Four Bears score in double figures, Baylor Upsets No. 12 Cyclones 76-70

AMES, Iowa -- It was a defensive masterpiece for Baylor (16-6, 7-3) down the stretch, as the held No 12 Iowa State (15-6, 7-4) scoreless on their final four attempts of the night to secure a 76-70 victory over the Cyclones at the Hilton Coliseum on Saturday night.

The Bears were able to capitalize off of 16 Iowa State turnovers, while also holding the Cyclones to 5-24 from downtown. Baylor’s bench outscored Iowa State’s 13-4, and the Bears won the rebounding battle 37-34.

Baylor started the game off hot in the first quarter, as they connected on 6-of-8 from the field while holding a 14-9 lead over the Cyclones.  Iowa State wouldn’t go away, as their superstar guard Ashley Jones found her shot and torched the Bears for 13-points and a 21-20 lead heading into the second quarter.

Caitlin Bickle (14pts)  led the charge for Baylor in the first half, as she had a team high 12-points at halftime. Unfortunately, the Cyclones did an excellent job of attacking the paint in the second quarter and getting Bickle in foul trouble with three.

Baylor put the clamps on Iowa State defensively in the first half, as they held the Cyclones scoreless for the final 4:14 before halftime on 1-of-9 from the field. The Bears refused to let Iowa State find their stroke from behind the arc as well, as they uncharacteristically shot 2-of-13 from downtown.

Heading into halftime, Baylor got a go ahead bucket from Darianna Littlepage-Buggs to give them a 33-31 lead over the Cyclones. Jaden Ownes and Sarah Andrews were each 3-of-8 from the field, while Bella Fontleroy was 2-of-4. 

Fontleroy (5pts) would finish the night early as she fouled out with 7:27 remaining in the fourth quarter.

The Bears forced four consecutive turnovers for Iowa State to begin the third quarter, while extending the lead to 37-31 on a steal and layup from Andrews. Ownes (9pts, 8ast) would follow up a three-pointer, with a turnover that led to a shot from behind the arc for Iowa State’s Nyamer Diew to make it a 40-39 Baylor lead heading into a media timeout.

Diew took the third quarter over for the Cyclones as she scored 6 points in just over a minute of play, while also getting Fontleroy in foul trouble by attacking the paint. Ja’Mee Asberry (14pts) began to get involved offensively for Baylor in the third quarter, including a pair of free throws after drawing a foul on Diew.

Diew continued her dominance and helped lead Iowa State on an 8-0 run late in the third, scoring 13 of her game high 21 points. The Cyclones held Baylor scoreless for over three minutes of play and took a 49-48 lead heading into the final quarter of play.

Asberry kept her momentum going in the fourth quarter, with a pair of buckets inside the paint. However, Jones got rolling again for Iowa State with a quick 6-points of her own.

Following a miss by Jones, Asberry grabbed the rebound and pushed the ball up the court allowing Andrews (21pts)  to score her third straight bucket to give the Bears a 62-58 lead with 5:47 remaining in the game.

Littlepage-Buggs (13pts, 12reb) secured yet another double-double on a layup via an Andrews assist to extend the Baylor lead to 64-68 heading into a media timeout with just under five minutes to go. 

Asberry would become the fourth Bear to reach double figures on a step back bucket in the paint, followed by a pair of free throws to make it a 70-64 game in favor of Baylor with 1:02 remaining.

The Bears will be back in action on Tuesday night in the Ferrell Center, as they host No. 20 Oklahoma (18-4, 8-3) for a 7:00 p.m. tip.