Cyclones seek consistency in postseason push

There's one key, if boring, element the surging Iowa State women's basketball team needs to add to its focus on February, reap rewards in March repertoire.

Consistency.

The mercurial Cyclones (17-9, 8-7) look to find it beginning in Saturday's 7 p.m. Big 12 game at Oklahoma State (13-11, 5-10).

“It's just so frustrating when you know you can play so much better,” ISU freshman guard Brynn Williamson said.

Better late than never, though.

The Cyclones have outscored their opponents by at least 11 points in the second half of seven of eight conference wins.

ISU trailed last-place Missouri for more than 36 minutes Tuesday before scoring 18 of the last 22 points in regulation and overtime in a 66-59 win at Hilton Coliseum.

So what's with the slow starts and fast finishes?

“It has kind of became second nature, but it's not something we want,” said Williamson, who has drained at least one 3-pointer in 15 of 26 games. We want to get out early, get our run, get our lead, build on it, walk out of the gym knowing we played as hard as we could.  You don't ever want to have to wait until the last 5 minutes.”

Whatever the volatile formula, it's been working lately for the Cyclones, who have won five of the last six games and eight of 10.

But Tuesday's near catastrophe, in terms of NCAA Tournament hopes, proved illustrative.

ISU has shown a tendency to rise up when it counts - starting with reviving from the first 0-5 start to big 12 play in Coach Bill Fennelly's 17 seasons.

“I'm not sure what it is, but maybe it's just that we're still getting our bodies warmed up and (by the) second half we're all just ready to go,” junior post player Chelsea Poppens said.

As March looms and competition stiffens, an extended period of languor - early or late - could spell defeat.

And energy's not the only issue.

The Cyclones got to the free throw line 39 times to the Tigers 13 Tuesday, but converted just 25 of those attempts.

Poppens herself shot 24 from 15 feet - a quantity that surprised her.

“I didn't realize I shot 24 free throws,” said ISU's leader in scoring and rebounding. “But I knew I missed quite a few.”

The Cyclones outscored the Cowgirls by 19 points in the second half of a win earlier this month in Ames, while allowing just 23.3 percent shooting after the break.

"We've got to do the same thing.” Williamson said. “We've got to win, just score, get stops, guard the right way and rebound. Just do the fundamental things.”