Cowgirls unable to overcome Carleton’s 39 points in upset
STILLWATER — Defenders kept crashing down on Oklahoma State center Kaylee Jensen and shots kept splashing down off the fingertips of Iowa State’s Bridget Carleton.
The result of all the crashing and splashing was a 78-69 Iowa State upset of No. 19 OSU Wednesday night at Gallagher-Iba Arena.
Carleton poured in a career-high 39 points to lead Iowa State (9-11, 3-6 Big 12) to just their third conference victory of the season.
While Jensen, the Cowgirls’ 6-foot-4 center and most reliable scoring option the last couple weeks, had her 11th double-double of the season, she fought constant doubleand triple-teams and was hardly the force she’s been in Big 12 play.
Jensen finished with 12 points and 14 rebounds, but scored only two points in the second half. OSU senior point guard Loryn Goodwin, who struggled mightily in last Saturday’s Bedlam win, got off to a rough start Wednesday, but re-ignited her scoring ability to finish with 30 points.
But in the closing minutes, couldn’t find the basket, and Iowa State closed the game with free throws.
Oklahoma State built a 40-30 halftime lead, but went cold midway through the third quarter, about the same time Carleton really heated up.
OSU led 47-40 after a three-point play by Goodwin with 6:36 left in the third quarter, but went nearly five minutes without a point, seeing Iowa State take a 48-47 lead.
The Cowgirls rebounded to get back on top 55-50 behind 3-pointers from Goodwin and Maria Castro, who had 12 points.
But Carleton had too many answers, with big shots when the Cyclones had to have them. She finished 16-of-22 from the floor and 4-of-7 from 3-point range. A 6-foot-1 junior, Carleton came in averaging 17.9 points per game.
The Cowgirls built their first-half lead gradually out of the gate. Braxtin Miller hit a pair of firstquarter 3-pointers, and Castro added one as well for a 20-13 lead after one.
Jaden Hobbs hit a 3 to open the second quarter, stretching the lead to 10 for the first time.
With Carleton singlehandedly keeping Iowa State in the game, the Cowgirls fought to keep the lead in double-digit range.
Iowa State cut the lead to 35-30 late in the second quarter, but Castro had a three-point play and Jensen finished the half with a pair of free throws for a 40-30 edge.
The Cowgirls (14-5, 5-3 Big 12) host Texas Tech at 1 p.m. Saturday at GallagerIba Arena.