Despite massive leads and an eventual 79-67 win, Iowa State’s Big 12/ACC tangle with North Carolina was every bit the challenge that it was billed.

In perhaps the most bizarre final five minutes of any ISU basketball game ever, players, coaches, officials and even fans felt the brunt of the challenge.

“They were more physical than us, and we were still able to handle them, and that says a lot about where our team is at,” Cyclone point guard Stacy Frese said. “I think this shows how much we’ve improved since last year.”

The Cyclones strung together a 17-6 run in the second half to put themselves up 30 with just 7:25 to go.

Deciding to call off the dogs, head coach Bill Fennelly cleared his bench, setting up a Carolina comeback, ferocious in both its scope and intensity.

After playing a solid, albeit aggressive, half-court defense against ISU’s starting five, all of the Tar Heel starters returned to the court to mount a vicious full-court press against the Cyclone reserves.

After seeing his lead chopped to 76-63 with 1:14 remaining, an enraged Bill Fennelly returned all five starters to action to close out the game.

“I put the starters back in because I didn’t think it was appropriate to leave the reserves in there against that press with the way the game had gotten out of hand,” Fennelly said.

“I’m not at all disappointed in my reserves. I put those players in there because they deserved to play. They deserved to be on national television,” he said.

“If you want to press, you press my first team, not my third team.”

Asked if he was angry at the North Carolina staff for their late, selective press, Fennelly thought for a second before offering a rare, one-word answer.

“Yes.”

The Cyclone effort was marked by the diversity fans have come to expect from their team.

Five players scored in double-digits, including Frese, who led the team with 16 points and a trio each of assists and steals.

Angie Welle added 14 points, Megan Taylor and Desiree Francis each managed 12 and Lindsey Wilson picked up 10.

Francis also led all players with 12 rebounds to complete her second double-double of the season.

Taylor and Welle chipped in eight and seven boards, respectively, as ISU outrebounded the Tar Heels 55-39 on the game.

“The kids that started the game were solid from beginning to end,” Fennelly said, “but I really appreciated the energy we got off the bench from G [Gintare Cipinyte] and Lindsey [Wilson] and Erica [Haugen].”

After the final buzzer, North Carolina seemed preoccupied with what they saw as deficiencies in the officiating crew.

“We’re not used to taking the ball inside so much and not getting to shoot any foul shots,” North Carolina coach Sylvia Hatchell said. “I guess that’s a nice way to say it.”

Tar Heel forward Jackie Higgins wasn’t quite as subtle.

“I had good shots where I got fouled,” she said, “but I wouldn’t get the foul and then I’d end up missing the shot.”

“I keep charts on referees,” Hatchell said. “I like to keep track of how I can play with certain officials. I’d love to play physical, but I just like to know ahead of time.”

The Cyclones never trailed in the contest, putting themselves up by double-digits for good at the 3:33 mark of the first half and taking a 38-26 lead into the locker room.

“Obviously, this was a very important win for our team — to beat a team like this from a major conference,” Fennelly said. “Our goal is always to play as hard as we can and to show everyone — our fans and the people watching on TV — what we’re capable of.”