Seven straight losses to Texas and three-straight losses to start February were both things that came to an end Monday, as Iowa State women’s basketball won 66-61 over the No. 17 Longhorns.

Bill Fennelly became the 27th coach to reach 750 career wins as a coach, Ashley Joens had a strong night with 24 points and the Cyclones are back in the win column.

“I understand that people have to talk about and write about or whatever, the 750 thing, but this has zero to do with me,” Fennelly said. “This is all about our team and the amazing effort that they put in against a phenomenal team.”

Cooking from the start

The Cyclones have been a streaky-shooting team all season long. On Monday night, the team was on the better side of the streakiness, making shots at will during the first quarter.

Iowa State shot 6-11 in the first quarter, along with 3-4 from distance, building up a 22-11 lead.

The players knew how important a strong start would be entering the game and opened the game with passion and a gameplan.

Fennelly stressed the importance of the strong start after the game, saying the team snatched the momentum early on during each of the four quarters.

Longhorns cannot buy a bucket

The first half was not one to remember for the Longhorns shooting the ball, making just 10 of 33 shots and going without a three-pointer.

The Longhorns shot 17% better in the second half, but after the deficit they fell in, it would not be enough to overcome the Cyclones.

Point guard Rori Harmon may have struggled the most in the first three quarters for Texas, shooting just 4-13. Harmon brought Texas back into it in the fourth with 10 points on 5-8 shooting, finishing the game with 19 points on 9-21 shooting.

Necessary bounce-back

After losing three consecutive games, the Cyclones bounced back for a much-needed win. With the postseason under a month away, this is the time for teams to get things figured out.

While still a few games away from the top spot in the Big 12, the Cyclones have a lot to battle for. The top four seeds in each region play the first two NCAA Tournament games in their home arenas, and Iowa State could still make a run at one of those spots.

Beating teams like Texas that have had Iowa State’s number for years could also provide a confidence booster as the Big 12 Tournament approaches.

“When they walk up the ramp, your heart needs to be full, your head needs to be up, put a smile on your face cause you’re excited about the future,” Fennelly said.

Next up for the Cyclones is a matchup against Baylor on Saturday, as the team will head to Waco, Texas.