Iowa State Falls to Oklahoma State In Big 12 Championship

Friday, March 12

Kansas City, Mo.

5:00 PM

Iowa State

23-7, 11-5

Oklahoma State (Big 12 Championship)

23-9, 9-7

Oklahoma State

Iowa State

Iowa State Falls to Oklahoma State In Big 12 Championship

03.12.2010 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: cyclones.com

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Andrea Riley scored a Big 12 record 43 points to lead Oklahoma State to a 62-59 win over Iowa State in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Championship. Iowa State falls to 23-7 this season.

On the night when she became the Big 12's all-time leading scorer, Riley proved to be the difference. The senior took 44 shots, making 16 of them. She hit three from long range and all eight free throw attempts.

"The biggest difference was -- obviously Andrea Riley scored a ton of points," ISU head coach Bill Fennelly said. "But they made a few more hustle plays, defensively I was fine with the way we played. Offensively we weren't very good, turnovers, and missed shots, couldn't do the things we need to do."

ISU had three players in double-figures, led by Anna Prins, who finished with 15 points. Kelsey Bolte added 12 points and Whitney Williams chipped in 11.

The Cyclones, who were playing their third-straight game without All-Big 12 point guard Alison Lacey, came out ice cold in the first half, opening the game just 2-for-8 from the field while committing six turnovers to fall behind 19-7 with just under 12 minutes remaining.

Meanwhile, OSU's Riley was hitting everything, scoring 13 of the first 19 points for the Cowgirls.

Iowa State slowly worked its way back into things, trimming the OSU lead to just two points at the half (24-22) as the Cowgirls made just 1-of-18 field goals over the final eight minutes.

The Cyclones shot 28 percent (7-25) from the field in the opening stanza, while OSU was at just 24.3 percent (9-37). ISU also committed 11 turnovers in the first half.

Riley led all scorers in the opening period half with 18 points. ISU used a more balanced attack, led by Williams, who finished with six points.

The Cyclones took their first lead of the game a minute and a half into the second half. After OSU scored to open the half, Prins converted a three-point play the old fashioned way and then stepped outside to drain another 3-pointer, giving ISU a 28-26 lead.

The Cyclones extended their lead to six (33-27) on a pair of Prins' free throws. OSU eventually came back to tie it at 44-44 following a basket by Tegan Cunningham, but Williams drained another three to extend the ISU lead to three points at 47-44. Oklahoma State regained the lead on a Toni Young put back before extending it to four (54-50) on another jumper from Riley.

Bolte nailed a three to cut the OSU lead to one (56-55) with just under two minutes remaining. After another Riley basket, Williams hit a 15-foot jumper to again close the gap to one point.

Iowa State fouled Cunningham with 15 seconds left, but she missed the front end of the one-and-one. The Cowgirls regained possession when the ball went out of bounds and Riley hit a pair of free throws to push it back to a three-point cushion (60-57). Oklahoma State then fouled Denae Stuckey with 9.6 remaining to prevent a 3-point attempt. Stuckey drilled both free throws to draw to within one.

The Cyclones put together a solid defensive effort, getting a jump ball and a timeout from the Cowgirls, who eventually inbounded to Riley on the third try. Riley was promptly fouled and knocked down two more free throws to extend it to three points again.

The Cyclones raced down the court and Williams' 3-point attempt at the buzzer was off the mark.

Oklahoma State turned Iowa State over 18 times in the game, scoring 16 points on those turnovers. The Cyclones were outrebounded (40-38) for just the fifth time this season.

The Cyclones, who will host the first and second rounds of the NCAA Championship starting next weekend, will learn of their opponent Monday evening. The NCAA Selection Show will be held at 6 p.m. on ESPN.