Iowa State women's basketball falls to Texas in the Big 12 Tournament semifinals

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — When the brackets for the women's basketball Big 12 Tournament came out, it was clear that a road to a championship was going to be difficult and draining one for Iowa State.

The Cyclones would likely have to take down Texas a team that had dominated them the first two times they met this season just to get to the title game.

Iowa State nearly did it.

The seventh-ranked Cyclones nearly matched ninth-ranked Texas nearly basket for basket during a intense, back-and-forth battle in the semifinals of the Big 12 Tournament at Municipal Auditorium Saturday. But the Cyclones couldn't come up with enough of them during an 82-73 overtime loss to the Longhorns.

“I really could not be more proud of our team,” Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly said. “I love this team. I love what they’re about. I love what they represent. I think anyone who appreciates young people, appreciates young people’s effort and appreciates young people that do it right, saw a team today that they should become huge fans of because they did it right.”

The Cyclones now await their NCAA Tournament destiny, which they'll learn on Selection Sunday. But Iowa State nearly polished their résumé with another big win Saturday by taking Texas to the wire.

Ashley Joens scored 33 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for the Cyclones also got 11 points from Lexi Donarski. The two helped Iowa State build up a lead that grew to as many as nine in the third quarter.

But Texas used its dominating and forceful defense to stay in the game. It began in the third quarter when the Longhorns got a 7-0 run that took just 25 seconds. Joanne Allen-Taylor knocked down a 3-pointer. Then Texas got back-to-back steals under the hoop. The Longhorns took advantage of the turnovers with two layups by DeYona Gaston to cut Iowa State’s lead down to 37-35.

"We had to try to match up with their physicality," Donarski said.

More: Iowa State women's basketball potentially playing for a spot in Wichita regional bracket

Iowa State did at times. But it was often Texas delivering the big plays. The Longhorns completed their comeback later in the quarter with a 6-0 run and a 3-pointer by Aliyah Matharu that gave Texas a 49-47 lead. The lead didn’t last though as two teams spent the bulk of the second half trading baskets and leads. There were eight different lead changes and seven ties during the matchup.

Iowa State tied the game 63-63 on a fourth quarter layup by Beatriz Jordao. Lauren Ebo’s last second shot for Texas in regulation went off the mark and sent the game to overtime. After that, it was all Texas which outscored Iowa State 7-2 in the final 38 seconds.

"Anytime you play Texas, it's going to be a physical game," Joens said.

It became so physical that the topic was brought up in Fennelly's postgame press conference where he was asked about the lack of freedom of movement. Fennelly said the issue, which caused Iowa State problems Saturday, will likely only get worse.

After the game, Fennelly was asked about the lack of freedom of movement, something that caused Iowa State issues.

“There just isn’t any," Fennelly said. "Anyone who says there is doesn’t understand the game. That’s not my decision. There is no freedom of movement in the game of basketball on the women’s side. Zero. It is what it is. I’m not complaining.”

It has already been a historic season for the Cyclones, who tallied a single-season school record 25 regular season wins and 14 victories in Big 12 Conference play. The success has already set the stage for a potentially promising run in the NCAA Tournament. The Cyclones, have likely locked up a chance to host the first two rounds of the tournament. It would give Iowa State a huge homecourt advantage.

More: What time is Selection Sunday? How to watch the NCAA Tournament men’s, women’s show

The only impact the loss could have is on Iowa State's seeding for the NCAA Tournament. ESPN women's bracketologist Charlie Creme has Iowa State as a two seed. But after losing to Texas in the semifinals Saturday, the Cyclones could potentially fall to a three seed. It's still a promising postseason for the Cyclones.

"I would not want to be around any other people than these guys," Fennelly said.

Tommy Birch, the Register's sports enterprise and features reporter, has been working at the newspaper since 2008. He's the 2018 and 2020 Iowa Sportswriter of the Year. Reach him at tbirch@dmreg.com or 515-284-8468. Follow him on Twitter @TommyBirch.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa State women lose to Texas in Big 12 Tournament semifinals