Oklahoma State Cowgirls Lose Big 12 Opener at Home to Iowa State

STILLWATER – In its return from the holiday break, Oklahoma State's women's basketball team fell to Iowa State, 76-68, in its conference opener Saturday afternoon in Gallagher-Iba Arena. It was the Cowgirls' first home loss of the season as they fall to 7-5 on the year. They'll look to bounce back when they travel to Orlando, Florida, to take on UCF in the first of a two-game road trip on Wednesday.

Anna Gret Asi posted a career-high 27 points, with 19 coming in a second-half comeback effort. Stailee Heard finished with 13 points and Hannah Gusters had 12.

OSU jumped out to a seven-point lead in the opening minutes of the game, getting back-to-back threes from Heard early on. The Cyclones responded with a 15-5 run to close the first quarter, taking a 21-18 lead.

The second quarter played even, with Quincy Noble scoring six points early in the frame. Gusters hit a pair of mid-range jump shots and Lior Garzon buried a triple near the end of the period as the Cowgirls trailed by two entering the halftime break.

Iowa State outscored OSU 19-9 in the third quarter as the Cyclones shot 68% from the field and 63% from three in the period. The Cowgirls would head into the fourth quarter trailing 59-47.

Oklahoma State opened the final period by going on a 10-3 run to get back into the game. The teams would trade baskets the rest of the way, however, and the Cowgirls' comeback effort would come up short despite 14 fourth-quarter points from Asi.

OSU shot 7-14 from three in a competitive first half but would come out of the half shooting just 3-14 from behind the arc the rest of the way. The Cyclones also out-rebounded the Cowgirls 48-21.

Oklahoma State forced Iowa State into 18 turnovers, converting them into 25 points, while the Cowgirls committed a season-low five turnovers of their own. They also recorded 13 steals to the Cyclones two.

Audi Crooks and Addy Brown led the way for Iowa State finishing with 21 and 20 points, respectively.