Cyclone Defense Stops Mizzou, 64-46

Saturday, February 9

Ames, Iowa

7:30 PM

Iowa State

15-7; 4-5

Missouri

8-15; 1-9

Team	1	2	F
Missouri	23	23	46
Iowa State	29	35	64

Cyclone Defense Stops Mizzou, 64-46

02.09.2008 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: cyclones.com

AMES, Iowa ? Iowa State scored 10 unanswered points to open the second half, as the Cyclones defeated Missouri, 64-46, Saturday night at Hilton Coliseum. Four players finished in double figures for the Cyclones and the Iowa State defensive effort was one of its best since beginning Big 12 play.

Junior Jocelyn Anderson recorded a career-high 15 points, breaking her career mark for the second consecutive game. Anderson went 4-of-9 from the field and 7-of-9 from the charity stripe. She also grabbed four rebounds and had one blocked shot. Alison Lacey also had an outstanding game, finishing with 14 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. Heather Ezell and Amanda Nisleit each had 11 points for ISU. Alyssa Hollins was the only Tiger in double figures with 14 points.

“It's been an amazing transition for Jocelyn,” ISU head coach Bill Fennelly said. “It's been a really good week for her. I think she is exactly what is great about this state. She's a hardworking, appreciative person who comes everyday and does her job.”

Iowa State has won its last two, improving to 15-7 on the season and 4-5 in the Big 12. Missouri dropped to 8-15 overall and 1-9 in the league.

The Cyclones led, 29-23, at the intermission after shooting 45.5 percent and outrebounding the Tigers, 18-12. Iowa State got out to an early 6-2 lead, with back-to-back baskets from Anderson for four of her nine first-half points, but Mizzou cut it to one, 6-5, and then tied it at 8-all.

After MU took its final lead at 11-10, the Cyclones went on an 11-0 run for a 21-11 lead, capped by an Anderson score. The teams traded scores until Mizzou put together five straight, including a trey by Hollins with 15 seconds to go in the period to cut the margin to four, 27-23. Lacey hit a field goal at the buzzer for the 29-23 halftime score.

The Cyclones scored 10 unanswered points to start the second half, including five from Nisleit, to post a 16-point lead, 39-23. After Anderson earned a conventional three points, giving ISU a 44-27 margin, Missouri went on a 7-0 run, with scores from four different players, to cut the deficit to eight, 44-36.

Lacey hit a three-pointer with eight and a half minutes to go to make it an 11-point Iowa State advantage, 49-38. Mizzou was able to cut the lead to nine on a couple of occasions, but after dicing it to 52-43, the Cyclones went on a 10-1 run to give ISU its largest lead of the night, 64-44. MU hit a field goal at the end to make an 18-point margin for the Cyclones.

Iowa State shot 48.8 percent for the game, including 52.4 percent in the second half. The Cyclones outrebounded Mizzou, 38-23, and hit 16-of-22 free throws while sending the Tigers to the line just five times. The Tigers shot just 35.3 percent for the contest and 33.3 percent from three-point range.

“I thought our half-court defense was as good as it has been in a long time,” Fennelly said. “Fundamentally we are doing a better job of not fouling people.”

The Cyclones will play their final of three straight home games on Wednesday, playing host to No. 18 Kansas State at 7 p.m. at Hilton Coliseum. The game will be televised by Mediacom.