The Rundown

In a game plagued by turnovers and the inability to make shots, Iowa State could not find a way to pull ahead from No. 10 Texas A&M in a 59-33 loss at Hilton Coliseum on Saturday night.

The Aggies (11-4, 2-2 Big 12) topped the Cyclones in every statistical category, including a bench points differential at 21-3.

A&M guard Skylar Collins, also a hometown friend of ISU guard Nikki Moody, came off the bench for the Aggies and was 4-5 from the 3-point arc.

Coming into the game, Iowa State had just one more turnover than the Aggies with 227. On Saturday, Iowa State had 18 to Texas A&M’s nine Saturday night and A&M coach Gary Blair credited that to their half-court defense.

The Cyclones were unable to lessen the point differential to 10 after the 7:33 mark in the first half. Combined with their ability to capitalize off turnovers, the Aggies were able to play for a significant lead for the remainder of the game to hand the Cyclones their fourth conference loss of the season.

Turning Point

The Aggies were able to answer back just about every time the Cyclones scored, but their leading scorer Tyra White’s buzzer-beater 3 to end the first half lengthened the lead to 18. The Aggies never looked back.

Texas A&M collected the rebound off an Amanda Zimmerman missed shot with 48 seconds remaining. After a missed jumper by Adaora Elonu, the Aggies recorded one of their 15 offensive rebounds to set up the 3 and deflate the Cyclones’ sails even more.

X Factor

Adaora Elonu. The win was largely a team effort for the Aggies with several players stepping up on both ends, but Elonu was a rebound shy of a double-double and notched 14 points to lead all scorers.

Five of Elonu’s nine rebounds came on the offensive end and she also contributed a block and a steal on the defensive end as well.

By the numbers

3- Bench points for Iowa State

33- Fewest points a conference opponent has ever scored against Gary Blair and the Aggies. Blair began coaching the Aggies in 2003.

0- Times Iowa State held the lead in the game. The game was tied twice, both in the first half.

21- Points Texas A&M scored off Iowa State’s 18 turnovers.

1- Number of Iowa State players to score in double digits (Poppens-10)

Postgame chatter

“I kept looking and thought the score couldn’t be right.” – Texas A&M coach Gary Blair about the score throughout the game.

“What won the ball game was our half-court defense.” – Blair about what won them the game Saturday night.

“It could be the weather, the snow, everyone was excited about it.” – Adaora Elonu about A&M’s defensive intensity.

“I think tonight we just really settled for them getting their boards, them getting their put backs and we’ll get it the next play. It just turned into more offensive rebounds on their end and then a lack of effort on ours.” – Brynn Williamson about how A&M was so successful on defense.

“I think they’re more physical than their football team.” – ISU coach Bill Fennelly about how aggressive Texas A&M played.

Up next for Iowa State

The Cyclones next head to Austin, Texas, to take on the Longhorns on Jan. 18.