On a night in their honor, it was the senior leaders of the ISU women’s basketball team who pushed Iowa State past Kansas, 61-52.

The Cyclones recognized the collegiate careers of seniors Anne O’Neil, Mary Fox, Katie Robinette, Lisa Kriener and Tracy Paustian the same way the team has many times over their tenure — with a win.

“It was emotional, first of all because it was the last time we’ll play in Hilton and in front of our fans,” O’Neil said. “At the same time, we wanted to come out and play basketball and try to win our last game.”

The five made their last contest in Hilton Coliseum a memorable one, scoring all but five of their teams’ points and every point in the second half.

“That’s a fitting end,” Robinette said.

Robinette led the way with 18 points and 10 rebounds, her eighth double-double of the season. Fox added 18 more, and O’Neil scored 16, making 12 of 14 free throws, and dished out a team-high four assists.

“What I told the team before the game was this,” ISU coach Bill Fennelly said. “They have Iowa State jerseys on their chest and they’ve worn them proudly. I think the Iowa State family and what this is all about has bled into their hearts.”

The win moved Iowa State to 22-5 on the season and 12-4 in the Big 12. The Cyclone seniors also went out perfectly at home, ending their season with a 15-0 mark at Hilton.

“We wanted to play in the Big 12 tournament and in the NCAA tournament, and now it’s waiting for us,” Fox said. “I think we’ll be prepared and ready to move on.”

Iowa State found a way to win even with an uncharacteristically poor shooting night. The Cyclones led the Big 12 in field-goal percentage entering the game, but managed just 40 percent from the field and 23 percent from behind the 3-point line.

The outcome was still in doubt for Iowa State deep into the second half. Coming into the game, Kansas held just a 12-14 overall record and a 5-10 mark in the Big 12, but kept it close.

Iowa State led by one at the half, and extended its advantage to as many as nine points midway through the second, but Kansas wouldn’t go away, taking a one-point lead with 2:49 to play.

Fox hit a jumper, putting Iowa State back on top, and O’Neil hit eight free throws in the final 1:52 to put the game away.

Both teams got off to a slow start to begin the game. After neither squad scored for more than three minutes, the scoreless tie was broken when Kansas’ Jamie Boyd completed a layup. Iowa State hit its first field goal with 16:12 to play, when Fox nailed a jumper.

The Cyclones kept it close but could not maintain a lead. Iowa State had the lead six different times, with its largest advantage at just two points. The Cyclones shot just 33 percent from the floor in the first half, and were 2 of 10 from 3-point land.

“They did a good job of coming out on the outside,” Fennelly said of the Kansas defense. “They switched a lot and got up in to us … and spread us out.”

Iowa State tied its season low with three shots made from behind the arc with three — two from Fox and one from sophomore Megan Ronhovde.

Point guard Lyndsey Medders played only four first-half minutes and 21 minutes overall, after coming off the bench. Second in the Big 12 in assists, Medders recorded just two assists and missed her only three shots.

Ronhovde was the only underclassman to score, adding five points and seven rebounds. She also had four steals.

“I thought Megan Ronhovde’s contributions to this game was tremendous,” Fennelly said. “She guarded hard, she rebounded hard. That’s as hard as that kid has played in a long time.

“I thought she impacted that game dramatically, especially on the defensive end.”