Iowa State struggles with shooting in fourth-straight loss

Junior guard Nikki Moody reacts to a call during the game against Oklahoma on Jan. 21 at Hilton Coliseum. The Cyclones lost to the Sooners 54-75. Moody led the Cyclones with 16 points. 

Maddy Arnold

Iowa State did something on Jan. 21 that it has not done in 10 seasons — lose three straight home games.

Oklahoma (12-7, 3-3 Big 12) defeated the No. 20 ISU women’s basketball team (14-4, 3-4 Big 12) 75-54 on Tuesday. The Cyclones’ 54 points were their fewest in a game so far this season.

Iowa State entered the game against Oklahoma on a three-game losing streak — two of which were at home — after winning 14-straight and getting off to the best start in program history. The Sooners handed the Cyclones’ their biggest loss of the season to extend the losing streak to four games.

“We weren’t much of a threat on offense. We got to shoot the ball even if we feel like we’re not open but we’ve got to attack more,” said junior guard Nikki Moody. “I think we have to get rid of that doubt that we have in ourselves and just shoot the ball.”

In the first half, Oklahoma led by as many as eight points. Iowa State cut the lead down to just four before half despite shooting less than 28 percent from the field and just more than 13 percent from the perimeter.

“We’ve got a lot of things we’ve got to try to correct, but if we don’t shoot the ball well and we put too much stress on our defense we’re going to struggle and that’s kind of what’s happened the last four games,” said ISU coach Bill Fennelly.

The shooting statistics did not improve much for Iowa State in the second half despite narrowing the Oklahoma’s lead to just one point. Senior forward Hallie Christofferson made a layup with 14:27 remaining in the second half to make the score 36-35.

The Sooners responded with a 9-0 run in just 2 1/2 minutes before eventually leading by as much as 23 in the second half. Christofferson — Iowa State’s leading scorer — fouled out with 7:42 left on the clock.

Christofferson finished with 15 points and eight rebounds against the Sooners. Freshman guard Jadda Buckley — who scored 29 in her first game against Oklahoma — did not score this time around and shot only twice on the night.

“People don’t like to hear this, sometimes it’s the players that got to change. They got to do what they got to do. They got to make a decision, this is unacceptable and we didn’t play well tonight at home,” Fennelly said. 

In the Cyclones’ three home losses, they have shot just 14 percent from beyond the arc. Iowa State has a combined nine 3-pointers during the home losing streak after making just 4-of-26 against Oklahoma.

“I think just knowing what you’re comfortable with, knowing your shot [will help],” said freshman guard Seanna Johnson. “If you’re not comfortable but you’re a shooter, know when to take a shot, know when not to take a shot, when to drive and pass or when to drive, get a foul and make a layup.”