Third quarter sinks Cyclones at BYU

PROVO — That’s a stinger.

Iowa State drops a road test at BYU 83-69. Following a five game win streak, this was a tough game to have nearly everyone have a rough night, exasperated by a great shooting night for the Cougars. Iowa State moves to 7-6 in the conference and 19-6 overall while BYU improves their bubble resume, improving to 6-7 in league play and 17-8 overall.

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I first want to give BYU their flowers, specifically Olivia Hamlin and Delaney Gibb. Hamlin scored a career best 23 points, including 19 in the first half. Gibb had her most efficient night from beyond the arc, connecting on 5-7 from distance and finishing the game with 21 points. For a team that had two very rough outings in Kansas, that was a very welcome sight for a squad that is currently on the wrong side of the bubble. They would also shoot a blistering 52 percent, including a perfect 9-9 from the free throw line.

While BYU definitely shot at a higher rate than normal, that doesn’t mean that they were putting up anything and it falls in. BYU outscored Iowa State 38-24 in points in the paint, with many of those points coming in either transition or by getting beat off the ball. That was less on favorable rolls and more on very clear opportunities that JV squads can convert. Iowa State’s defense is most flawed when it is forced to move fast, possibly missing assignments in the chaos. They also seemed to get beat off the ball on the baseline on cuts, which they will have to clean up as the remaining five games are all opponents that are middle of the conference or better and can absolutely beat Iowa State on a good night.

There is one clear positive from the game, and it is Kenzie Hare. After struggling to connect throughout much of the conference season, she found the hot hand, scoring a season high 15 points off 5-10 from three. If she can put herself back into one of the first options beyond the arc, that will help immensely down the stretch.