Ames, Iowa ? With a snowstorm raging outside and a smaller-than-usual crowd inside, Anne O’Neil and her teammates had to create their own excitement against No. 20 Kansas State.

You’d have to say they succeeded.

O’Neil and Katie Robinette scored 21 points apiece, and Iowa State shot 64.6 percent in beating the Wildcats, 78-59, Wednesday night.

“The bottom line is a couple of people hit some shots and we just feed off that,” O’Neil said. “That positive energy just rolls onto everybody else. Once somebody makes a shot, you get a little bit more confidence.”

Iowa State was especially effective from the perimeter in its Big 12 Conference opener, going 10-for-14 from three-point range and blowing the game open with a 16-2 second-half run.

Kansas State (9-3) kept it close for awhile despite Iowa State’s torrid shooting. Ninety seconds into the second half, the Wildcats trailed by only three.

But with stars Kendra Wecker and Laurie Koehn constantly misfiring, Kansas State simply couldn’t keep pace. Claire Coggins led Kansas State with 18 points, and Megan Mahoney scored 15.

“When we don’t communicate defensively and we don’t get the job done defensively, then they’re going to bury us,” Wecker said. “And they did that tonight.”

No. 3 Baylor 64,

Iowa State's Lisa Kreiner, left, defends against Kansas State's Kendra Wecker. The Cyclones beat the Wildcats, 78-59, Wednesday in Ames, Iowa.

Texas A&M 50

College Station, Texas — Sophia Young had 21 points and 12 rebounds, and Steffanie Blackmon added 20 points to lead No. 3 Baylor. The Bears (11-1, 1-0) held the Aggies (9-2, 0-1) to three points in the game’s final six minutes.

No. 12 Texas Tech 70, Oklahoma 64

Lubbock, Texas — LaToya Davis scored 22 points, leading No. 12 Texas Tech (10-2, 1-0) in the Big 12 opener for both teams. Leah Rush led the Sooners (8-4, 0-1) with 23 points.

Missouri 67,

Oklahoma State 49

Columbia, Mo. — Christelle N’Garsanet scored 20 points, leading Missouri in the Big 12 opener for both teams. The Tigers (7-5, 1-0) held the Cowgirls (5-6, 0-1) to just 33 percent shooting. Nina Stone led Oklahoma State with 21 points.

Nebraska 83, Colorado 62

Lincoln, Neb. — Kiera Hardy scored 16 of her 22 points in the first half, helping Nebraska (9-4, 1-0), which led 36-31 at the half. Jasmina Ilic led Colorado (7-5, 0-1) with 15 points and nine rebounds.