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C.John · 02-01-2007, 10:46 AM

Courtesy: Iowa State University
Release: 01/31/2007
LINCOLN, Neb. – The Iowa State women’s basketball team fell, 62-49, to the 22nd-ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers Wednesday night in Big 12 Conference play at the Devaney Sports Center.

The Cyclones were ice cold in the second half, shooting just 29.6 percent after hitting 44 percent in the first 20 minutes. Toccara Ross had eight of ISU’s nine points to open the second half, cutting Nebraska’s lead to three points 36-33 with 13 minutes to play, but the Huskers continued to apply the press and ISU struggled to hit shots. Nebraska built on its lead, going up by as many as 18 points, 60-42, with 3:22 left.

The Cyclones dropped to 16-6 on the season and 4-5 in the Big 12, while Nebraska improved to 18-4 and 6-2 in the league.

“I think Nebraska is an outstanding team,” head coach Bill Fennelly said. “There were no surprises tonight. They play the game the right way. They play hard. Kelsey Griffin is an outstanding player. Obviously the game plan was to really press us and we knew that was going to happen. For the most part I thought we handled it okay.”

Iowa State was led by Ross with 14 points, while Megan Ronhovde had 13 and Rachel Pierson had eight points and seven boards. The Cyclones tied the Huskers on the glass with 30 rebounds each. ISU senior Lyndsey Medders missed the game due to an injury she sustained earlier in the day. The Huskers finished the game with three players in double figures, led by Griffin’s 15 points. Kiera Hardy had 14 and Jelena Spiric had 11 for NU.

The Huskers took a 33-26 lead into the locker room after scoring seven unanswered points to end the half. Rachel Pierson scored back-to-back baskets in the paint around a pair of Nebraska free throws to tie the game at 26-all before the Huskers shut down the ISU offense for the remaining five minutes of the half. NU opened up a 12-6 lead early, but Ronhovde’s 11 first-half points helped ignite the Cyclones.

The Cyclones will play host to the Missouri Tigers at 3 p.m. Sunday at Hilton Coliseum. The game will be televised by Fox Sports Net as part of the Big 12 Conference television package. The Super Bowl is set to kick off at 5:25 p.m. Central time. Because the ISU-MU game will be telecast by Fox, the start time can not be moved.