Starting strong in the beginning of the game had been a struggle in the past, but she was three of three from beyond the arc and it was clear Kelsey Bolte wanted the ball. The junior guard’s strong first-half performance meant the second half would be simply an addition.

In Iowa State’s (17-4, 5-3 Big 12) 63-48 win over Texas Tech on Wednesday night, Bolte finished with 19 points to lead the Cyclone brigade over the Red Raiders (13-8, 1-6 Big 12).

“Kelsey is really starting to play the way we need her to play,” said ISU coach Bill Fennelly. “The challenge for her is she’s always been kind of a slow starter but I thought she came out of the gates tonight really hard, really well, and when she wants the ball and can do some things she’s hard to guard.”

Bolte’s hunger for the ball was evident as she shrieked ‘Aus’ to her fellow teammate Alison Lacey, to pass her the ball as Lacey was triple teamed. Lacey dished the ball out to Bolte after the scream at 14:56 in the second half and the 6-foot-1 inch guard nailed the bucket.

“[Shots] just been falling in and [Lacey] has been doing a good job of getting me open and running plays and they’re setting really good screens for me right now so I’m just thankful for that,” Bolte said.

Bolte finished five of seven from the 3-point line, and went two for two from the free throw line. Bolte also finished five for seven from the beyond the arc in Iowa State’s upset victory in Austin over the Longhorns, where Bolte began to shine brightly again after a slight midseason shooting slump.

“We ran a lot of plays in the first half to get me open on the outside and they were successful so that was good,” Bolte said. 

Another impact on the game as usual was Lacey, however for some who may not have seen the stat sheet, it would seem the senior point guard had an “off night.”

Aside from the final minute of the first half,  Lacey went scoreless from the field. However, just when it seemed the senior leader was going to have an off night, she scored six straight points.

“We had a couple minutes left, we had to try and get quick shots off, get the ball back, and the drive was open and layups were falling in, but Kelsey started us off great,” Lacey said.

The Australian import finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds to record her sixth double-double of the season — seven with her triple-double performance over Iowa early in the year. 

Lacey committed five turnovers for the night, but being triple and quadruple teamed throughout the game can account for that.

Even with the Texas Tech pressure on Iowa State’s go-to girl, Lacey posted her typical double-digit game in scoring, and dished in seven assists.

“We tried to make sure that everything she got she earned,” said Texas Tech coach Kristy Curry. “She’s so smart and intelligent. She has great size for a perimeter player.”

Following the game Fennelly noted on the importance of not only Bolte and Lacey performing well, but at least one player contributing on the offensive end.

Against Texas Tech, it was freshman post Chelsea Poppens. 

The 6-foot-2 freshman finished four of six from the field, compiling 11 points. Struggling in the past to finish around the basket, Poppens was scored in the post, even after being fouled and banged up by Texas Tech defenders. 

“It’s nice to see one of our post players tonight [finish around the basket],” Fennelly said. “Tonight Poppens definitely impacted how the game was played.”

After the game Fennelly noted on the importance of one post player finishing in the post, which was Poppens against the Red Raiders, and the other two players (Bolte and Lacey) performing the way they are expected. Curry also noticed the chemistry between the two leaders on the court.  

“I think [Bolte] and Alison they  play together so incredibly hard, they’re so incredibly smart and it’s a great lesson for our young kids,” Curry said.