After struggling to score down the stretch, the ISU women’s basketball team broke out of a scoring drought at the perfect time.

The Cyclones shot 43.8 percent on the way to a 76-50 win over Colorado in the opening round of the Big 12 Tournament.

Junior Heather Ezell led the Cyclones with 25 points, and freshman Kelsey Bolte added 19.

But it was Ezell who carried the day for Iowa State. The guard shot 9 of 16, including 7-for-11 from beyond the arc, to carry the Cyclones into the second round.

As a team Iowa State shot 45.2 percent from three (14 of 31).

Halfway through the second half the team hit a wall. Stuck at 60, the Cyclones didn’t score for more than four minutes. Luckily, Colorado only managed four points during that same stretch.

As was the case all day, Heather Ezell was on the spot. She drained a three that triggered a 16-4 run to seal the game for the Cyclones.

Iowa State will play No. 1 seed Kansas State Wednesday at 12 p.m.