’s full-time staff writer, taking over as the primary day-to-day reporter on football and men’s basketball. He was elevated to the position of managing editor in January 2020. He is a regular contributor on 1460 KXNO in Des Moines and makes regular guest appearances on radio stations across the Midwest. Jared resides in Ankeny with his four-year-old puggle, Lolo.

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