Cyclones To Play For Big 12 Title

[C.John]

Courtesy: Iowa State University
Release: 03/08/2007

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla.—Iowa State drilled 10 3-pointers and held No. 13 Texas A&M to 36.2 percent from the floor en route to a 57-51 win over the Aggies Wednesday night in the semifials of the Big 12 Championship. ISU, winners of eight-straight, improves to 25-7 and advances to the title game of the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship Saturday night. The Cyclones will play the winner of the Oklahoma-Baylor game at 7 p.m.

The Cyclones hung tough with the Aggies early, routinely breaking their press for easy buckets and being aggressive on the offensive glass. A Megan Ronhovde 3-pointer at the 12:05 mark in the opening period gave ISU its first lead at 15-14. However, Takia Starks made a trey to spark a 7-0 A&M run to move the Aggies out in front 21-15.

The Cyclones stormed right back with an 8-0 run behind a pair of deep 3-pointers by Lyndsey Medders and Heather Ezell, helping the Cyclones go up 25-23 with 4:29 left in the first half. Another Ezell 3-pointer gave ISU a 28-25 halftime lead.

Despite the 3-point cushion at the break, the Cyclones had plenty of chances to improve their lead, but 12 first half turnovers hurt ISU. However, ISU offset its ballhandling deficiencies by shooting 45.8 percent from the floor and grabbing seven offensive caroms in the opening period.

ISU continued its hot shooting from beyond the arc in the opening moments of the second half. Amanda Nisleit and Ronhovde both hit treys to open up a 34-28 Cyclone lead. Two more treys by Lacey and Ronhovde gave ISU its biggest lead at 40-32 with 13:56 left in the game. Another trey by Ezell made it eight-straight 3-pointers for the Cyclones, as ISU went up 43-35 with 11:54 remaining.

The Aggies quickly answered by mounting a 6-0 run to cut the deficit to two points (43-41) with 9:20 left. A’Quonesia Franklin had four points, including a trey, in the run. After A&M tied the game at 47-all, Nicky Wieben and Toccara Ross hit shots on back-to-back possessions to give ISU a 51-47 edge with 4:23 left. Ross then made a driving lay-up off a Lacey dish to give ISU a 55-48 lead with under three minutes left. ISU iced the game from then on at the free-throw line.

Ezell and Lacey paced ISU with 11 points each, as the Cyclones advance to their fourth Big 12 Tournament title game and first since 2001. Medders added eight points and six points in the win. Wieben had seven points and three blocks, breaking her own single-season school mark for rejections with 60.

Game Notes
-Head coach Bill Fennelly recorded his 18th Big 12 Tournament victory. It is the most among active Big 12 coaches.
-Iowa State advances to the Big 12 finals for the fourth time in school history.
-Iowa State is on an eight game winning streak.
-Iowa State advances to the Big 12 finals for the first time since 2001.
-Iowa State has made a 3-pointer in 366 consecutive games.
-Megan Ronhovde passed Monica Huelman for fifth most games played in an Iowa State uniform (126).
-Lyndsey Medders is one field goal attempt shy of tying Stephanie Smith for seventh-most field goal attempts in a season. Medders has taken 398 shots.
-Nicky Wieben broke her own Iowa State record for blocks in a single-season with 60 total on the year. She had 3 in the game.
-Iowa State is 19-1 when leading at the half.
-Five different Iowa State players hit a 3-pointer.

[ISUFan22]

Could it be....2 Big 12 titles in the span of a couple weeks for Iowa State university?

A few weeks ago people would've said no way. Today it's in sight.

Lets go Twister Sisters, get us one tomorrow!

[AirWalke]

Nice win! Wow, two Big 12 titles in the span of mere weeks would be amazing!

[jdoggivjc]

Question - if (when) we win tomorrow, do you think we can squeeze a #3 seed out of the selection committee? Charlie Creme's #7 seed seems artificially low to me, compared to who all resides in the #5s and #6s.

[9seven]

They will be higher then a 7. They are one of the hottest teams in the country and if they win the B12 tourney they will have 26 wins. Those stats are very hard to ignore.

[AirWalke]

Originally Posted by jdoggivjc

Question - if (when) we win tomorrow, do you think we can squeeze a #3 seed out of the selection committee? Charlie Creme's #7 seed seems artificially low to me, compared to who all resides in the #5s and #6s.

Actually, they play on Saturday. I was going to head home that day for break, but now it looks like I'm staying in Ames to party it up if we manage to win the thing.

[ISUKyro]

What a run the sisters are on right now! GO CLONES! Go get 'em Saturday!

[CyBandCG]

I love it, this is awesome. I considered driving down for the game, if it was in KC that would be a sure thing, Okie City. A bit too far and I gotta work tomorrow. I will be watching the game Saturday though! GO CYCLONES!!

[Cyfan322]

That would be awesome if they still held the tournament in KC. The arena would be filled with Iowa State fans if that was the case.

[Cyclonepride]

I really have to give it up for Bill Fennelly.....I am as excited to see the women's team advance as I would have for the men's team. They are fun to watch!

[DareDevil]

Oh man I didn't realized they played tonight, I thought they played tomorrow. Oh well nice to see that they one, wish I could have seen it :D

[AirWalke]

Originally Posted by Cyfan322

That would be awesome if they still held the tournament in KC. The arena would be filled with Iowa State fans if that was the case.

The tournament's going to be held in KC next year, and then for the foreseeable future. Just in time for our basketball program to get back on track. ;)

[Stumpy]

We're matched up with Oklahoma for the title. If we can stay hot from the outside, we can take them. We just need to make sure to establish our style of the game before they do: perimeter in, not paint out.

[rte4st8]

Just talked to Meddars they are ready to go. Nobody is giving them a chance. OU is basically the home team and the fans are turning out in force!

It will take a great effort and game plan...but I think ISU can do it!

[mike4cy]

Go get em' ladies!