Missouri falls to Iowa State

Missouri will play Texas Tech on Saturday.

By Greg Young

Published March 5, 2009

With about six minutes left in the first half, Missouri was within striking distance of the No. 23 Iowa State Cyclones.

The Tigers were only down by two points and had managed to hold Iowa State, a team that averages over 25 3-point attempts per game, to 2-12 from long range.

Unfortunately for the Tigers, the Cyclones kept shooting.

Iowa State, who attempted 19 three-pointers in the first half and made only four of them, started out the second half on fire, making six of its first seven shot attempts from three. Missouri, who had been within striking distance for most of the first half, never got any closer than eight points, falling 47-62.

"It kind of puts a dagger in your heart," sophomore guard RaeShara Brown said. "It seemed like they were hitting threes at the right time."

The loss dropped Missouri to 13-15 overall and 4-11 in Big 12 play.

Coach Cindy Stein said her team gave the Cyclones some open looks from three-point range in the second half that allowed them to make the decisive run. Overall, Iowa State shot 7-for-10 from the 3-point line in the second half, while Missouri went 1-for-8 from three during the game.

"You give them one slip of an opening and they can knock it down," Stein said.

Stein said Missouri failed to keep their composure when Iowa State started the second half on a roll.

"We have to have more of a calmness on the floor," Stein said.

Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly said that at halftime he made the decision to stick with his five starters for most of the second half.

"You've gotta roll it out there with your best," Fennelly said.

The Cyclones improved to 22-7 overall and 10-5 in the Big 12 and are projected to be near a No. 5 seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament. Fennelly said the stretch when Iowa State made six of their first seven 3-pointers was a little bit more "crisp."

"We haven't been a great offensive team, but for four minutes we were pretty good," Fennelly said.

At one point in the second half, the Tigers were able to close the lead to eight points after a jumper by junior forward Jessra Johnson with 3:19 left in the second half. The very next possession Iowa State senior guard Heather Ezell drained a long 3-pointer that Fennelly said "probably ended the game."

"It was just one of those times you have to shoot it, I just let it fly," Ezell said.

The Tigers were led with 10 points from Johnson, the only Missouri player who scored in double digits.

Missouri has one regular season game before the Big 12 Tournament at Texas Tech on Saturday. In the Big 12 tournament, which the Tigers will likely be seeded eleventh, Brown believes last season's upset of Oklahoma in the first round provides some hope for the Tigers' prospects in the tournament.

"Oklahoma was a start for this season, and I think we've taken that and run with it," Brown said. "We've just got to want it, and if we want it then we can go get it."