Iowa State women close out tight game against Kansas State, 75-69

AMES — Once the Iowa State women's basketball team surrendered another fourth-quarter lead, coach Bill Fennelly could feel the bench and crowd start to tense up.

The only three players he didn't get that feeling from were Jadda Buckley, Seanna Johnson and Bridget Carleton. Instead of shrinking away in another loss, they helped power the Cyclones to a second Big 12 win.

'I think for the first time in awhile, I don't think Seanna, Jadda and Bridget thought (we were going to lose another close game),' Fennelly said. 'They just seemed to relax and do what they needed to do.'

Before its 75-69 win against Kansas State on Saturday, the Cyclones (11-8, 2-6) had fourth-quarter leads in six of their eight losses with offense disappearing down the stretch.

'I think it just showed our mental toughness throughout this game, and we learned from it,' Carleton, who had 14 points, six rebounds and five assists, said. 'I think we were down one in the fourth quarter, but we were tough and toughed it out. We got some scores and stops when we needed them and we're just glad we got this win.'

Iowa State led by as many as 11 in the first half, but the Wildcats (15-5, 5-3) climbed back and trimmed the lead to three with 1:06 left in the fourth quarter — they made 5-of-7 shots to get there.

Kansas State sent Buckley, a 92 percent free throw shooter this season, to the line. She made all six attempts in the final 30 seconds and finished with 21 points on 6-of-8 shooting in 39 minutes. Johnson added 13 points, nine assists and eight rebounds — she had been scoreless in the previous loss at Baylor and the first 20 minutes Saturday.

'I thought what changed this time was individual accountability I thought we didn't have enough of,' Fennelly said. 'I think everyone who was in the game was trying to do something positive.

'I thought Seanna Johnson was incredible in the second half. You talk about a kid that went 60 minutes without a point after Baylor and the first half tonight. The way they were playing their defense, basically she was playing point forward.'

Kansas State had a size advantage around the basket, but Iowa State was able to grab 31 boards to the Wildcats' 23. Both teams shot above 48 percent, but the Cyclones were also able to get 10 second-chance points off six offensive rebounds.

'We didn't look for another person to go get the ball,' Johnson said. 'I think we worked hard, especially on defense. I know we got a couple offensive rebounds and that gave us the momentum at the moment, so I think when we all rebound, good things happen.'

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