Doomed by a four-point second quarter offensive performance, the Iowa State women’s basketball team could not climb out of the hole it dig. The Cyclones ultimately fell to the No. 12 Mountaineers 57-49.

An evenly matched first quarter allowed the Cyclones to have a chance to potentially snag the lead in the second quarter, but instead they were outscored 14-4. A two-point game after the first quarter turned into a 26-14 West Virginia lead at halftime. 

The Cyclones shot a miserable 7-for-37 in the first half, for an 18.9 percent field goal percentage. Juniors Bridget Carleton and Meredith Burkhall led the Cyclones with four points each in the first half. 

Whatever coach Bill Fennelly said in his locker room speech at halftime certainly worked as Iowa State came out hot. The Cyclones were aided by a 13-7 run to close out the third quarter and cut the West Virginia lead to seven. 

However, a fourth quarter comeback came up short as they cut the deficit to two with 2:14 left, but couldn’t add anything more. 

Carleton led the Cyclones with 14 points and five rebounds. She also fouled out in the final minute of the game. She was also the only Cyclone to score in double figures. 

The loss extends Iowa State’s losing streak to three games and drops its record to 7-8 overall and 1-3 in the Big 12.