Megan Deines scored 24 points and Breanna Lewis and Kindred Wesemann added 16 apiece to key a furious second half comeback by Kansas State but in the end Iowa State was able to make key free throws and hang on for an 84-79 victory in the Big 12 opener for both teams Wednesday night at Bramlage Coliseum.
K-State never led in the game but played the Cyclones close early, trailing only 8-7 with five minutes left in the first quarter. However, Iowa State which is one of the better three-point shooting teams in the conference got untracked and built their lead to 30-19 near the midway point of the second period. The Wildcats then went on a run and pulled to within 31-28 with 1:54 left in the half but back-to-back three-pointers by Jadda Buckley stretched the Cyclone lead to nine points by halftime.
Iowa State used a third quarter surge to build a 56-41 lead and appeared to be in control of the game but the Wildcats steadily chipped away and were able to pull to within 64-58 after scoring the first seven points of the fourth quarter. However, big baskets at key moments allowed Iowa State to remain just a few steps ahead of K-State as they went back up 78-67 with 4:12 to play. Another Wildcat run of eight straight points cut the lead down to 78-75 with 1:20 remaining but then the comeback was stalled by consecutive offensive foul calls allowing the Cyclones to escape with the win.
Seanna Johnson led Iowa State with 20 points and was joined in double figures by three other players including Buckley with 19 despite being held to two points in the second half, Bridget Carleton had 17 points and Emily Durr added 10 points.
Kansas State (10-2, 0-1) saw their seven-game winning streak come to an end and dropped their first home contest of the season.
The Wildcats will hit the road for the first time in conference play on Saturday when they travel to Ft. Worth to face TCU. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m.
