For the third straight season, the ISU women’s basketball team reached the 20-win plateau, and reached its 10th NCAA Tournament under head coach Bill Fennelly.

The women won five of their last six regular-season games heading into the Big 12 Conference Tournament. Then, in Oklahoma City, the Cyclones took out Texas in the second round before falling to Baylor in the semifinal round, 63-57.

The NCAA Tournament run is where the Cyclones made their mark on the season, however. After blasting through their first and second-round opponents by a combined 46 points, it took a frenzied comeback in the last 1:23 of the game to get past Michigan State in the Sweet 16 with a 69-68 victory.

The excitement was short-lived, as the Cyclones lost to Stanford for the second time 74-53, sending them home after their second Elite Eight trip under Fennelly.

Throughout the NCAA run and the regular season, the Cyclones relied on their defense that allowed 54.8 points per game, second best in the Big 12. They were also aided by the leadership of the squad’s five seniors, including second-team All-Big 12 performer Heather Ezell.