MANHATTAN, Kan. – Layups weren’t working, so ISU center Brittany Wilkins did what she thought would work best.

She stepped back and shot a few 3-pointers.

Wilkins scored eight consecutive points in a span of 2:26 for Iowa State, who topped Kansas State 71-66 Saturday. The eight points included two 3-pointers, each one coming when the Cyclones trailed by three.

“It wasn’t working on the inside, so I thought maybe I’d take the shots from the outside,” Wilkins said. “I knew I had to get behind the arc . it was my time to step up tonight and make that big play.”

Iowa State (14-8, 5-6 Big 12) had only won three league games against Kansas State (17-6, 7-6) in Manhattan.

“Big win for us,” said ISU coach Bill Fennelly. “We haven’t played very well here in a long time, and I’m very proud of the fact that we beat a very good team today.”

The Cyclones got off to a slow start, even with leading scorer Lyndsey Medders back in the lineup. After trailing by eight at the half, Iowa State started the second half with a 20-4 run, bringing it back into the game. Medders, who had sat out three games with a sprained foot, had 26 for the Cyclones, including shooting 12-of-14 from the free throw line. She played 34 minutes on the night.

“It’s been probably the toughest two weeks of my life to sit around and watch,” Medders said. “The first half I felt like my freshman year all over again.”

In the last 54 seconds, she converted on 9-of-10 free throws, icing the game for Iowa State, and although she appeared to be winded, there was no doubt who Fennelly wanted in the game.

“She’s our best ball handler. She’s our best free-throw shooter, and when the margin was three to five, and they had to foul every time, we just tried to set up plays to get the ball to her or Britt [Wilkins],” he said.

“[Medders] impacted the game dramatically.”

While Medders was out of the lineup, the lineup was shuffled around, so her return allowed the young Cyclone team to fall back into its natural position.

“Medders is a great leader, and just to have that on the floor, I think it got everybody a little more comfortable,” said freshman guard Heather Ezell. “We weren’t out of position as much.”

Regardless, Medders said it’s going to take more than an injury to keep her out of another contest this season, especially with the Big 12 tournament around the corner.

“I am done with the injury talk,” she said. “I am playing the rest of the year no matter what’s going on. We’re rolling from here.”

Iowa State plays the first of a two-game home stand against Texas Tech on Tuesday night. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.