Cyclones Fall On A Buzzer-Beater To Texas A&M

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Jordan Nixon scored the winning layup at the buzzer in overtime to lead No. 4 Texas A&M (25-2, 13-1 SEC) to a 84-82 win over Iowa State (17-11, 12-6 Big 12) Wednesday night in the second round of the NCAA Championship.

Nixon, who had a game-high 35 points, was a thorn in the Cyclones' side down the stretch. She tallied two baskets in the final :13 seconds of regulation to force overtime and had seven of the Aggies' nine points in the extra session to end ISU's season.

Iowa State had a chance to win the game in regulation, but were unable to convert on its final shot. Before Nixon's game-winner, Ashley Joens got a good look, but her shot was blocked.

ISU was in control for most of the game, giving up the lead for the first time in the overtime period.

Joens did all she could to keep the Cyclones in the game. She recorded her second-straight 30-point outing (32), falling one shy of the ISU NCAA Tournament scoring record she set two days ago vs. Michigan State. She also grabbed 18 rebounds, the most-ever by a Cyclone in a NCAA Tournament game en route to her 13^th double-double.

Lexi Donarski had 18 points and connected on four 3-pointers to help the Cyclones hit 16 in the game, the fifth time this season ISU made 15 or more 3-pointers.

Emily Ryan had 10 points and dished out nine assists.

The Cyclones rode their hot shooting to take a 22-12 at the end of the first quarter, as ISU was a sizzling 6-of-7 from downtown in the opening period. Kristin Scott buried a couple of 3-pointers and Aubrey Joens nailed a deep trey right before the buzzer sounded.

The Aggies trimmed the lead to three points early in the second quarter, but Ryan hit a triple followed by two Ashley Joens layups to push the Cyclone lead to 35-24 with under five minutes remaining in the quarter.

The Aggies were able to score the final six points of the half to cut the lead to 35-30. TAMU made two more field goals than ISU, but was down by five points thanks to ISU's eight treys.

Joens kept firing away, hitting a pair of 3-pointers in the first five minutes of the third period to give the Cyclones a 10-point cushion (48-38). Donarski then got into the long-range barrage, hitting two treys in the final five minutes to give the Cyclones a 57-48 lead with a quarter to go.

TAMU picked up the pressure, but the Cyclones didn't flinch, maintaining a seven-point lead (66-59) at the under-five timeout.

Turnovers started to hurt the Cyclones. Their 20^th of the game turned into a Ciera Johnson basket with 1:01 left in the game to trim the ISU lead to 70-69. But Joens was fouled on a great spin move basket, converting the free-throw to make it a 73-69 advantage with :39 seconds left.

Nixon then made two big baskets, including a lay-up with :05 seconds left, to knot the game at 75-75. ISU had one last chance in regulation, but couldn't get the shot off in time to send the game into overtime.

ISU had a brief lead in overtime behind a Donarski 3-pointer, but Nixon came up big down the stretch to secure the win.

Team Stats

Ashley Joens

Lexi Donarski

Kristin Scott

Emily Ryan

Players Mentioned

Lexi Donarski

Ashley Joens

Aubrey Joens

Emily Ryan

Kristin Scott

Players Mentioned

Lexi Donarski

Ashley Joens

Aubrey Joens

Emily Ryan

Kristin Scott

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics