KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Not quite two weeks ago, Iowa State went to Texas Tech and lost a heartbreaker, 68-60.

The seniors on the Cyclone team went into last night’s game against the Lady Raiders determined not to let it happen again.

Megan Taylor and Erica Haugen, with a lot of help from the rest of the team, led No. 13 Iowa State (24-5) past No. 12 Texas Tech (23-6) to a 73-62 in the Big 12 Conference semifinals.

Haugen came up with two huge steals late and assisted on a Megan Taylor three-pointer with 3:59 left to give the Cyclones a 63-56 lead, and more importantly igniting the Cyclone fans at Municipal Auditorium.

“[Haugen is] the one player who has done a lot of things for our team,” ISU head coach Bill Fennelly said, “and has probably been the one player on our team that has gone the least noticed.”

Late in the game with Haugen at the free-throw line, the fan-favorite Taylor, with her thumb and pointer finger extended in the shape of a gun, blew away smoke, mocking Texas Tech’s hand symbol.

“I’ve had to put up with that for four years,” Taylor said.

Once Iowa State took the lead, they never looked back and slowly pulled away to advance to Saturday’s Big 12 Championship game.

“As a team, I don’t even know if we consider this a neutral court anymore,” Angie Welle said of the place commonly known as “Hilton South” by Cyclone fans.

With the crowd pumped and Iowa State with the lead, the Cyclone defense led by Haugen, picked up its intensity and shut down the Lady Raider offense.

The Raiders top scorer, Plenette Pierson, was held to six points in the half. She finished with 13 to lead all Texas Tech players.

“That’s probably as close to a man [defense] we’ll ever play,” Welle said of the Cyclones’ defense that was in the face of the Lady Raiders all half.

Welle led everyone with 25 points and 11 boards. Lindsey Wilson added 15 points and five assists.

Taylor finished with 10 points and six boards, while Haugen had eight points including a huge three with a Tech defender in her face to give Iowa State its first lead of the second half, 55-53.

Taylor needs only nine points in tomorrow’s championship game to become the Cyclones all-time leading scorer.

“We just wanted it so much,” Welle said. “We got together and said `we’re not letting this slip away.'”

In the first half, both teams fought to get an advantage over the other.

Neither team could gain an edge as the biggest lead either team amassed was five.

The Cyclones got out of the blocks early gaining an 8-4 lead with Welle and Wilson combining for all eight points.

Iowa State ran into trouble with fouls as Welle picked up number two with 4:25 left in the half.

Cipinyt‚ didn’t score, but Welle knocked in 13 in just more than 15 minutes of play.

Texas Tech had their share of trouble, as their best post player, Pierson, managed to get herself in foul trouble, sitting out the final 2:45 of the half with two fouls.

Pierson, despite double and triple teams from tenacious Cyclone defenders, poured in seven points.

Reserve Natalie Ritchie scored eight to lead the Lady Raiders in period one.

Iowa State will move on to face the No. 1 seed, Oklahoma Sooners. The Sooners cruised past Colorado in a high-scoring affair, 102-93.

Big 12 Player of the Year Stacy Dales scored 16 points and dished out a game-high nine assists to lead Oklahoma.

“We’re gonna enjoy this [win],” Wilson said, “and let the coaches worry about scouting [Oklahoma].”