For the first 26 minutes, the ISU women’s basketball team was in control and seemed likely to upset No. 12 Kansas State.

But in the last 14 minutes, the Wildcats proved why they’re one of the top three teams in the Big 12 Conference.

Kansas State ended the last 14 minutes of the game on a 23-6 run and went on to win 61-47 Wednesday at Hilton Coliseum.

“We focused on stepping up our defense,” Kansas State’s Nicole Ohlde said of the Wildcats’ run. “We tried to have them not take that many easy baskets and no threes.”

Erica Junod hit a 3-pointer with 14:19 left in the half to put the Cyclones (10-9, 3-5 Big 12) up 38-33. The only other field goal the rest of the game for Iowa State was a Brittany Wilkins basket with 1:17 remaining.

Megan Mahoney’s 3-pointer with 13:28 left started the Wildcats’ run as they hit all four of their 3-pointers in the run.

ISU head coach Bill Fennelly said the loss was a tough one for this team.

“We didn’t make a shot,” Fennelly said. “It’s a lot more frustrating because it was at home. It’s the 19th game of the season. We had a chance to beat them.”

In the second half, Iowa State went 4-for-23 in shooting while Kansas State (16-3, 7-1) shot 44 percent.

Guard Anne O’Neil, who had five turnovers, said the team had the chance to win.

“It seem like we had pretty good control of the game,” O’Neil said. “We had [them] right where we wanted them. I take a lot of responsibility. I did a very poor job of running our offense there at the end and not getting the right people the ball.”

In the first half, Iowa State’s box-and-one defense forced the Wildcats to take many quick shots that ended up in the hands of the Cyclones.

O’Neil’s 10-foot jumper at the halftime buzzer tied the game at 27.

Kansas State’s Kendra Wecker and Ohlde combined to score 35 points.

Wildcats head coach Deb Patterson credited freshmen Twiggy McIntyre and Claire Coggins for their play.

“I thought our freshmen were really good tonight,” Patterson said. “They stepped up off the bench and were game-changers for us and that’s what you hope for. What a pleasant surprise they were. I can’t say enough about their composure and the job they did on the defensive end.”

After the Cyclones shot only 28 percent for the game, Fennelly said his team needed to just make more shots.

“I think we were getting the shots that we needed,” he said. “Our offense was not perfect in the last 15 minutes. You have to make a couple. We got foul trouble in the post.”