AMES — The Iowa State women’s basketball team saw its double-digit lead dwindle to two early in the fourth quarter before the Cyclones answered Kansas State’s comeback in kind, holding off the Wildcats 73-59 on Wednesday night at Hilton Coliseum.

The Cyclones (11-6, 3-3 Big 12) led 42-29 when Ashley Joens scored a layup with 6 minutes, 27 seconds left in the third period, but Kansas State (7-9, 1-4) fought all the way back to within four, 49-45, by quarter’s end.

Peyton Williams put in a jumper for the Wildcats to make it a two-point game, 49-47, with the first basket of the fourth quarter, but Joens scored the game’s next four points to push the margin back to six. Adriana Camber added back-to-back baskets, including a 3-pointer, to counteract Kansas State’s comeback, and a Joens trifecta built the cushion back up to seven, 61-54, with 3:52 to play.

Rae Johnson went 6-for-6 at the free-throw line in the final 58 seconds to help the Cyclones ward off the Wildcat rally.

Joens led Iowa State with 21 points and 11 rebounds, Johnson scored a career-high 19 points to go with her eight assists and four rebounds, and Camber added 11 points. Kristin Scott was limited to nine points.

Williams paced K-State with 15 points, Ayoka Lee added 12 and Angela Harris had 11 for the Wildcats.

Iowa State remains at home for Saturday’s 2 p.m. game against Kansas. It will be broadcast by Cyclones.tv.

Iowa St. 73, Kansas St. 59

At Ames

KANSAS ST. (7-9) — Beard 4-9 0-0 8, Williams 5-12 5-7 15, Lee 6-11 0-1 12, Carr 2-6 0-0 5, Harris 5-13 0-1 11, Macke 1-2 0-0 2, Ebert 0-0 0-0 0, Goodrich 2-4 1-1 5, Simmons 0-2 1-2 1. TOTALS 25-59 7-12 59

IOWA ST. (11-6) — Nezerwa 4-7 0-0 8, Scott 4-10 0-0 9, Camber 4-8 0-0 11, Joens 8-16 4-4 21, Thurmon 1-2 0-0 2, Kane 0-0 0-0 0, Espenmiller-McGraw 0-5 0-0 0, Johnson 5-12 6-6 19, Wise 1-3 0-0 3. TOTALS 27-63 10-10 73

Kansas St. 10 15 20 14 — 59

Iowa St. 17 19 13 24 — 73

3-Point Goals–Kansas St. 2-14 (Williams 0-3, Carr 1-4, Harris 1-5, Goodrich 0-1, Simmons 0-1), Iowa St. 9-33 (Scott 1-5, Camber 3-7, Joens 1-4, Thurmon 0-1, Espenmiller-McGraw 0-3, Johnson 3-10, Wise 1-3). Assists–Kansas St. 16 (Harris 7), Iowa St. 17 (Johnson 8). Fouled Out–None. Rebounds–Kansas St. 30 (Williams 2-9), Iowa St. 40 (Joens 5-11). Total Fouls–Kansas St. 19, Iowa St. 16. A–9,469.