LINCOLN, Neb. – It was like a scene straight out of a movie.

After only one event and with No. 6 Oklahoma (10-8) and No. 13 Missouri (13-11) trailing far behind, it was clear the Big 12 championship would come down to two longtime rivals.

Going into the final event, No. 4 Iowa State (16-3) was trailing No. 11 Nebraska (14-6-1), 147.250-146.975, putting the Cyclones title hopes in serious jeopardy.

In order to win, Iowa State needed to have a near-flawless performance on floor exercise and hope Nebraska had a few bobbles on balance beam at the same time.

The bobbles never came for Nebraska, which earned a 49.025 on beam.

But the Cyclones weren’t going down without a fight.

“Before we went to floor I told them, ‘You are going to have to have the absolute most amazing floor of your careers,’ and they said, ‘We will,’ and they didn’t even hesitate,” said Coach K.J. Kindler, who was named Big 12 Coach of the Year. “That’s the way this team has been all year.”

First up on floor exercise was junior Ashley Alden, who tied her season-high by earning a 9.850.

Next was redshirt sophomore Jade Kvach. After dealing with wrist and elbow injuries throughout this season, she competed with two braces on her arm. Just a week ago against Iowa, she was unable to compete in the floor exercise because of her injuries.

At the Big 12 championship Saturday night, any fears about her injuries were cast away as she tied her season-high of 9.825.

Third was one of the most important floor performances in the history of ISU gymnastics. Going into the meet, senior Kacey Oiness’s previous season high was 9.875 and her career high was 9.900.

Saturday night, she had the best floor performance of her entire career. Oiness nailed every pass to score a 9.950, earning her the title of Big 12 conference champion on the floor exercise.

“When I went, I was just thinking that I need to do the best routine I can because we were behind,” Oiness said.

“We needed every 10th and every score to count, so I just went out their and did the best routine I could do.”

Oiness was followed by Erin Dethloff and Laura-Kay Powell, who earned scores of 9.850 and 9.900, respectively. Like Kvach, the two seniors have also battled injuries throughout the season, yet were able to battle through them under intense pressure. Powell’s score tied her season high.

With one gymnast each left for Iowa State and Nebraska on their respective events, the crowd was at a fever pitch. Nebraska’s Sabrina Long, who previously landed hard on her back after her vault attempt went haywire, went last on balance beam for Nebraska, earning a solid 9.675.

As Long was finishing her routine, ISU junior Janet Anson was in the middle of her own. Flipping through the air with the skills that earned her the honor of Big 12 Gymnast of the Year, Anson finished her routine with a smile on her face and a roar from the ISU crowd. For her efforts, she was awarded with a score of 9.900.

“To be honest with you, this meet has been [Anson’s] nemesis,” Kindler said. “She’s fallen in the last two Big 12 championships, so it was really exciting so see her hit today.”

After the top five scores were totaled and Iowa State earned a season-high team score of 49.450 on floor, ISU fans, coaches and gymnasts waited anxiously to see if the strong floor performance was enough to propel the Cyclones to the top.

First, the ISU team erupted into a mass of hugs and screams, followed shortly by the wild applause of many Cyclone fans in attendance. The graphic on the screen told the story.

Final score: Iowa State: 196.425. Nebraska: 196.275.

“Being Big 12 champion is awesome,” Dethloff said. “Leaving on a good note in the Big 12 during my senior year and being in Nebraska – in my hometown – it’s just overwhelming and there are so many emotions.”

Kindler was beaming with pride after the meet.

“This conference is so darn tough and every time we come in here, we feel like any team could come out winners,” she said. “We were so steady all night and I’m just real proud of them.”

The Big 12 championship will be broadcast via tape delay on Fox Sports Net at 11 a.m. Thursday and noon Friday.