Iowa State women close out their season with loss to Mountaineers

AMES — Iowa State women's basketball seniors Nicole 'Kidd' Blaskowsky and Madi Baier played one last time in a building where they described the feeling as unforgettable.

For coach Bill Fennelly, the end to the regular season leaves him disappointed in not reaching the level he hoped he could with the 2015-16 team.

'I disappointed a lot of people,' Fennelly said. 'That's not in my DNA. That's hard for me. Whatever happens after this happens, but just disappointed we couldn't do some of the things I thought we had a chance to do. I wasn't able to get them to do those things.'

Injuries and defections played a part in Iowa State's struggles and an 82-57 loss to West Virginia in the regular season finale highlighted the shooting and rebounding problems that have plagued the Cyclones all year.

Iowa State finished the regular season 13-16 (5-13 Big 12) and will likely finish with a losing record for the first time in Fennelly's 21-year tenure in Ames. Fennelly shouldered all the blame following the loss and said his staff worked as diligently as he's seen in his coaching career throughout the season.

Blaskowsky and Baier combined to score eight points in their home finale while junior Seanna Johnson led the way with a game-high 21 points and 14 rebounds. Jadda Buckley added 14 points and six assists.

'It's hard to think this is my last night here playing on the floor of Hilton,' Blaskowsky said. 'But I'll be back in the crowd and a part of the magic.'

'Just playing at home one last time for everyone is just really special because it's that one last time,' Baier said. 'You've got to make the most of it and leave it all out on the floor.'

Johnson returned to the floor after a two-game absence — she spent last week in Minnesota with her family after her father suffered a stroke — and hadn't practiced leading up to Tuesday's game. She played 36 minutes and said she felt a little tired, but knew she wanted to be on the floor for the seniors.

'I wanted to be able to play in that last game with them,' Johnson said. 'It really wasn't about me, it was more about them.'

Johnson has scored in double digits in 25 games this season, nine of which have been 20-point-plus games. She is now tied for fourth on the ISU single-season chart for double-doubles (Chelsea Poppens, 14).

'I think whenever the all-conference stuff comes out, she'll be recognized for an amazing season,' Fennelly said. 'It's amazing the way she's handled herself this year. It's fun to see. She's a great talent.'