Stacy Frese’s theory goes something like this.

With enough hard work and dedication, the ball eventually doesn’t have any choice. It has to go in.

“I think that if you keep practicing over and over, then eventually your shots are going to fall,” Frese said.

And fall they did. Frese set a school record by connecting on all eight of her three-point attempts en route to 29 points in Iowa State’s 79-58 drubbing over the Nebraska Cornhuskers Thursday night.

The eight consecutive threes were only one off the NCAA record.

The Cyclones overcame a first half which saw them commit 11 turnovers and shoot under 38 percent from the field to get their 14th win against only three losses this season.

“This was a very important game for us. This was as nice of a team win as we’ve had in a long time,” coach Bill Fennelly said.

The first half was indeed ugly, as ISU at two different occasions opened up 10-point leads behind Frese and Erica Haugen, who combined for 15 first-half points.

However, a late Cornhusker run brought them right back into the game, as the scoreboard read 25-20 as the teams trotted to the locker room.

“Coach Fennelly wasn’t that bad at half. It was intense, but he’s learned when to yell at us and when to ease off,” Frese said.

Interestingly enough, it was Frese who caught Fennelly’s ire at intermission.

“Stacy actually caught it more than anyone. I didn’t think she played that well early, and she had five turnovers. She turned it around; however, and that’s the sign of a good player,” Fennelly said.

Frese gave a preview of the rest of the game by hitting two threes on the team’s first three possessions.

The team ripped off a 18-6 run to give them a 54-37 lead with 11:51 left in the game.

When Nicole Kubik of the Huskers nailed a three-pointer from the left corner, the lead was cut to 13 with 9:37.

That’s when the Cyclones, with 5,203 screaming fans, took the game over with a 16-2 run that left the Huskers gasping for air.

Frese added her final two three-pointers in the run, and the most spectacular one came on the seventh.

As the shot clock was running down, Frese dribbled left, and after a pick, she found herself matched up with Lisa Reitisma, who stands 6-4.

The diminutive Frese took a step back from the arc, dribbled behind her back and put up a shot.

Nothing but net.

The crowd went nuts, the game was in hand and Stacy Frese had another notch in her belt.

Although they were overlooked, four other Cyclones did reach double figures.

Tracy Gahan turned in her first career double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds, while Megan Taylor added her sixth double-double of the season with 10 points and 12 rebounds.

Angie Welle provided another solid game in the paint with 10 points and nine rebounds, and Haugen finished with 12 points.

Nebraska coach Paul Sanderford singled out Haugen as a key to the game.

“I thought Erica Haugen played great. She handled the ball, played point guard and let Frese move to the two guard and get some shots. She was key,” Sanderford said.

The Cyclones will now go back on the road to face Missouri on Saturday night.