The Iowa State women’s team had a lot of opportunities in its game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers in Lincoln.

Their inability to cash in on these chances cost the Cyclones a chance to be in sole possession of first place in the Big 12.

Nebraska won the game in dramatic fashion in Sunday, scoring a 68-67 win over the 15th-rated Cyclones in front of a Devaney Center record crowd of 13,135.

The Cyclones had a chance to win with the final shot, but Stacy Frese’s off-balance leaner came up short, and ISU was dealt its third loss of the season.

Frese and freshman Angie Welle scored 14 and 12 points, respectively, in the second half to finish with 16 to lead the Cyclones.

The game was had a seesaw effect to it, as the largest lead gained by either team was eight, accomplished with 10 minutes left in the second half by Nebraska.

The first half saw Erica Haugen hit three shots from behind the arc to finish the stanza with nine points to lead the squad.

The game also marked the return of forward Desiree Francis, who had missed the previous four games with a foot injury.

Francis scored all five of her points in the first half and played 10 minutes of the entire contest.

When Francis hit two free throws with :3 left in the half, the Cyclones were down 33-31 despite their two leading scorers, Frese and Taylor, scoring two points each.

The second half began with Nebraska’s physical play taking the Cyclones out of their game.

Nebraska collected 14 offensive rebounds in the game, many of which were accumulated during an 11-4 run that gave the Huskers the aforementioned 10-point lead.

ISU came right back with a 9-2 run that saw Welle and Frese provide all the offense.

The Cyclones took the first lead of the half when Taylor nailed two free throws to give ISU a 63-62 lead with 5:08 to play.

They would extend the lead to three on two different occasions, the last being when Tracy Gahan beat the shot clock buzzer with a layup with 2:55 to play.

They had a chance to extend that advantage when Haugen, a 68 percent free throw shooter, stepped to the line for a one-and-one.

She missed the front end, and when Cory McDill knocked down a baseline jumper, the lead was down to one.

Following an empty Cyclone trip, Monet Williams got a layup to give the Huskers back the lead at 68-67.

Another Cyclone turnover gave Nicole Kubik, an 81 percent free throw shooter, a chance to extend the Husker lead.

She missed the front end but was given new life after NU got the rebound and gave her the ball once again.

Once again she missed the shot, and ISU had a chance to win.

That’s when Frese missed, sending the Cyclones to their first loss over a non-ranked opponent.

ISU will now venture to Manhattan, Kansas, to take on the Wildcats on Wednesday night.