MU has another shot at Cyclones

When the Missouri women’s basketball team played Iowa State on Jan. 15, the Tigers were 7-7 and optimistic about their chances for postseason play.

Now, the Tigers are 9-15 and hoping for a few strong games to carry the team into next season.

In the first matchup, Missouri led then-No. 24 Iowa State 29-22 at halftime. The Cyclones’ first lead didn’t come until less than nine minutes were left.

But that lead help up. When MU point guard LaToya Bond fouled out with four minutes left, the Tigers fell apart offensively and lost 65-59.

“Our offensive execution in the last four minutes was very poor,” coach Cindy Stein said.

It would have been Missouri’s first win against a ranked conference opponent on the road since 1993. Instead, it sent the team into a tailspin. After losing to Iowa State, Missouri lost five straight before winning 58-55 at Colorado on Feb. 9.

Now, coming off back-to-back double-digit losses to Oklahoma and Baylor, Missouri (9-15, 3-10 Big 12) has another chance against the No. 21 Cyclones (19-5, 9-4).

“We’ve always been able to give Iowa State a good game, and vice versa,” Stein said.

Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly said, “I don’t think there’s any question that (Missouri) is capable of doing a lot of things. They’ve always played us tough, home or away, and I’m sure they’ll come ready to play again.”

One thing the Tigers would like to repeat is their defensive performance. Missouri held Iowa State to 27 percent shooting in the first half, including one 3-pointer.

The Cyclones lead the nation in made 3-pointers, averaging 9.1 per game, and senior Anne O’Neil shoots 52.2 percent behind the arc.

Missouri didn’t make a 3-point basket against Oklahoma. The Tigers have struggled behind the arc all year and may have to rely on inside play to win.

Although junior Christelle N’Garsanet is the team’s leading scorer in the paint, she has also been inconsistent. N’Garsanet is coming off a 20-point, nine rebound performance against Oklahoma, but scored five the previous game against Baylor.

“N’Garsanet is long; she’s 6-3, and she can shoot over people,” Fennelly said. “She’s had a good year on the block.”

The Tigers will need point production inside from N’Garsanet to compete with the Cyclones.

A win against Iowa State would be Stein’s first since Jan. 5. She returned to coach the Tigers on Feb. 16 after a two-game absence due to her father’s death.

Stein said the Tigers’ intensity has vastly improved since their loss to Kansas on Feb. 5.

“They knew there had to be a change in their intensity and that their work ethic was going to provide us the keys to success,” Stein said.