Instant analysis: Iowa State women’s basketball’s Big 12 title hopes take a hit with loss to Baylor

AMES – When the Iowa State girls’s basketball group suffered a stunning loss at Kansas State earlier within the week, it left little room for error for the rest of the season.

The Cyclones, preseason favorites to win the Huge 12 Convention, couldn’t have many extra slip-ups in the event that they have been going to put on the convention crown.

Iowa State suffered one other large setback Saturday. The Twelfth-ranked Cyclones misplaced their first residence sport of the season, falling to Baylor 76-70. Iowa State, which has misplaced back-to-back video games for the primary time this yr, falls to 15-6 on the season and 7-4 in Huge 12 play.

“Powerful week for our group,” mentioned Iowa State coach Invoice Fennelly. “However, we’ll see how we reply. We now have to maneuver ahead.”

Time is already ticking for the Cyclones, who’re operating out of alternatives to climb again to the highest of the Huge 12. Iowa State started the day one sport out of first place behind Texas and tied with Oklahoma for second place. Now simply seven video games stay within the common season, together with a house sport towards the Longhorns, who’ve already topped Iowa State this season, and a rematch with Baylor.

“You have to discover a approach to get a win or two,” Fennelly mentioned. “We have seven robust ones and we’ll see.”

Iowa State definitely had its probabilities Saturday. The Cyclones even led within the fourth quarter after an Ashley Joens layup gave Iowa State a 57-56 lead with 6:44 remaining. However that was the ultimate lead Iowa State had within the back-and-forth sport. Sarah Andrews sank a 3-pointer to offer Baylor the lead again. She then accomplished an old style 3-point pay to increase the result in 62-57.

Iowa State, and its struggles from 3-point vary, going simply 5-for-24 from deep, could not bridge the hole. The Cyclones additionally missed their ultimate 5 discipline objectives of the evening. ISU did get an enormous day from Nyamer Diew, who tallied 25 factors, whereas Joens added 23.

Nyamer Diew had an enormous sport. And Iowa State wanted it

Diew had the perfect sport of her faculty profession with these 25 factors. When the Cyclones struggled out of the gate early within the third quarter, it was Diew that bought them going. She related on all 5 discipline purpose makes an attempt and completed with 13 factors within the quarter. She ended up being one of many few brilliant spots in Iowa State’s taking pictures struggles, going 3-for-4 from 3-point vary and was the one Cyclone with a number of made 3s.

“We form of struggled popping out of the third,” Joens mentioned. “Ny hit some large photographs and form of helped get the power again and form of propelled us.”

Iowa State’s taking pictures struggles gave them points once more

Iowa State has shockingly been wildly inconsistent with its taking pictures this season. The Cyclones, identified for his or her robust 3-point taking pictures as a program, entered Saturday’s sport ranked fifth among the many 10 Huge 12 groups in that regard. The largest downside is that when Iowa State has struggled, they’ve actually struggled. Saturday was a type of video games. Iowa State shot simply 20.8% from past the arc. Diew was the one brilliant spot. Even Joens struggled, going simply 1-for-9 from deep. The Cyclones, who lack measurement, rely a lot on the success of their taking pictures from past the arc.

“It harm our protection a bit bit,” Fennelly mentioned. “We’re making an attempt to do one thing otherwise to handle it. However, you have to make photographs. It is a make shot, miss shot sport and we could not make them.”

Tommy Birch, the Register’s sports activities enterprise and options reporter, has been working on the newspaper since 2008. He is the 2018 and 2020 Iowa Sportswriter of the 12 months. Attain him at tbirch@dmreg.com or 515-284-8468. Comply with him on Twitter @TommyBirch.