A jam-packed audience witnessed the ISU women’s basketball team’s smothering defense in action once again in a 58-51 Cyclone victory over Drake on Sunday afternoon at the Knapp Center in Des Moines.

The Cyclones (6-1) came to Des Moines with three straight wins against Drake (5-4) and were holding opponents to only 50 points a game. They held true to the numbers on Sunday, and it seems they have officially found their identity as a defensive ball club, something rare during coach Bill Fennelly’s tenure.

“I’m still in shock that people are starting to say we’re a defensive team,” Fennelly said. “That’s never been our style, but we are defending really well.”

In a week when the Cyclones gave up only 95 points in their two intrastate games, Fennelly said defense is the only reason his team came away with two wins.

“There’s no question if we don’t defend the way we’ve defended this week, we would’ve lost both games,” Fennelly said. “I mean, we only gave up 95 points.”

The Cyclones came into Drake with defense on their minds; in particular, they wanted to shut down Drake’s best offensive players, Jill Martin and Lindsay Whorton, who make up half of the team’s scoring.

Mission accomplished.

“We came into the game saying ‘don’t let Jill Martin and Lindsay Whorton beat us,’ and I think we did a good job at that,” Fennelly said.

The duo finished the game 3 for 16 from the floor and with only 12 points between them. They had been averaging nearly a combined 36 points per game going into Sunday’s game.

Even more impressive is that Drake knew what the Cyclones’ strategy would be and was still unable to garner any success.

“We knew, coming into the game, they were going to key on Jill and Lindsey,” said Drake coach Amy Stevens. “That’s ISU’s whole philosophy – to shut down their opponent’s two best players.”

In a game with an atmosphere and pace similar to that of a postseason one, the Cyclones finally pulled away from the Bulldogs in the final five minutes.

“Their composure is what impressed me the most,” said Drake guard Jordann Plummer. “Even when they were down, they continued to fight, fight, fight, and it eventually led to their win.”