IOWA CITY, Iowa – Coming into the game, sophomore guard Jadda Buckley knew the odds were stacked against the Cyclones.

The Cyclones had to hit the road to take on the No. 24 Iowa Hawkeyes — a team that ISU coach Bill Fennelly says is one of the best he’s seen in a long time.

However, Buckley didn’t let the implications of an in-state rivalry shake her. Buckley finished with 25 points by the end of the game, marking one of the best games in her Iowa State career.

“I think it’s just all about taking the right shots,” Buckley said. “It’s about shot selection out on the court. I think overall it was fine, my teammates got me a good screen or a good pass off the dribble so, you have to take those shots and knock them down in a game like this.”

In the end, her career performance wasn’t enough to slow the Hawkeyes. In a game that was tight until the end, Iowa came out on top 76-67.

“I think Iowa is an outstanding team, I think they played great tonight,” Fennelly said. “Our kids competed for the entire time, but they hit some big, big shots when they had to, and that’s what good teams do.”

The Hawkeyes didn’t waste any time on Dec. 11, jumping out to a 14-7 lead to start the game. The Cyclones were able to hang around in the first half, even taking a brief lead near the break.

Several times in the first half, the Cyclones were able to come within a handful of points. Each time, however, Iowa was able to find an answer on the other end, stealing any momentum that Iowa State was able to create.

“We need to take that when it’s a close lead and go with it,” Buckley said. “We can’t just all the sudden go on defense and relax. That’s where they hurt us.”

The second half was much of the same, with both teams keeping the game close. The Hawkeyes, though, were able to keep the momentum away from the Cyclones. And with little momentum going their way, they found themselves with another problem-foul trouble.

“I think we played fine,” senior guard Nikki Moody said. “Just at the end of the day it was the fouls. If we were out on the court a little more, the game could have been a little closer at times. Jadda did a good job out there, and I’ll commend her for that. We just need to stay out of foul trouble.”

Both Moody and Brynn Williamson fell into foul trouble early, and had to spend time on the bench in the first half. Fennelly said he would have liked them to be out on the court more early on, but that they just had to do the best they could with what they had.

“It’s no secret that Nikki and Brynn are a huge part of this team,” Buckley said. “So when they’re on the bench, somebody out on the court has to step up. Those are two huge roles that nobody can fill, so you have to do whatever you can out on the court to stay in the game.”

Fennelly hopes that his team will focus on the positives coming out of the game, instead of dwelling on the emotional loss. And with another game on deck for the Cyclones on Dec. 14, he only wants them moving forward.

“We lost to a very good team,” Fennelly said. “I have no problem with how we competed, and no problem with the way we fought to win the game on the road against a very good team. Hopefully it will be a move forward.”