Iowa State captured a 91-82 win over Big 12/SEC Challenge opponent Arkansas.

Kristin Scott put up a monster performance. She set a career high in points with 21 and had five offensive rebounds.

During the game, Scott had numerous instances where she was able to quell any Arkansas attempt to take the lead, including a clutch three late into the fourth quarter.

Scott helped lead the charge as Iowa State had 44 points in the paint along with 18 second-chance points.

“Some games you gotta win playing really, really good defense, and some games you gotta win and outscore them and tonight we had to outscore them,” Fennelly said.

Those points were vital to Iowa State’s win as the team had another poor shooting night from long distance. The team connected on eight 3-pointers on 29 shots.

In Iowa State’s last game, a 64-59 loss to South Dakota, coach Bill Fennelly attributed the loss to Iowa State not being able to get into a rhythm on offense including failing to attack the basket and notch offensive rebounds.

During the first half, Iowa State dominated in the paint, scoring 16 points there.

After the game, Arkansas coach Mike Neighbors said his team lacked toughness and size compared to the Cyclones.

In addition, Iowa State had six offensive rebounds in the half, which netted six second-chance points for the Cyclones.

Bridget Carleton had three offensive rebounds, Kristin Scott had two and Mere Burkhall had one.

With 7:40 left in the second quarter, Iowa State led Arkansas 18-17, and Iowa State’s offense was stagnant. Then off a missed shot by Carleton, Scott snagged her first offensive rebound of the night and was able to knock down the putback shot.

Forty seconds later, Iowa State again had a one-point lead with the score being 20-19. Again Scott was able to clean up the offensive rebound from a missed Carleton shot and notched the putback score to give Iowa State a 22-19 lead.

Iowa State’s lead didn’t last with Arkansas tying the game at 22 with a made 3-pointer.

On Iowa State’s next offensive possession, Rae Johnson hit Scott for a layup which Scott was fouled on. With the subsequent made free throw, Iowa State was ahead 25-22.

To extend the Cyclone lead, Scott was fouled on a shot attempt the following Iowa State possession and made both free throws to put the Cyclones up 27-22.

Iowa finished the second half ahead 37-33.

In the third quarter, Scott continued her dominate play where she had two made free throws, another offensive rebound and putback shot and even a block in the first part of the quarter.

With 3:29 left in the third and Iowa State leading 60-54, Scott had a missed shot, but rebounded the ball and drew a shooting foul. Scott hit one of her free throws.

The next Cyclone possession saw Johnson spin out of a double team before passing to Carleton in the post who passed it to a wide open Scott off of a cut to put Iowa State up 63-54.

Arkansas then made two free throws, but Scott was able to find a wide open Alexa Middleton on the 3-point line to extend Iowa State’s lead to 66-56.

The rest of the quarter, Scott hit two more free throws and didn’t score or record a rebound until late into the fourth quarter.

Late in the fourth, Arkansas had scored seven-straight unanswered points to cut a 10 point Iowa State lead to 85-82. With 2:11 left in the fourth, a driving Carleton hit a wide open Scott in the corner who made the three as Hilton exploded.

Coming off of her fingertips, Scott said she could feel the shot was going to be good.

The shot was the only three Scott hit all night, but it was the only one that mattered.

“We lost [Scott] on a kickout three and that’s just a dagger to your energy level,” Neighbors said.

After the three by Scott, Arkansas didn’t score anymore points during the game.

Fennelly said Scott’s ability to rebound and score in a variety of ways can make her a special player and if Iowa State has a successful season, her development will be a major contributing factor.

After her performance versus Arkansas, it seems Scott is one step closer to her potential.