With three minutes remaining in its first round NCAA tournament game, the Iowa State women’s basketball team cut Florida State’s lead to seven after trailing by as much as 15 earlier in the half.

After a Hallie Christofferson steal, all that was separating the Cyclones from a late momentum shift was a big shot.

The Cyclones got two wide open opportunities at a 3-pointer over the next minute, but both clanked off the rim. After holding the Seminoles to 55 points and forcing 25 turnovers, Iowa State simply couldn’t get the ball in the basket, falling 55-44 March 22 at Hilton Coliseum.

“We came out a little flat and we didn’t hit our shots,” Christofferson said. “They stepped up and made theirs and they really brought their intensity today. It comes down to making shots and we couldn’t hit some.”

With the home crowd at hand, the Cyclones could have used some hot shooting to ignite a run, but it never came. The Seminoles took the air out of the building early, starting the game 4-for-5 while the Cyclones missed their first eight shots. 

ISU coach Bill Fennelly was pleased with his team’s effort defensively and the way it held Florida State’s leading scorer to only 10 points. He credited the Seminoles’ pesky zone defense and said they were a difficult matchup.

“They just kept bringing bodies after us but we just couldn’t make enough consecutive plays at either end of the floor to change the outcome,” Fennelly said. “They were a better team than us today.”

Florida State coach Sue Semrau was complimentary of the Cyclones and expressed her concern guarding Iowa State’s perimeter attack with the zone defense.

When the Cyclones were able to move the ball enough to find open shooters, cold shooting prevented anything from falling.

“I don’t know how we held them to 18 percent from the 3-point line except for the grit and guts,” Semrau said. “For [us] to come in and knock off a great team, I’m really, really proud.”

The loss wraps up a roller coaster season that started with Iowa State going 14-0 before encountering cold shooting streaks against Big 12 competition. The Cyclones finished 20-11 (9-9 Big 12) and made an NCAA tournament appearance for the eighth straight season.

Fennelly and players were visibly emotional following the loss, but he was proud of his team’s effort.

“Our team has been built on making shots, taking care of the ball, trying to be smart defensively — that’s who we are, that’s our identity, you can’t change that,” Fennelly said. “Today when the ball doesn’t go in, you’re going to struggle. It’s the nature of the game. Unfortunately, when it happens in this environment, you’re done.”