DALLAS — The ISU women’s basketball team came out firing against the No. 1-seeded Texas Longhorns in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Tournament.

The Cyclones started the game hitting 10 of their first 12 shots, but an extended scoring drought proved to be too much for Iowa State to overcome as Texas toppled the Cyclones 64-54.

Iowa State held a 7-point lead midway through the first half.

“We have excellent shooters on this team, and when we’re all hitting we’re hard to guard — especially when we have an inside-outside game,” ISU junior Lisa Kriener said. “We made an awesome run in the first half. We were pushing it up the floor, and we were getting some wide-open threes and everybody was making them.”

The Cyclones shot 6-of-11 from 3-point land in the first half, but connected on only 2-of-9 in the second half.

Iowa State failed to score in the last six minutes of the first half as Texas gradually edged back into the game.

“I thought the first 15 minutes we played as good as we could play considering the competition,” ISU head coach Bill Fennelly said. “[The last six minutes], Texas really decided to get up in our grill and guard. We had three wide-open threes in that time and couldn’t make any of them.”

Texas came out strong after a halftime tie at 29. The Longhorns held the lead the remainder of the game.

“The key was the first two minutes of the second half,” Fennelly said. “We got outscored 7-0 right off the bat, and I thought that set the tone.”

Iowa State had 21 turnovers and shot 41.7 percent from the floor for the game, after hitting 50 percent of its shots in the first half.

Kriener had 11 points and six rebounds for the Cyclones off the bench. Freshman Lyndsey Medders had 12 points, five assists, four rebounds and two turnovers in 31 minutes.

“Lyndsey Medders had two very good games,” Fennelly said. “I think she has to come out of here feeling very confident. Her numbers are very good for a point guard in a tournament like this, considering the competition.”

Big 12 Freshman of the Year Tiffany Jackson had 16 points and six rebounds for the Longhorns. Sophomore Nina Norman added 16 points and four rebounds.

Fennelly said despite the loss, he was proud of the team.

“Texas is a great team; they’re No. 2 in the nation for a reason,” Fennelly said. “I thought we played as hard as we could play against a great team; unfortunately, it just wasn’t enough.”

Iowa State’s attention will now turn to the Women’s National Invitational Tournament.

“I think any postseason tournament is a good thing,” Fennelly said. “You get to practice more, and you get to play another game.”