Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

After missing the last 27 minutes of a 80-50 loss at Texas due to back spasms, ISU women’s basketball guard Lyndsey Medders was itching to be back on the court.

She reared back with a vengeance Saturday night with 31 points as the Cyclones downed conference rival Nebraska 79-57.

Medders’ status was still at odds only an hour before the game, but pulled through to deliver a saving grace for her team.

“Lyndsey was tremendous for us tonight, and she showed a lot of courage,” said ISU coach Bill Fennelly.

“Our team played as well as it has in a long time, and tonight we did everything we had to do to win.”

The Cyclone’s defense was the catalyst for its offense, flustering the Nebraska offense into 15 turnovers for 25 ISU points. The defense swarmed Kiera Hardy, the Huskers’ leader with 15.8 points per game, to a frustrating six points in the contest.

“Kiera is a phenomenal player, and when she’s limited to the amount of shots she gets, the offense is a little more stagnate,” said ISU forward Megan Ronhovde.

“When you play Nebraska, she’s a key for how you set up your defense.”

Nebraska’s offensive outlet was also diminished by the absence of freshman Kelsey Griffin, who was battling a case of stomach flu and could only convert eight points for her team.

Iowa State (11-4, 2-2 Big 12) started the game with a streak of cold shooting, and Nebraska took advantage with a six-point lead.

The ISU offense burst open because of two quick layups by Medders, and then a 3-pointer by redshirted senior Brittany Wilkins gave the Cyclones the lead. It was all the surge Iowa State needed for a 12-0 run and a 22-17 lead.

Medders capped the half with two successful free throws for a 39-27 lead, the Cyclones’ biggest of the game. She had 20 points to her credit, seven less than Nebraska’s team total.

“In the second half we were up 12 and we never really let them get back in the game,” Fennelly said.

“Our transition opportunities allowed us to convert quite a bit, and defensively we were solid. We played the way we wanted to play.”

A flurry of threes opened the second half, and continued as the Cyclones shot 42.9 percent in the half behind the arc. Back-to-back treys from Ronhovde and freshman Heather Ezell erupted the game, and Iowa State never looked back. Nebraska dropped to 10-5 overall and 2-2 in the conference with the loss.

“Coming in, we knew that this was a must-win game for us,” Ronhovde said.

“The game at Texas wasn’t going to be repeated. The way the Big 12 is playing, you have to be ready to go.”

Wilkins scored 17 points in the contest, going 8-11 and pulling down 10 rebounds for her seventh double-double of the season.

Ronhovde dominated the weak-side boards for 13 rebounds and dished out six assists with her seven points.

Sophomore Lisa Bildeaux continued to expand her role in the game with 11 points, and Ezell matched her with 11 points of her own.

Jessica Gerhart led Nebraska with 12 points, while Chelsea Aubry chipped in 10.

The Cyclones play at home this Saturday against Texas A&M.