For the first time all season, white uniforms failed to produce a win.

With a large pink-clad crowd of 12,242 on hand, the ISU women’s basketball team couldn’t find a way to hang on in a 55-52 defensive struggle against No. 13 Texas.

After winning the majority of their games this season by playing tough defense, the Cyclones witnessed Texas (19-5, 7-3 Big 12) beat them at their own game on Sunday, as a sturdy Longhorn defense created 16 Cyclone turnovers. The Texas defense got tough when it really mattered, and held Iowa State (18-6, 6-4) to just two points in the final four minutes of the game.

“I think we got a little passive at the end,” junior Alison Lacey said. “Texas made some big plays, turned up the pressure defense, and we didn’t really get anything going.”

Despite their inability to score late in the game, the Cyclones still led 52-51 with less than a minute left as they awaited an ensuing Texas possession. The ISU defense forced the shot it wanted, but Texas forward Earnesia Williams found herself in the right place at the right time, grabbing an offensive rebound and converting it for two with 28 seconds remaining. Two missed scoring opportunities by the Cyclones and two completed Texas free throws later, the Longhorns escaped Hilton Coliseum with a victory.

Their three-point margin of victory was their largest lead of the game.

“You have to give Texas credit, they made the big plays and we didn’t,” ISU coach Bill Fennelly said. “They hit the free throws and got the offensive rebound, and we had a couple of situations where people got caught in the wrong spot.”

The Cyclones led by as many as 11 points in the first half, but a late Texas run before halftime and a steady offensive play in the second half kept the Longhorns right on their heels. Texas didn’t turn the ball over once in the second half.

Their post-halftime strategy found a way around the staunch Cyclone defense, opening up the door for Texas guard Erika Arriaran, who hit six shots and scored 13 points in the final 13 minutes of the game.

“We had set plans and we wanted to make sure we ran the offense,” Arriaran said. “We had to at least test them on defense, and a lot of the time we had such great screens that got me wide open for some really good looks. We were just very disciplined on offense.”

Even with the loss, the Cyclones became just the fourth team to hold the Longhorns under 60 points this season, and their 55 was the second-lowest mark on the year. Iowa State has allowed more than 60 points to just one Big 12 opponent this season (Baylor, 68), but the team is also averaging just 58 points per game on offense. The Cyclones seemed to find a groove at some spots in the game, but every time the Longhorns found a way to break it.

“Their defense got a lot more aggressive in the second half, and the physical nature of the game created some problems,” Fennelly said. “We’ve struggled to score all year, and when you’re struggling to score, you’ve got to take advantage of every opportunity you get, and we didn’t do that.”

The last time Iowa State lost consecutive games, the team responded with a five-game winning streak that was recently broken against No. 2 Oklahoma last Wednesday. The Cyclones won’t turn a blind eye to the slippery slope possibilities before them, but they still have confidence for the six remaining games of the season. Their final five opponents all rank in the bottom half of the conference, holding a 59-56 overall combined record and a 12-38 mark in Big 12 play.

“I don’t think we’re worried, but we’re aware of what could happen,” Lacey said. “This is a big moment for us. We’ve never lost at home but we’ll have to see how we respond and hopefully it’s in a good way.”

The Cyclones will return to Hilton Coliseum after a two-day hiatus to face the Nebraska Cornhuskers (11-12, 2-8) on Wednesday evening.