University of Missouri
Iowa State
Iowa State 3-Pointers Send Tigers To 66-60 Loss
2/8/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 8, 2006
AMES, Iowa - Megan Ronhovde scored 20 points, and led four Cyclones in double figures, to bring Iowa State to a comeback 66-60 win in Big 12 Conference action Wednesday night at Hilton Coliseum.
In a game that ultimately came down to 3-point shooting, Iowa State hit nine treys, including 7-of-15 shooting in the decisive second half, while Mizzou was 5-of-25 for the game. The loss drops the Tigers to a tie for fourth place in the Big 12, and is Mizzou's third straight loss to the Cyclones (13-9, 4-6 Big 12).
Senior center Christelle N'Garsanet (Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire / Illinois Central College) led all players with 24 points and 12 rebounds for her eighth double-double of the season, while senior guard LaToya Bond (Urbana, Ill. / Urbana HS) scored 16 points to serve as the only other Tiger to score in double figures.
"I'm extremely disappointed in our play. I didn't feel they did anything that we didn't see in practice. We were slow out there. There are some things that we've got to change," Head Coach Cindy Stein said. "The miscommunication throughout the game on the defensive end is just unacceptable. It's not that they weren't trying; I think they think that things are going to come to them."
Mizzou hit its first three shots of the game, and got its first four buckets inside - on a baby hook from junior forward EeTisha Riddle (O'Fallon, Ill. / O'Fallon HS), and three straight baskets from N'Garsanet. Following a Bond 3-pointer and an 18-foot jumper from junior guard Tiffany Brooks (Leavenworth, Kan. / Leavenworth HS), N'Garsanet hit her own 16-footer to give Mizzou a 15-2 lead and force Iowa State's first timeout of the game.
In those first 5 minutes, 34 seconds, Iowa State committed five turnovers and was just 1-of-7 from the field. The Cyclones pounded the ball inside to Brittany Wilkins, though, who hit four straight baskets for Iowa State to pull within seven (17-10) with 11:49 to play in the first.
The Tigers extended the lead back to double digits thanks to Bond's second trey of the game, as well as an N'Garsanet putback and a 3-pointer from sophomore guard Kassie Drew (Anna, Ill. / Anna-Jonesboro HS) for a 25-12 lead with 8:45 left.
Iowa State then used a powerful inside-outside combo with Nicky Wieben drawing fouls on back-to-back plays - including a 3-point play - and Megan Ronhovde canning back-to-back 3-pointers after a Bond putback. That 11-2 Cyclone run brought ISU back within four (27-23) and resulted in a Mizzou timeout with 6:00 remaining.
Following a separate basket and free throw from N'Garsanet, Wieben and Ronhovde closed to within three points (30-27), and on several occasions had the opportunity to tie the game. Yet junior forward Carlynn Savant (Euless, Texas / Trinity HS) hit her first 3-pointer on her fourth attempt of the game, and with the clock ticking down, Bond grabbed a rebound miss and fed N'Garsanet on the fastbreak to boost the lead back to eight (35-27) as the halftime buzzer sounded. N'Garsanet had 15 of her 24 points at the break, and Bond had 10. The Tigers committed just four turnovers in the first half, and had nine for the game.
Brooks scored the first four points of the second half on a pair of fastbreak layups. Iowa State brought the game back to within three points, though, with Ronhovde getting five of the Cyclones' points in another 11-2 run. Bond was fouled after knocking down a 14-footer in the lane to cause the under 12-minute media timeout, yet the Cyclones remained close and pulled within one (48-47) - their smallest deficit of the game - on Ronhovde's fourth 3-pointer of the game with 8:02 to play in the game.
After an N'Garsanet free throw, Ronhovde hit a pair to tie the game, and Iowa State then took the lead on Amanda Nisleit's second 3-pointer of the season. Ezell's second 3-pointer the next time down game the Cyclones a 55-49 lead with 5:21 left.
The Tigers return home on Saturday for the Border Showdown with Kansas, presented by the Midwest Ford Dealers. Tipoff for that game is set for 3 p.m. in a game that will be televised state-wide over the Mizzou Sports Network. Tickets are on sale at the Mizzou Arena Box Office, or by calling 1-800-CAT-PAWS (884-PAWS in mid-Missouri) or going online to www.mutigers.com.
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