Cyclones Bottle Up Buffaloes

AMES, Iowa - Jackie McFarland recorded a double-double and Kara Richards had 11 points, but the Iowa State University defense otherwise held the University of Colorado offense in check as the Cyclones defeated the Buffaloes 74-55 Saturday afternoon at Hilton Coliseum.

Colorado (11-14, 5-8 Big 12) shot just 36.4 percent in the contest as the Cyclones used a 17-2 first-half run to build a 13-point halftime lead (36-23).

The Buffaloes made six of their first 10 shots to take an early 16-12 lead, but went ice cold from there sinking only three of their final 16 attempts in the period. Iowa State's Nicky Wieben scored 11 of her game-high 18 points in the final 7 minutes, 48 seconds of the half as the Cyclones (19-7, 7-6 Big 12) shot 50 percent for the game and never let the lead dip below 14 in the second half.

McFarland had 12 points and 11 rebounds but was held to just 4-of-11 from the field as the Cyclones double and triple teamed her most of the afternoon. McFarland, who was held under 50 percent from the field for just the third time this season, registered her 15th double-double of the season, the fourth-best mark in team history.

Richards' 11 points were her most since scoring 14 when the Cyclones visited Boulder in January. In that game, an 81-67 Colorado win, the Buffaloes hit 10 3-point field goals in the first half and shot 51 percent from the floor as a team. On Saturday, CU made just 2-of-12 from downtown and only one after halftime.

Freshman guard Candace Rucker scored a career-high eight points off the bench on 4-of-6 shooting, but the rest of the Colorado back court was just 5-of-22.

Alison Lacey had 13 points and five rebounds for the Cyclones while Lyndsey Medders had nine points, seven rebounds and seven assists.

Colorado returns home to host No. 15/14 Baylor University on Wednesday, Feb. 21, at 7 p.m. MST at the Coors Events/Conference Center. The game will be televised live by Fox Sports Net Rocky Mountain.