Cole sparks a comeback

AMES - Chassidy Cole smiled, clutched a towel and sat down to a standing ovation.

The Iowa State senior guard had earned the late-game breather - and the love from 10,556 fans.

Cole dished out nine of her 11 assists in the second half to fuel a comeback that resulted in a 66-47 Big 12 blowout of Kansas at Hilton Coliseum. So what changed after going into halftime down 23-21?

“Coach (Bill Fennelly), he kind of got onto us and told Lauren (Mansfield) and I we needed to step up,” said Cole, who also scored six points and snagged eight rebounds. “I felt like it was all or nothing. If we didn't step up, our team was going to go down the drain.”

Instead, ISU's shots started falling - beginning with two 3-pointers by Brynn Williamson, who stoked a 19-2 run in the first 4:18 of the second half.

The Cyclones made 60 percent of their field goal attempts in the final 20 minutes, after managing to hit just 31 percent before the break.

“We haven't shot 60 percent if the other team left the court,” said Fennelly, whose team avenged a 74-67 loss to the Jayhawks in double overtime. “Shot selection, making shots, it's contagious.”

ISU (15-9, 6-7) beat Kansas (17-8, 6-7) for the fifth straight time at home.

The Jayhawks played their first game without star forward Carolyn Davis, who suffered a season-ending leg injury in Sunday's loss at Kansas State.

“You've got to be able to buck up and go,” Kansas Coach Bonnie Henrickson said.

Fennelly told Cole and Mansfield pretty much the same thing.

“I basically told the seniors at halftime, ‘Decide where you want to go,'” Fennelly said. “‘I'm going to give you the ball and we'll see.'”

Cole and Mansfield combined for 15 points, 13 assists and seven rebounds in the second half. They played 18 of the possible 20 minutes before checking out late.

“We just busted our butts and got the win,” said Williamson, who hit more than one 3-pointer for the first time in five games.

Williamson started the second half. Nikki Moody, who started at point guard, had four turnovers in the first half and didn't play after the break.

“Without question our offense was much better with (Cole) and (Mansfield) at the point,” Fennelly said. “Nikki obviously struggled from the start.”

ISU forward Chelsea Poppens recorded her 14th double-double of the season with 17 points and 12 rebounds.

Hallie Christofferson added 14 points for the Cyclones.