Sunday was not the day any team would have wanted to play Iowa State.

After coming off of a loss to Texas on a last-second shot and starting 0-5 for the first time ever in Big 12 play under coach Bill Fennelly, the Cyclones had their backs against the wall when they defeated No. 17 Texas Tech 66-49.

“They caught us on a bad day,” Fennelly said. “This team needed to win.”

The Cyclones (10-7, 1-5 Big 12) were virtually even with the Red Raiders (14-3, 2-4) the first half. Both teams ended the half shooting 9-of-26 from the field.

What did separate the two teams going into the locker room at half was a few more free throws from Iowa State and a last-second 3-point shot from senior guard Chassidy Cole. 

“I just knew I had to shoot it,” Cole said. “I think that was a momentum booster because we were all excited going into the locker room.”

Leading Iowa State was sophomore Hallie Christofferson, who had a season-high 19 points, two shy of her career-high 21, off only 11 shots. She also added 10 rebounds that marked her third double-double of the season.

Four of those were offensive rebounds by Christofferson, which showed Fennelly that she was working hard. She was also 5-of-7 from behind the arc and provided the spark that a team winless in conference play needed. 

“That was a great thing for her,” Fennelly said of his team’s leading scorer of the game. “She’s certainly a kid who’s worked really hard at it.”

Fennelly said that Friday night after practice when he was in his office, he could still hear basketballs in the gym. It was Christofferson who, after “a bad practice” in her eyes, was still getting shots up late into the night.

“I didn’t have the best practice and I wanted to make up for it afterward and I guess it worked,” Christofferson said with a smile.

Also stepping up for Iowa State was Lauren Mansfield. Mansfield, who has still been trying to find her scoring touch moving into the two-guard position, doubled her scoring average and her 3-point percentage on the day with 12 points and 66 percent from 3-point land. 

“[Hallie and Lauren] are both in the same boat,” Fennelly said. “Neither one of them have probably played to the level we thought they would or could.

“I’m happy for Hallie and Lauren both, they hit some big shots that gave our team a chance to win.”

The combination of Cole, Mansfield and Christofferson hit nine 3-pointers on 13 shots with five coming from Christofferson. While the rest of the Cyclones didn’t make a shot on 12 attempts, those three provided the spark. 

“After the first one, I got a lot more confidence,” Christofferson said. “Then I found myself open more than usual. I just looked for my shot more also. Some I didn’t have my feet set, but I just let it fly.”