The Texas Longhorns were looking for the sweep but unfortunately sloppy play and poor shooting doomed their attempt to wrap up the season series with Iowa State. The Cyclones duo of Ashley Joens and Kristin Scott were too much for Texas as they combined for 43 points. Outside of Charli Collier, the Longhorns didn’t have a consistent secondary scorer.
Early on for the Texas Longhorns it was very sloppy with six turnovers in the first quarter. Despite them matching their turnovers totals in their last matchup with the Cyclones in one quarter, the Longhorns kept the game close. Charli Collier with was big on the boards with five rebounds to go with her team-high six points in the opening quarter. Celeste Taylor was an absolute pest with three steals in the quarter.
The Longhorns struggled to score in the second quarter, at one point went on a five-minute scoring drought as the Cyclones went on a run. A 9-2 run by Iowa State increased their lead to 11 with 2:47 left in the half. Collier did her best to keep the Longhorns in the game. She finished the half with 13 points and six rebounds. Collier’s three-pointer at the buzzer closed out the quarter to get Texas within nine.
3️⃣for @CharliC_14 at the buzzer!#AllForTexas | #HookEm pic.twitter.com/duhh6NlpWX
— Texas Women's Basketball (@TexasWBB) February 13, 2020
The Longhorns struggles continued into the third quarter, Texas couldn’t get on the board until Sug Sutton’s first basket with 4:09 left in the quarter. After threatening to grow the lead to 20, the Longhorns put some pressure on the Cyclones ball handlers. After being held scoreless in the first six minutes, Texas scored 10 points over the final four minutes.
Iowa State was able to build the lead back up due to the number of fouls committed by Texas. The conference’s second leading free throw team showed why they are so good at the charity stripe. Much like the end of the half, it ended with a Longhorn nailing a three to end the half. This time Joyner Holmes found Joanne Allen-Taylor in the corner as time expired. Texas still trailed 50-34.
In the final quarter, Ashley Joens was able to get a quick bucket for the Cyclones. They would go over four minutes between made field goals but the Longhorns were unable to take advantage with only five points in that stretch. Despite the defense forcing a season-high in turnovers, there was nothing to show for it.
Collier finished the game with a double-double but she couldn’t carry the team to a win. Texas finished shooting just 26.9 percent from the field and 5-31 from behind the arc. Texas looks to get back on the winning track against Kansas on Saturday.