Thanks to a fast second half start, what started as a rough defensive battle was turned into a three-point clinic in the blink of an eye.

After the ISU women’s basketball team traded baskets with Missouri at an alarmingly slow rate for the first 18 minutes of the game, the Cyclones knocked down five three-pointers in a window of six minutes to help take care of the Tigers with a 62-47 victory in Columbia.

After shooting just 4-of-19 (.211) from behind the arc in the first half, the Cyclones (22-7, 10-5 Big 12) drained six of their first seven after intermission, including two from Heather Ezell and three from Kelsey Bolte. The Cyclones hit eleven total three-pointers in the game on their way to spoiling senior night for Missouri (13-14, 4-10).

Their three-point barrage allowed the Cyclones to lead by as much as 18 in the second half, but tough rebounding by the Tigers allowed them to stay well within reach. At one point midway through the second half, the Tigers grabbed seven consecutive rebounds to help catalyze a 10-0 run, bringing them within eight with just over seven minutes remaining.Ezell quickly responded with her fifth and final three-pointer of the game, putting Iowa State back up by double-digits and locking up a third consecutive win for the Cyclones.

Poor shooting doomed the Tigers all night long, and was made well know with their less-than impressive performance from the free throw line (6-13) and 1-for8 from behind the arc. It was the seventh time in conference play that the Cyclones have held an opponent to 50 points or less. For the second consecutive, game senior Amanda Nisleit scored well above her season average, pouring in 10 of the Cyclones’ 24 points in the slow-paced first half. Her nearly perfect night from the floor secured 17 points on 6-for-7 shooting, including a 3-of-4 performance from behind the arc. Ezell led all scorers in the game with 19, and Bolte also finished in double-digits with 15. The Cyclones will return home on Saturday night for Senior Night in their final game of the regular season in a night contest against Kansas. Just two weeks ago the Jayhawks were at the very bottom of the Big 12 standings when they pulled off a 58-47 upset over the Cyclones in Lawrence, and have won three straight since. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.