DALLAS – At times, it looked like Brittany Wilkins vs. Courtney Paris, as opposed to Iowa State vs. Oklahoma.

In the end, it was Paris 36, Wilkins 28, and provided for an extremely entertaining battle in the post.

“She’s a tough player,” Paris said of Wilkins. “They played us hard today.”

Paris, a freshman on the Big 12 all-conference team, and Wilkins, an honorable mention selection, frequently traded buckets.

Wilkins’ 28 points were a career-high.

“You have to approach the game, whether you’re playing Courtney Paris or any other post player, [knowing] that you have to rise to the challenge,” Wilkins said. “I was able to do that tonight and the rest of my team helped me just get the ball.”

Iowa State’s gameplan was to wear the freshman out and get Wilkins good looks at the basket.

“We were able to get the ball inside and score a little more,” Wilkins said. “She was getting a little more tired there, but we just had to keep plugging away and hope that we could get some shots on the inside.”

Teammate Lyndsey Medders said Wilkins, although she has received little playing time prior to this season, has been an inspiration for the young Cyclone basketball team.

“We follow the lead of Brittany [Wilkins],” Medders said. “She won’t let us give up.”

Not only did Wilkins score in the paint, but she also knocked down two 3-pointers.

It’s that versatility that has threatened opposing defenses all season long.

“She’s a great player, no doubt,” Paris said. “She’s a big girl, who can shoot threes, drive and post.”

In the end, the loss to Oklahoma may have mirrored the Cyclones season.

“She fights and battles, and we were just following her lead,” Medders said.

“She didn’t give up, and neither did we. It’s been that kind of story all year.”