The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
14-4, 3-4
Iowa State *
14-4, 5-2
No. 8/9 Women's Basketball falls to Iowa State, 58-57
01.25.2015 | Women's Basketball
Cyclones snap Longhorns' 13-game home winning streak.
Box Score | Notes | Quotes | Photo Gallery
AUSTIN, Texas -- Iowa State rallied to defeat No. 8/9 Texas Women's Basketball, 58-57, Sunday afternoon at the Frank Erwin Center.
The game marked the Longhorns (14-4, 3-4 Big 12) first loss at home this season, ending a 13-game home winning streak.
Sophomore center Kelsey Lang led Texas with 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting with a team-high eight rebounds. Freshman forward Nekia Jones added to the Longhorns' offense with nine points and three rebounds.
Texas displayed a strong offensive effort in the first half as they shot 57.7 percent from the field, but were held to just 28.6 percent shooting in the second half. Once again, Texas depth helped the team as the bench contributed with 30 points to Iowa State's nine bench points.
Texas displayed a well-balanced offense, as 10 different players scored for the team in an effort that ended up falling short in giving the Horns the win.
The game featured seven lead changes in the last minutes of the second half.
With two minutes remaining in the game, Lang found freshman guard Brooke McCarty open at the three-point line, where she hit the shot to put the Horns up 54-52. With 55.1 seconds remaining Jones notched a three-point play on a layup and a free throw for a four-point Texas lead, 57-53.
The Cyclones scored five points in the final 50 seconds of the game and took the go-ahead lead on a pair of free throws from Nikki Moody with 17 seconds remaining.
Iowa State (14-4, 5-2 Big 12) was led by a game-high 14 points from Moody and the 13- and 11-point efforts from Seanna Johnson and Brynn Williamson, respectively.
The Longhorns return to Big 12 action on Thursday, Jan. 29 as they host Oklahoma in Austin. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. Central and will be televised on FOX Sports 1.
• SERIES: Sunday's contest marked the 28th meeting between Texas and Iowa State. The Cyclones hold a 17-11 lead in the all-time series, with the last meeting occurring earlier this season at Ames. The Cyclones take this season's series, 2-0.
• STARTERS: Krystle Henderson, Brooke McCarty, Brianna Taylor, Brady Sanders and Kelsey Lang started for the Longhorns on Sunday. This is the first starting lineup this season without senior Nneka Enemkpali, who suffered a season-ending injury last Monday, and junior Empress Davenport.
• CLEARING THE BENCH: Ten Longhorns scored points and 11 grabbed at least one rebound. Texas out-scored the Iowa State bench, 30-9.
• CRASHING THE BOARDS: Texas out-rebounded the Cyclones, 34-23. On the season, Texas has out-rebounded 17 of 18 opponents with an 11.0 rebounding margin.
• HOME STREAK SNAPPED: The Cyclones snapped Texas' 13-game home winning streak. The Horns are now 11-1 at home this season and 25-3 at home since last season.
Texas Head Coach Karen Aston
Opening Statement: This was a really tough loss. Obviously, it was our first home loss so that stings quite a bit, but also just the way that we lost the game. I thought we lost by not having enough discipline to defend the fouling and it allowed them to get back in the game. Once we got into double bonus so early, I thought we got very tentative defensively and didn't get out and guard the way that we did in the first half. I also thought in the second half we went through a stretch when we weren't patient offensively and we did get away from playing inside out, which I thought we did a really good job of in the first half. A lot of the young players were in some moments that they've never been in and I thought the difference in the game was how Nikki Moody controlled it. Even in the first half I thought she controlled keeping them in the game and she's a terrific player and playing the game really well right now.
On the effect of the loss: Well you'd like to think that the way we played the first half that we were understanding what the redefining was going to have to be which was tons of energy and tons of effort and really sharing the ball. Then we just took turns fouling. We went through a stretch that was picking us apart. We were taking turns. It would be one person who fouled and then before you know it, they are in the double bonus and then you have to get really tentative with the way we guard. Again we were down for some stretches in the second half where I just didn't think we played with the same efficiency.
On the second half: We got a little antsy. We got rushed with the ball when I thought we were extremely patient in the first half. The more the game went on, the more rushed we got. I still thought we could've gone inside, but I thought our inside players really didn't make some of the best decisions. They got into some double teams instead of using the baseline a little bit more. Again, this is Big 12 play and I'm not trying to pick this game a part, but we fouled too much and when we had opportunities to close it out, but we didn't do that.
On offensive panic: There can be, but that's not an option. Obviously, I'm worried for their psyche, I was very pleased with their preparation for this game, and that's not going to change. We are going to prepare for every game the same. There are just some areas where we really have to pick it up. You look at our rebounding and a stretch in the second half where I thought we took some quick shots. We've got to try and do better on the offensive boards so everybody has to get in the game and try to help out in that area. Again, we are still in the process of getting some people healthy. We are still a week or two away from a couple of these players who are limited in minutes to get back where they belong.
Brooke McCarty (Freshman, G)
On the final shot: Well honestly I thought it was going to go in, but it clearly didn't. I have to make that, but it was a tough game and at the end of the game when coach puts me in, I need to make that shot.
On Nneka [Enemkpali]'s message this week: She just came in with a positive attitude for the players. She's really kept a positive mind with everything she's going through. And I think us seeing her going through everything with a positive attitude reminds us that we can all keep a positive attitude too.
Ariel Atkins (Freshman, G)
On the game overall: I just don't think we were the same team in the second half, but that's something that we all have to come together and pick each other up from. We all took turns being at fault for certain things. Its not like we were a different team, but sometimes we play in waves. The first half we were all on accord and our energy was high, but the second half we played in waves. The fouling was making us nervous and taking away from us playing the game.
On worries about the future: No we are still our team and we still have great coaches and great players. Things happen and you have to go through things in order to get to where you want to be. I feel like it gives us more motivation to do what we wanted to do at the beginning of the season. Our goals are still the same and everything that we want to do is still achievable.
On losses now after never losing in high school: Well I'm in college now so I don't even think about high school anymore. It's new territories, new environments and every thing is different. The game is different and my teammates are different. I mean it hurts. I hate losing period.
IOWA STATE
Head Coach Bill Fennelly
Opening Statement: I'm very proud of our team. This was a very tough game for us and we knew it was coming in, but I thought our kids competed for 40 minutes against an outstanding team. We took care of the ball better in the second half, guarded as well as we could in the second half and gave us a chance to win. Our kids executed great down the stretch, especially the last minute and a half. When you have good seniors that understand what it takes, you find a way to win these games. We had back-to-back games that were almost identical and we're just very fortunate that we stole one today.
On keeping poise throughout the game: We did and I think that was kind of the mood in the huddle when we were in the game. We have these two seniors that have been through it many times. [So. G] Seanna [Johnson] made a great statement coming out saying we can do it just like we did at home, so there wasn't any panic. They did what they needed to do to give them a chance. You never know, one shot goes in and the next one doesn't, but what you want to do is give yourself a chance. I felt the last 90 seconds, execution wise, was exactly the way you draw it up and that happens when you have kids that believe in the process and have the experience and skill set to do it.
On Texas defense: Obviously without Nneka Enemkpali they went smaller and they really did a great job of chasing us off the three point shot which I think allowed us to dribble, drive, and get to the lane. That's what we talked about, attacking the basket, beat them off the bounce and hopefully get some free throws.
Nikki Moody (Senior, G)
On feeling during the last few minutes: I was listening to Coach Fennelly and what he drew up on the board, and we were just trying to get shots. Some of them weren't falling, but at the end I knew I had to attack.
On having confidence after last meeting with Texas: Yes going into half time we were down by eighteen in our house and here, we were down by seven or eight. It was another motivator telling us we could do it and we've done it before.
