ISU women’s basketball head coach Bill Fennelly couldn’t hide his emotions after his team defeated Nebraska 77-66 Saturday.

For every ticket that was sold for the game, the Fennelly family donated 50 cents to the American Heart Association. Fennelly’s oldest son, Billy, received a pacemaker for his heart when he was eight months old. He had an operation two years later to replace the pacemaker, and, last April, Billy had yet another replacement operation.

The coach’s family ultimately donated $4,357 to the association. Fennelly’s players showed him they, too, can play with heart.

“Obviously, this was a very special day for my family,” Fennelly said.

“I want to thank everyone who came to the game. I know a lot of people would have come anyway, but I think there were people that came for a different reason. I’m honored that the players on this team played with the kind of heart that my son now has. It was a very important game for all of us.”

With the win, Iowa State is now 13-11 overall and 6-7 in the Big 12. The Cyclones broke their overall victory total from last season.

Nebraska, still trying to keep its NCAA Tournament hopes alive, is now 16-8 and 6-7 in the conference.

The Cyclones capitalized on a 22-4 run in the second half to win their third consecutive game.

Megan Ronhovde hit the first of Iowa State’s five 3-pointers in the run with 15:44 remaining. During the run, Iowa State shot 8 for 11. Ronhovde said when the team made its first couple of shots during the run, the momentum shifted to the Cyclones.

“The crowd got into it which helped us out a lot as well,” Ronhovde said. “We just feed off the energy with all the fans. When they’re up and yelling, you can’t help but make big shots.”

In the two teams’ first meeting Jan. 10 in Lincoln, Nebraska forced 20 Cyclone turnovers as Iowa State shot 36 percent. This time, Iowa State shot 48 percent and only turned the ball over eight times.

Anne O’Neil, who scored a team-high 16 points, said there was a big difference between the teams’ two meetings.

“I think the biggest difference, obviously, was that everybody stepped up and really contributed,” O’Neil said. “Rebounding, scoring points, guarding on defense, it was just a big contrast [to the last game]. Everyone did their job tonight. I think that goes to prove how much our chemistry has really come along in the last couple of games.”

Margaret Richards led the Cornhuskers in scoring with 18 points.

Nebraska head coach Connie Yori said the main difference between the first and second game was the number of turnovers.

“Their post players really dominated our post players,” Yori said.

For the second straight game, Iowa State’s inside trio of Lisa Kriener, Katie Robinette and Brittany Wilkins played a solid game. The three of them combined for 14-of-21 shooting and 33 points.

“I thought all of them really played well,” Fennelly said. “They seem to be in a position where they really want the ball. I think there were games that we were running away and hiding. Our kids are throwing the ball at them and we’re finishing. At least we’re a threat.”

O’Neil said Iowa State is excited for a stretch run.

“We feel there is still time,” O’Neil said. “We have a few games left in the Big 12 and we have the whole Big 12 Tournament to look forward too. The best thing about it is that we’re playing [our] best basketball right now. We’re playing the best basketball together — it’s not just one person or two people.”