Big run lifts No. 5 Texas past Iowa State in blowout fashion 81-60
AUSTIN (KXAN) — A 15-2 run in the second quarter lifted No. 5 Texas past Iowa State 81-60 Saturday at Moody Center.
The Longhorns made their move halfway through the second frame after trailing 31-28 with 5:38 left. Texas went on a 9-0 flurry before the Cyclones scored again, and then the Longhorns tacked on six consecutive points to end the half and take a 43-33 lead.
Texas forward Taylor Jones (44) grabs a rebound over Iowa State center Isnelle Natabou (0) and guard Kelsey Joens (23) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Texas forward Madison Booker (35) is pressured by Iowa State guard Hannah Belanger (13) and guard Emily Ryan (11) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Texas forward Taylor Jones (44) grabs a rebound over Iowa State center Isnelle Natabou (0) and guard Kelsey Joens (23) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Texas guard Shay Holle (10) and Iowa State forward Jalynn Bristow (1) battle for a rebound during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Iowa State guard Arianna Jackson dives for the ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Texas in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Iowa State guard Arianna Jackson (2) is pressured by Texas forward Taylor Jones, left, and guard Rori Harmon (3) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Iowa State center Audi Crooks (55) shoots past Texas forward DeYona Gaston (5) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Iowa State center Audi Crooks (55) shoots past Texas forward DeYona Gaston (5) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Texas guard Shay Holle (10) and Iowa State forward Jalynn Bristow, center right, battle for a rebound during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Iowa State center Audi Crooks (55) is blocked by Texas forward DeYona Gaston (5) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
“Our juice was really good,” Longhorns head coach Vic Schaefer said. “You win with guard play, and we did a great job shooting the ball.” The Longhorns shot 53% from the field and made 10 more field goals than the Cyclones.
Texas poured it on in the fourth quarter, going on an 8-0 run and outscoring the Cyclones 23-10 in the frame to make it a blowout. Shaylee Gonzales and Madison Booker scored 18 points each to lead the Longhorns while Shay Holle poured in 16. Taylor Jones grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds for Texas as the Longhorns outrebounded the Cyclones 38-27. Booker notched a double-double with 10 assists.
“We played hard, but just ran out of gas in the fourth quarter,” Iowa State head coach Bill Fennelly said, “and a lot of that had to do with Texas. They are a tough, physical team that plays 94 feet of defense.”
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Texas scored 14 points off 16 Iowa State turnovers and blocked five shots with Jones swatting three.
For Iowa State, freshman forward Audi Crooks scored a game-high 24 points on 10 of 19 shooting.
“She’s hard to deal with,” Schaefer said of Crooks. “She’s got a long career ahead of her.”
The win was Schaefer’s 100th guiding the Longhorns and the 401st of his coaching career. Texas is a game behind Oklahoma for the Big 12 Conference lead with four games left in the regular season.
“These kids are playing at a high level, and I’m happy for them. They work so hard,” Schaefer said. “I’m glad they’re here because I wouldn’t trade any of them for anyone.”
Texas (24-3, 11-3 Big 12) hosts Texas Tech at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
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