Even with top player Alison Lacey out for the second consecutive game, the Cyclones found a way to win on Saturday. Iowa State secured its No. 2 spot in the Big 12 tournament after defeating Colorado 59-41 and rounded out the regular season 23-6 (11-5 Big 12), finishing second in the conference.

“It’s kind of been the formula we’ve had all year — grind it out, play hard, try not to turn the ball over, try and guard the other team’s best player,” said coach Bill Fennelly. “It’s just the way this team has had to play all year and to their credit they’ve embraced it and found ways to win.”

Junior guard Kelsey Bolte stepped into the leadership role in Lacey’s absence, and found a way to step up and be the player Iowa State needed at the time. Bolte was the new face Cyclone players looked to for guidance, and compiled 19 points, three of which were three pointers for the Iowa State offense.

“She is the key to our team offensively when Aus [Lacey] isn’t in the game [and] she’s getting a little internship in being the leader with Aus gone,” Fennelly said with a smile.

After a foul was made by Colorado’s Courtney Dunn, Bolte pulled the other four Cyclone players into a huddle to regroup. After the huddle, the Buffaloes remained scoreless for the rest of the game, going without a bucket for the final seven minutes.

“If Aus isn’t playing I usually step up a little bit more and maybe do a little bit more than I usually do, but it was kind of a team effort,” Bolte said. “In the locker room, in the huddle, everyone was bringing [each other] together and focusing more.”

Without Lacey, other guards including Bolte are forced to step up. Sophomore guard Whitney Williams took more a point guard role, and guard Denae Stuckey’s role changed as well.

Especially in the final minutes of the game, Stuckey stood out with her steals that resulted in breakaway layups. Stuckey’s hustled plays elevated the energy in Hilton and the final bucket of the game was made by Stuckey with 22 seconds to play.

“The two things that I thought we did really well is even when there was a scramble situation we didn’t give them a second wide open look, we got back out and guarded,” Fennelly said. “Defensively we felt like that was the key for our team again today, because without Aus we don’t score a lot.”

Colorado was without their leading scorer and top player, Brittany Spears, in the second half after Spears made an impact with two big plays to round out the first half. Iowa State took advantage of the Buffaloes being forced to adjust, and forced 16 Colorado turnovers on the day.

“I think we gave more effort, we showed our heart and we showed that we wanted to win and we wanted to make a statement,” Stuckey said. “We were kind of slow throughout the game and then we all knew after we got in the huddle that we had to play harder and we had to get done and finish the game out.”

From the bench, Lacey had plenty of grins and bursts from her seat when Bolte drilled a three or when Stuckey made her signature hustle plays.

“Denae does a good job, and Whitney at point guard taking over, that’s a hard spot to fill,” Lacey said. “And Kelsey does a good job and she does the stuff she needs to do. And [Chelsea Poppens] stepped up, so I think everyone was stepping up when they needed to.”

Stuckey stepped up with a solid performance of nine points, nine rebounds, five assists and zero turnovers. Ball handling may not be Stuckey’s forte, but she didn’t have a problem dribbling down the floor after a steal or a quick defensive rebound.

With Lacey seeing a different view of the game, and other players seeing different views of the court, the Colorado game was disjointed at times, but nothing Iowa State hadn’t seen before.

The Cyclones have been adjusting to situations all season. Fennelly used to be pleased if one post player stood out in a game, now all three freshmen have been stepping up consistently, as Poppens posted nine rebounds and 10 points against the Buffs, and Anna Prins had a quiet 12 points on the day.

“We’ve not allowed them to make excuses and they have not made excuses for themselves and I think that speaks volumes about their ability and their commitment to their teammates and certainly to what it means to wear the jersey,” Fennelly said.

Finishing second in the conference overall is the best finish an Iowa State squad has had since the 1999-’00 season when Fennelly’s team snatched a first place title at the Big 12 tournament. At 23 wins, the Cyclones tied the school record for most regular-season victories.

“I think for them to accomplish what they’ve done, to be the number two seed in the best league in the country, to do the things that they’ve done is really special,” Fennelly said. “And I don’t know that they’ll realize it now, and they shouldn’t. This team and this group of seniors will be a team that will come back and have a reunion. It’s that kind of impact that they’ve made.”

Iowa State received a first round bye and will play on Friday, Mar. 12 at 5:05 p.m. at the Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. The Cyclones will play the winner of the No. 10 seed/No.7 seed game.