Ronhovde Hits 1,000; Baylor Downs ISU

[C.John]

Courtesy: Iowa State University
Release: 02/10/2007
WACO, Texas – Iowa State senior Megan Ronhovde scored her 1,000th career point as a Cyclone, but the 15th-ranked Baylor Bears knocked off the Cyclones, 81-64, Saturday night in Big 12 women’s basketball action at the Ferrell Center.

With the loss, Iowa State fell to 17-7 on the year and 5-6 in the Big 12, dropping into a three-way tie for sixth place in the conference standings with Texas and Oklahoma State. Baylor improved to 21-4, and 8-3 in the league.

Ronhovde became the 18th player in Iowa State history to collect 1,000 career points. She put in a layup on a feed by Alison Lacey with 14:45 to play, making the score 57-41. Sophomore Nicky Wieben blocked one shot on the night, giving her 102 for her career to tie Brittany Wilkins for second place on the ISU career chart.

Five players finished in double figures for the Cyclones, led by Wieben, Ronhovde and Alison Lacey with 12 points each. Toccara Ross turned in 10 points and nine rebounds and Heather Ezell contributed 10 points on the night. Baylor had three players in double figures led by Angela Tisdale’s 21 points on seven treys.

The Cyclones shot 40.6 percent in the second half to improve its game percentage to 35.3. Iowa State finished 3-for-15 from three-point range and was 13-of-16 from the charity stripe. Baylor finished shooting 50 percent for the contest and 55 percent from beyond the arc. The Bears outrebounded ISU, 42-35.

The Cyclones went on a 9-2 run over the first two and a half minutes of the second period, cutting the Baylor lead to 16, 51-35. ISU got as close as 14 points, 53-39, but was never able to get closer than that down the stretch. The Cyclones cut it back to 16, 79-63, with a minute and 21 seconds left on a field goal by Rachel Pierson.

Senior All-America candidate Lyndsey Medders missed her second game of the season due to lingering effects of a minor concussion she suffered before the game at Nebraska on Jan. 31.

Baylor, the worst three-point shooting team in the Big 12 coming into the game, was unconscious in the first half, hitting 9-of-16 three-point attempts over the first 20 minutes to take a 49-26 halftime lead. Tisdale, who entered the game with just 31 treys on the year, went 6-of-9 from deep for 18 points in the first half.

The Bears shot 54.5 percent from the floor while holding Iowa State to 30.6 percent and just 1-of-9 from beyond the arc over the first half. BU forced nine first-half turnovers by the Cyclones.

Iowa State returns home for their final three-game homestand, beginning Wednesday night when they play host to 16th-ranked Texas A&M at 7 p.m. at Hilton Coliseum.

[isuhoops121]

So they pretty much need to win all three home games if they want to make the NCAA?

[BenEClone]

The common expectation, even with a high rpi conference like the Big12, is that a team needs to be at least .500 in conference. We need to win out at home or steal one on the road to be 8-8 and 20 wins which should get us in. A&M is playing really well, home and away, has no weak position, and will be favored. We can win, but it will require a stellar effort. Looking ahead, there are no easy games ahead. Medders would be a big factor.

[fulll02]

Congratulations to Ron for getting to over the 1,000 point threshold. It's a huge achievement that will immortalize her in the ISU record books. Personally, I'll always remember her work on the defensive end, but they didn't put any former players pictures in the media guide for that; so good for her doing it with the points.