First Quarter
Iowa State knocked down 3-of-4 shots from 3-point range in the game’s opening five minutes. BYU countered by forcing three early turnovers and applying Whiting’s playmaking ability.
The freshman point guard squared the game at five as she hit a turnaround jumper, finishing through contact and cashed in on the subsequent free throw. Moments later Whiting would come up big on the defensive end with a tie-up to return to the ball to BYU.
Iowa State’s 3-point shooting put BYU down 11-8 before Whiting sparked an 8-0 Cougar run over a three-minute span. Whiting brought BYU within one on a driving lay-in. The Cougars then reclaimed the lead with fluid ball movement that helped Gustin find an easy score beneath the basket.
BYU extended its lead to 16-11 with Gustin spinning through contact to score off the glass and Lauren Davenport turning a Whiting steal into a score on the other end.
The Cyclones responded with a 9-0 run of their own and led 20-16 at the quarter’s end.
Second Quarter
Bubakar checked into the game in the early moments of the quarter and immediately made her presence felt as she finished a driving lay-in through contact and pulled BYU back within a bucket at 22-20.
Following scores from Gustin and Whiting, Bubakar again scored with a reverse lay-in and mid-range jumper that knotted the game at 26. Emma Calvert put BYU back in front 28-26 with a score in the low post on the ensuing possession.
BYU got it done on both ends of the floor on the way to a three-point lead at the half. Woolston knocked down a pull-up jumper and corner three to keep BYU in front while on defense Smiler notched a steal, Davenport drew an offensive foul and the Cougars forced a shot clock violation.
BYU led 33-30 at the break after shooting 54 percent from the field to Iowa State’s 39. Three-point shooting and rebounding was the difference-maker. The Cyclones knocked down four triples to BYU’s one and held a 21-13 rebounding advantage.
Gustin and Whiting led BYU with eight points apiece at the break followed by Woolston with seven and Bubakar’s six.
Third Quarter
BYU rolled its first-half momentum into a 38-30 lead to start the third as Whiting scored on a floater before Calvert drilled a 3-pointer.
BYU led 45-40 midway through the period when a 3-point shootout began from both teams. Five of six consecutive possessions ended with 3-pointers, including treys from Bubakar and Woolston. The final make of the sequence proved especially deadly as the Cyclones knocked down one of two free throws and then slapped the rebound out for a 3-pointer.
When the dust settled, the Cougars headed into the fourth down 55-51.
Fourth Quarter
The Cougars clawed back to tie the game at 57 with transition triples on consecutive possessions from Woolston and Smiler. BYU stayed within a possession of the Cyclones until the 6:45 point of the quarter when the visitors began to pull ahead for good with efficient 3-point shooting and rebounding.
The waning moments of the game saw Smiler nail a 3-pointer and Whiting make a reverse lay-in to pull BYU within four at 75-71 with under a minute to play.
BYU was unable to capitalize on a forced turnover with 30 seconds remaining and saw the clock run out on its comeback bid.
The Cougars will be back in action on Jan. 10 as they travel to take on the Houston Cougars. BYU and Houston will face off at the Fertitta Center on Wednesday at 7 p.m. CST. Fans can watch the game on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ or listen to live play-by-play with Jason Shepherd on BYU Radio 107.9 FM/BYURadio.org/BYU Radio app.
