It was nothing short of entertaining game for fans at Hilton Coliseum on Wednesday night. Taking the game into overtime, the Cyclones overcame foul trouble and adversity to claim a 71-65 decision against the conference foe Longhorns.

The Lowdown

In a typical Big 12 shootout, the Longhorns (7-5, 0-1 Big 12) and the Cyclones (10-1, 1-0 Big 12) battled foul trouble throughout the game.  Key players for Iowa State Anna Prins and Chelsea Poppens clocked three fouls just minutes into the second half. 

For Texas, key starters Cokie Reed and Imani McGee-Stafford checked out of the first half early with three fouls a piece and checked out early in the second half with four a piece.

With 5:44 left in the game, starter McGee-Stafford fouled out of the game.

Unable to overcome foul adversity and the point differential, the Longhorns fell to the Cyclones in their conference opener. 

The X-Factor

Fouls played the largest factor in Wednesday’s game, when the teams ticketed 46 fouls together by the end of the night.

Turning Point

With 31.6 seconds left in the half, Brynn Williamson hit one of two free-throws to put the Cyclones up 69-65. With not enough time for Texas to overcome the deficit, the Cyclones prevailed to hold a perfect record at home this season.

By the Numbers

3: Fouls Texas key players Imani McGee-Stafford and Cokie Reed sat out with for most of the first half, giving the Cyclones an early foul bonus. 

13:29: Iowa State enters the bonus after Texas picks up its seventh team foul.

71.7: Percentage the Cyclones shot in free-throws to capitalize on the Longhorn’s foul trouble. 

Quotables

“I told our team before the game, I told them at halftime and I told them after the game, welcome to the Big 12.” – ISU coach Bill Fennelly

“We didn’t want to hit it like a brick wall like last year. We’re coming in right away. This year we came in ready to go and we knew what to expect. We’re just working our way into the Big 12.” – Senior Chelsea Poppens on the conference victory.