The Iowa State women’s basketball team set out to shut down Iowa’s star forward Megan Gustafson in Wednesday’s edition of the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk series.

Gustafson was held to 16 points on 5-of-8 shooting, seven points below her season average. However, the Cyclones’ offense failed to show up, and Iowa State fell to the Hawkeyes 61-55. 

The Cyclones came out in a 2-3 zone and double-teamed Gustafson in the post from start to finish. Iowa State jumped out to a 7-2 lead, but Iowa guard Mackenzie Meyer hit two 3-pointers to give the Hawkeyes the lead. Meyer went 4-for-4 from three in the first half. 

After trailing 18-16 at the end of the first quarter, Iowa State hit one field goal in the entire second quarter. The Cyclones’ defense held the Hawkeyes to eight points, though, and the score was 26-19 Iowa at the half. Junior guard Bridget Carleton struggled for Iowa State, shooting 3-for-16 from the field.

The second half brought more offense and physicality from both teams. The Cyclones fought back from an 11-point deficit to tie the game at 38 on the back of hot shooting from sophomore forward Adriana Camber and freshman guard Rae Johnson. The Cyclones trailed 41-38 after three quarters.

The Iowa State offense stagnated again in the fourth, shooting 3-for-13 from the field and confirming the Cyclones’ fourth straight defeat. Iowa State shot just 29.5 percent overall. 

The Cyclones will play North Carolina Central on Sunday, Dec. 10, at noon in Hilton Coliseum.