No. 13 Texas Halts Cyclone Home Winning Streak

Sunday, February 15

Ames, Iowa

2:30 PM

Iowa State

18-6; 6-4

Texas

19-5; 7-3

Team	1	2	F
Texas	20	35	55
Iowa State	26	26	52

No. 13 Texas Halts Cyclone Home Winning Streak

02.15.2009 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: cyclones.com

AMES, Iowa ? The 16th-ranked Iowa State women's basketball team led by five points with just over two minutes remaining, but 13th-ranked Texas ramped up the defense and the Longhorns hit big shots to come from behind to pick up a 55-52 win over the Cyclones Sunday afternoon at Hilton Coliseum.

The Longhorn win snapped a 13-game home winning streak for the Cyclones. Iowa State dropped to 18-6 overall and 6-4 in the Big 12, while Texas improved to 19-5 this season and 7-3 in the league. Iowa State fell to sixth place in the league standings.

Complete Post-Event Coverage
Final Stats Notes Texas Newsconference Game Highlights First Half Replay		Quotes Photo Album \| Purchase Photos ISU Newsconference Second Half Replay

Iowa State's crowd of 12,242 pink-clad fans ranked 18th all-time in Cyclone women's basketball history. The Cyclones celebrated their Pink Zone contest, the WBCA initiative to raise awareness for breast cancer, against Texas. Three of Iowa State's white uniforms with pink trim will be auctioned off at cyclones.com to raise money for the cause.

“I want to thank everyone for being part of such a great day,” head coach Bill Fennelly said. “A lot of things were accomplished well beyond winning and losing a basketball game. Give Texas credit, they made plays and we didn't. (Erika) Arriaran hit some unbelievable shots. We also had opportunities to make a better play and make a difference in the game. They're a very good team, very well coached.”

Alison Lacey finished with 19 points and hit three long-range field goals. Kelsey Bolte also finished in double figures for Iowa State with 11 points, hitting another three treys for ISU. Three Cyclones finished with six rebounds as ISU outrebounded the Longhorns, 37-35. Arriaran led Texas with 16 points, including 13 in the second half, hitting big shot after big shot with a defensive hand in her face. Ashley Lindsey had 12 points for UT and two players finished with six rebounds each to pace Texas.

Iowa State shot 35.8 percent from the field and 28 percent (7-25) from beyond the arc. Texas shot 36.1 percent from the floor and was 2-for-15 from long range in the defensive battle. The Longhorns forced 16 ISU turnovers and outscored the Cyclones 20-8 on points off turnovers.

The game started slow as the two teams combined to go 0-9 from the field. Texas hit a free throw to get on the board first and then Bolte followed with a score and Lacey drained a three-pointer as ISU took a 5-1 lead and Hilton Coliseum erupted.

Texas rolled off six straight points to take a brief 7-5 lead, but Lacey heated up as she scored on a drive to the basket and then knocked down three-pointers on the next two possessions to give the Cyclones a 13-7 advantage. The two teams traded baskets before Texas went on another 6-0 spurt to cut the margin to one (16-15).

The Cyclones went on a 10-0 run over a nearly four-minute span to take a 26-15 lead with 1:50 to play in the first half, but Texas scored the last two field goals of the period to cut the halftime margin to six, 26-20.

The Longhorns extended their run coming out of the break to cut the lead to three, 26-23. The Cyclones found Nicky Wieben for a traditional three-point play and a field goal to push their lead back to eight. UT answered with an 11-2 run to take its first lead of the second half, 34-33, with 12:10 to play.

Bolte hit a big three-pointer and Amanda Nisleit followed with a basket to give the Cyclones a 40-36 edge, but Arriaran got back-to-back field goals, including a trey despite great ISU pressure, to cut the lead to one.

Lacey hit a pair of free throws and got a field goal on consecutive possessions to give Iowa State a 52-47 lead with 2:04 remaining. But Arriaran hit two more big buckets to put UT within one. Earnesia Williams got a putback to give the Longhorns their final lead (53-52) with 24 seconds left. The Longhorn defense forced a turnover next to the Cyclone bench and ISU was forced to foul. Texas hit two free throws with nine ticks left, making it a three-point game. The Longhorns thwarted the Cyclone offensive set, forcing a rushed shot that went out of bounds to clinch the win.

Iowa State will remain at home to face Nebraska Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Hilton Coliseum. The game is the Cyclones' Gold Rules contest and fans are encouraged to wear gold colored apparel.