Rob Gray

The Cowboys (13-3, 1-2) led by as many as nine points in the first half and went on several mini runs in the second half to keep ISU from running away with the game. But rebounding proved to be Oklahoma State’s bane, as the Cyclones grabbed 36 boards to its 29, including a 9-to-3 edge on the offensive glass.

Nothing went right for the No. 11 Iowa State women in Wednesday’s disappointing 71-63 loss at struggling Cincinnati, and there’s nowhere for the Cyclones (14-2, 2-2) to go but up.

Tamin Lipsey has lost zero turnovers in five of his 12 games, and he’s had as many as two turnovers just twice.

ISU trailed by as many as eight points in the first half, but Lipsey’s second basket of the game cut Baylor’s lead to one, at 23-22, with 2:38 left in the first half.

ISU (14-2, 2-2 Big 12) lost its second straight game and star guard/forward Addy Brown didn’t play because of a back injury. Starting guard Arianna Jackson appeared to sustain a major injury late in the loss to the Bearcats (6-10, 1-3), as well, which made that quote particularly apropos.

Baylor lost its Big 12 opener, 69-63, at TCU but ranks among the nation’s elite both in adjusted offensive efficiency (12th in KenPom), and offensive rebounding (fourth in KenPom).

What Fennelly would like to see most — besides an antidote to Baylor’s blueprint for curtailing Crooks’ production — is a return to form for versatile guard/forward Addy Brown.

Dynamic point guard Jada Williams led ISU with a career-high 28 points, but needed 28 field goal attempts to reach that mark. Baylor (13-3, 2-1) decided late in the first half to put a hard double team on Crooks — who scored 14 points in 6-for-6 shooting in the first quarter — and leave Williams open looks on the perimeter.

Check out updates from The Gazette Iowa State correspondent Rob Gray with news and information regarding the transfer portal

Facing the tradition-rich and physically-imposing Bears always falls into that latter category. The Cyclones lost twice to them last season and one common denominator shaded both of those setbacks.

The Cyclones shot 13-for-25 from 3-point range to help offset holding a mere 17-to-15 edge in points off turnovers.

It’s easy to say “who cares” when those shots keep plunging through the net. The third-ranked Cyclones (14-0) are shooting 41 percent from beyond the arc — their highest success rate from long distance since 2001. ISU’s also shooting 53.2 percent overall, which would shatter the single-season program record if that degree of accuracy can be maintained.

The swift and skilled former Arizona transfer dished out a career-high 14 assists in the No. 10 Cyclones’ 80-62 win on Wednesday afternoon at Houston. Oh, and Williams also scored 16 points to help ISU (14-0, 2-0 Big 12) match the best start in program history.

Quarterback Rocco Becht is the most high profile Iowa State football player to announce his intent to transfer, but he’s been joined by others in recent days.

The longtime Cyclones defensive coordinator helped Iowa State lead the Big 12 in scoring defense twice and rank among the nation’s stingiest units during his decade in Ames.