Iowa State entered the fourth quarter of its game against Oklahoma on Wednesday with a 14-point lead, but quickly the Sooners responded.
Jennie Baranczyk’s No. 23 ranked Oklahoma squad trimmed that to six with in the first two minutes of the fourth quarter.
Despite the punches thrown by OU, Bill Fennelly’s Cyclones fought back at the right moments and pulled away for the 81-71 victory.
Emily Ryan continued what is undoubtedly her best three-game stretch of her career at Iowa State, finishing with 22 points along with eight assists and four rebounds.
In her past three games, Ryan has accumulated 39 assists and rose to the top of the NCAA’s stat in the category.
Ashley Joens was just 5-25 from the field during the game, but behind three triples and a perfect mark from the free throw line, she put up 17 points and 13 rebounds.
The double-double was Joens’ fifth in the team’s past six games.
Both Joens and Ryan have elevated their play as the team gets into the thick of conference play, however the post play from the Cyclones might be even more integral.
Beatriz Jordao and Morgan Kane each scored in double figures for the team, the second game in a row that had happened.
The pair’s 27 points and six boards combined was enough to help Iowa State to yet another victory.
The win gives Iowa State a 2-0 start to Big 12 play and a 13-1 record overall.
Paired with an undefeated mark at Hilton Coliseum, the Cyclones will return home for their next game on Saturday, January 8 against TCU.
The Horned Frogs have only played one game since upsetting No. 18 Texas A&M, coming earlier this week in a 26-point loss to SMU.
Big 12 Standings
| Position | Team | Ovr. | Conf. | GB |
| 1 | Iowa State | 12-1 | 2-0 | – |
| 2 | Kansas State | 12-2 | 2-0 | – |
| 3 | Oklahoma | 12-1 | 1-1 | 1.0 |
| 3 | Texas | 11-1 | 1-1 | 1.0 |
| 5 | Texas Tech | 8-5 | 1-1 | 1.0 |
| 6 | Kansas | 9-1 | 0-0 | 1.0 |
| 7 | TCU | 4-5 | 0-0 | 1.0 |
| 8 | Baylor | 10-3 | 0-1 | 1.5 |
| 9 | West Virginia | 7-4 | 0-1 | 1.5 |
| 10 | Oklahoma State | 5-6 | 0-2 | 1.5 |
No. 12 Iowa State (2-0) 81, No. 23 Oklahoma (1-1) 71
Texas Tech (1-1) 74, No. 9 Texas (1-1) 61
Kansas State (2-0) 60, Oklahoma State (0-2) 49
Saturday, January 8
1:00 p.m. – TCU (0-0) @ No. 12 Iowa State (2-0)
4:00 p.m. – No. 23 Oklahoma (1-0) @ Kansas (0-0)
6:00 p.m. – Kansas State (2-0) @ West Virginia (0-1)
7:30 p.m. – Oklahoma State (0-2) @ Texas Tech (1-1)
Sunday, January 9
POSTPONED – No. 9 Texas (1-1) @ No. 14 Baylor (0-1)
Monday, January 10
6:30 p.m. – Kansas (0-0) @ TCU (0-0)
Tuesday, January 11
6:30 p.m. – No. 12 Iowa State (2-0) @ Kansas State (2-0)
Wednesday, January 12
6:00 p.m. – No. 14 Baylor (0-1) @ No. 23 Oklahoma (1-1)
6:00 p.m. – Texas Tech (1-1) @ West Virginia (0-1)
6:30 p.m. – Oklahoma State (0-2) @ TCU (0-0)
7:00 p.m. – Kansas (0-0) @ No. 9 Texas (1-1)
Saturday, January 8
1:00 p.m. – TCU (0-0) @ No. 12 Iowa State (1-0)
4:00 p.m. – No. 23 Oklahoma (1-0) @ Kansas (0-0)
6:00 p.m. – Kansas State (1-0) @ West Virginia (0-1)
7:30 p.m. – Oklahoma State (0-1) @ Texas Tech (0-1)
Sunday, January 9
POSTPONED – No. 9 Texas (1-0) @ No. 14 Baylor (0-1)
Monday, January 10
6:30 p.m. – Kansas @ TCU
Tuesday, January 11
6:30 p.m. – No. 12 Iowa State @ Kansas State
Wednesday, January 12
6:00 p.m. – No. 14 Baylor @ No. 23 Oklahoma
6:00 p.m. – Texas Tech @ West Virginia
6:30 p.m. – Oklahoma State @ TCU
7:00 p.m. – Kansas @ No. 9 Texas
