The Lowdown

Senior night proved not too be quite as sweet as last season for Iowa State.

The ISU women’s basketball team fell to No. 9 Baylor 70-54 on senior night March 4 in Hilton Coliseum. Nikki Moody led the way for the Cyclones with 17 points and five assists. Hallie Christofferson added 14 points and three rebounds in her final regular season game at Hilton.

The Big 12 co-champion Lady Bears lead from start to finish after jumping out to a quick 11-1 lead. Iowa State climbed back into the game and were as close as seven points, but the inside presence by Baylor proved to be a bit more than the Cyclones could take on.

With the loss, Iowa State falls to 20-9 overall and 9-9 in Big 12 play. The Cyclones will be the No. 5 seed in the Big 12 tournament and will play No. 4 seed Oklahoma State.

Turning Point

Baylor’s lead was cut to 37-32 after a 3-pointer by point guard Nikki Moody with with 16:14 remaining play time in second half. The Lady Bears responded with a 11-3 run capped off by a made free throw by BU guard Odyssey Sims in a span of 4:14.

The Cyclones were unable to draw within 10 points throughout the rest of the game.

X Factor

Nina Davis — The freshman forward poured in a game-high 26 points on 11-of-19 shooting and grabbed 9 rebounds. She came into the game averaging 13.9 points and leading the Big 12 in rebounds per game with 9.

Davis provided a mismatch the Lady Bears exploited throughout the game in the post, and with Hallie Christofferson in foul trouble much of the night, she exploited a slight height advantage against Seanna Johnson and Fallon Ellis down low.

By The Numbers

11 — Points by Baylor’s Odyssey Sims. She came into the game averaging 30.2 points per game and had 0 going into halftime.

3 — Seniors who started the game. Ashley Hagedorn and Elly Arganbright were on the court at tip alongside Hallie Christofferson. Senior Tenisha Matlock also played six minutes.

10,539 — Announced attendance for the March 4 senior night game.

9 — 3-pointers made by the Cyclones. Iowa State shot 31 percent from long range in the loss.