The Cyclones entered Allen Fieldhouse Sunday hoping to leave with their 20th win this season, but instead were upset by the Jayhawks, the team at the bottom of the Big 12 standings. Iowa State drops to 19-7 overall and 7-5 in the conference. Kansas improves to 14-11 overall and 3-9 in the Big 12.

Kansas junior Danielle McCray scored the final bucket in the first half after draining a three with 1:24 left before the break. When the halftime horn sounded, the Cyclones found themselves trailing 26-24.

Sade Morris and McCray both contributed eight points for the Jayhawks in the first half. Nicky Wieben led the Cyclones with a solid eight of her own while Alison Lacey had seven.

Iowa State couldn’t stop the dribble penetration of McCray who finished with a double-double in points and rebounds with 24 and 16.

“We had a few defensive breakdowns that cost us at critical times, but it wasn’t our defense that was the difference,” head coach Bill Fennelly said in a news release. Ezell couldn’t find the back of the net from beyond the arc, uncharacteristic for the Cyclone senior. Ezell was 0-for-4 from the 3-point line against Kansas.

After McCray hit a trey with one second left on the shot clock and 8:03 left in the game, the Cyclones never seemed to bounce back after trailing 44-39.

The Cyclones tried to battle back in the end to come up with the lead but couldn’t hit shots on the offensive end to give them a chance. Iowa State turned to fouling and sent Morris to the free throw line to knock down four points from the charity stripe to clench the win.

Lacey hit a long three in the first half to give the Cyclones their first lead, 20-17, with 5:35 left before the break.

Kansas shot 52.2 percent from the field in the first half and the Cyclones committed nine turnovers.

McCray was a factor for the Jayhawks in every category. The junior finished with not only a double double in points and rebounds, but also three assists, three blocks and three steals. Morris was also on for the Jayhawks with 16 points.

Wieben led the Cyclones with 19 points, including a pair of treys and seven rebounds. Lacey and Ezell each had 10 points and Kelsey Bolte ripped down eight boards to lead the team.

The Cyclones shot a cold 27.3 percent from the field, more than12 percent behind their average.

“You’ve got to score in this league, and going 15-for-55 isn’t going to get it done,” Fennelly said.

Iowa State finished with just three treys, more than four behind the team average.

“We have struggled with shooting all year and today it cost us the game,” Fennelly said.