Jan. 17, 2001
By CHUCK SCHOFFNER
AP Sports Writer
AMES, Iowa (AP) - Tracy Gahan scored the go-ahead basket in the final minute and sank a key free throw with 12.6 seconds left as No. 7 Iowa State survived a late scoring drought to beat Missouri 68-67 on Wednesday night.
Iowa State (14-1, 5-0 Big 12) went on a 15-0 run to open a 64-52 lead with less than six minutes remaining, then made the plays it needed at the end after Missouri ran off 13 straight points to regain the lead.
Natalie Bright's 3-pointer with 42.7 seconds left gave the Tigers (11-5, 2-3) a 65-64 lead. Lindsey Wilson, who led Iowa State with 21 points, then drove to the basket, drew the defense to her and shoveled a pass to Gahan, who made a layup with 28.2 seconds remaining to put the Cyclones up 66-65.
With plenty of time to work for a shot, Missouri's Amanda Lassiter put up a quick 3-point attempt from the right corner with 6-foot-4 Angie Welle running at her and the ball sailed over the basket.
Erica Junod rebounded for Iowa State, and Welle and Gahan each hit a free throw to put the Cyclones up by three. Missouri's Evan Urau scored on an uncontested putback with two seconds left after Lassiter missed a 3-pointer.
Welle finished with 18 points and a career-high 20 rebounds. Gahan scored 15, and Megan Taylor 12.
Lassiter led Missouri with 21 points, including 16 in the first half. Iowa State contained her in the second half with a box-and-1 that had Junod chasing Lassiter and the other four players in the zone.
Missouri took a 52-47 lead after baskets by Lassiter and Tracy Franklin, who scored 11 points. But the Tigers went more than seven minutes before scoring again. Iowa State stormed back with the help of a technical foul on Missouri's Marlena Williams, who slammed the ball to the floor after being called for her fifth personal foul.
Taylor, 3-for-17 from the field, sank both free throws for the technical and two more for the foul, giving Iowa State a 57-52 lead. Gahan's 3-pointer, Wilson's two free throws and Junod's layup stretched the lead to 12.