Iowa State loses double-digit lead, falls to No. 6 Mississippi State in OT

AMES - The Iowa State women's basketball team overmatched a top-10 team for 39 minutes, and was on the brink of closing out a signature win.

The Cyclones just couldn't make the necessary plays and the opportunity passed by them.

Iowa State led No. 6 Mississippi State by as many as 17 points, but lost 85-81 in overtime after the Bulldogs (8-0) made a late push in regulation.

'You're a minute away from a big upset and everybody loves you to now the headline is going to be Iowa State blows a lead,” said Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly. 'We'll find out (how our team responds tomorrow).”

Mississippi State closed out regulation on an 8-1 run that included two 3-pointers and an ISU turnover and missed free throw. Guard Jadda Buckley, who had 19 points and 11 assists in 44 minutes, missed the game-winning jumper at the buzzer.

The Cyclones led by six midway through the second quarter before they went on a 12-1 run in less than four minutes to grow their lead to 17. Iowa State shot 62.5 percent from the field, held Mississippi State to 35.7 percent and forced seven turnovers.

'That whole first half they just stuck it down our throat and made us like it,” said Mississippi State coach Vic Schaefer. 'You've got to give them a lot of credit. What a tremendous, tremendous team. I'll tell you something, (Buckley), that's a warrior. That's one hell of a basketball player.”

Buckley had just two points in the second half, while Seanna Johnson ended with a team-high 21 points and eight rebounds. Bridget Carleton added 17 points and four rebounds.

Mississippi State's Morgan William had a game-high 24 points while Roshunda Johnson had 15 points, including two 3-pointers in the final 1:06 to help force overtime.

'They just came out ready to play (in the second half),” Buckley said. 'That was evident. (Schaefer) had them in the locker room the whole (halftime period) so we knew they were going to come out strong. That's what they did.”

The Bulldogs deployed full-court pressure most of the afternoon, and were able to force 13 turnovers in the final 20 minutes. They also shot 76.9 percent in the fourth quarter and held the Cyclones to 33.3 percent.

'We ran out of gas down the stretch,” Fennelly said. 'Unfortunately we just couldn't close the deal against a really good team. I'm not upset with anyone. I know they played as hard as they could. Now the challenge is for us to hopefully learn from it.”

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