AMES (ISU) — This one had everything down the stretch. When it ended, Iowa State (21-7 overall, 12-6 Big 12), a team picked for sixth in the Big 12 Conference preseason poll, clinched the outright runner-up spot in the league with frantic 73-70 win over Oklahoma State (20-9 overall, 9-9 Big 12) Monday in Hilton Coliseum.
Both teams struggled shooting early as the Cyclones were just 1-for-8 from behind the three-point arc before halftime. Oklahoma State made enough shots to lead 38-30 at the half.
Oklahoma State led by 13 with 18:38 left, and Iowa State didn’t score its first second-half points until Hallie Christofferson hit a short jumper to cut the Cowgirl lead to 43-32 at the 15:54 mark.
A pair of free throws by Liz Donohoe put Oklahoma State up 58-51 with 7:24 remaining, but the Iowa State threes had finally started falling. Kidd Blaskowsky hit a trey with 5:14 to go that pulled the Cyclones within one point at 61-60. Anna Prins stepped out and hit a three that tied the score for the first time since the Iowa Staters led 2-0, 61-61 with 4:09 to go.
The score was tied 65-65 when Christofferson hit a trey with 2:49 remaining that nearly brought down the house. The game included three technical foul calls in the final 7:30 of the game, two on Iowa State, one on Oklahoma State.
The biggest play of game may have been a charge taken by Chelsea Poppens with 42 seconds remaining that fouled out Cowgirl Toni Young. The Cyclones made four free throws following a technical to ice the game. A harried OSU quintet could not get off a good shot in the game’s final seconds.
Christofferson led Iowa State with 21 points. Poppens scored 18 points and added eight rebounds. Prins also hit double figures with 15 points. The Cyclones had 21 assists on 23 field goals. Kendra Suttles led Oklahoma State with 26 points. It was the final Hilton Coliseum game for Iowa State seniors Poppens, Prins and Amanda Zimmerman.
Oklahoma beat Texas Tech, 77-73 Monday in Lubbock, Texas to finish tied for third with the Lady Raiders at 11-7 in Big 12 competition. Baylor finished first in the league at 18-0 with a 90-68 win over Kansas State.
The Cyclones will play the winner of Friday’s Kansas-TCU game Saturday at 6 p.m. in the Big 12 Championship at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.