After five games in 10 days, the ISU women’s basketball team is actually looking forward to finals week.

“It’s a tough time for all students right now,” said point guard Lindsey Wilson. “With finals it’s gonna be kind of nice to concentrate on that. Hopefully we can get good grades.”

The No. 5 Cyclones have passed all of their tests so far this season, compiling a 9-0 record.

The most recent victims being Niagara and Eastern Kentucky in the Pella Corporation Cyclone Classic. Iowa State dismantled Niagara 95-58 on Friday night and turned around Saturday to hold off Eastern Kentucky, 86-75 to claim the tournament title.

“I don’t think we played our best stuff,” said tournament most valuable player Angie Welle. “We did what we had to do to win. That’s kind of been the story of our season so far.”

Even when the Cyclones don’t bring their best stuff, it’s still pretty good.

Friday, Iowa State outrebounded Niagra 64-27. Senior Tracy Gahan, freshman Lisa Kriener and Welle all had double-doubles. Welle led the way with 25 points and 15 rebounds.

She stayed on a roll Saturday, collecting 25 points and 11 boards despite fouling out with 4:49 left to play.

“It’s really hard for us to succeed without [Welle] in the game,” ISU head coach Bill Fennelly said.

It showed against Eastern Kentucky, which trailed at halftime by 18 points.

The Lady Colonels fought back, outscoring the Cyclones 46-39 in the second half, but could never get closer than nine points.

“It seemed like we either missed a crucial shot or got in foul trouble,” said Eastern Kentucky’s Zoey Artist, a native of Anita.

Artist finished with 12 points in front of 70 of her friends and family.

“We just couldn’t get past that nine mark,” said Eastern Kentucky head coach Larry Inman.

For Iowa State, finals week will be a much needed chance to rest.

The Cyclones have played five games in the past 10 days and Saturday night it started to show.

Iowa State missed 12 free throws, going 31-43 from the charity stripe. Late in the game, point guard Lindsey Wilson, who has played 303 minutes so far this season, was breathing hard and showing signs of fatigue.

“There’s no question we ran out of gas,” Fennelly said. “I thought we were very tired and I think that shows. We missed a lot of free throws, and I think when your legs are gone, that’s what happens. Lindsey, at the end of the game, looked tired.”

Wilson struggled with her shots throughout the tournament as she went 6-of-17 against Niagara and 8-of-21 against Eastern Kentucky. Still, she contributed 15 and 23 points respectively and handed out 12 total assists, enough to earn her all-tournament honors, joining Welle on the team.

Also on the team was Cyclone guard Gahan, who had back-to-back solid nights.

She scored 22 against Niagara and grabbed 12 rebounds. Saturday she netted 14 points and dished out nine assists.

Eastern Kentucky’s Artist and Niagara’s Jessica Kemp rounded out the squad.

Up next for Iowa State will be Northern Iowa. The Cyclones host the Panthers on Saturday at 8 p.m.

boxscore

No. 5 IOWA ST. 86, E. KENTUCKY 75

E. KENTUCKY (6-3)

McNair 4-8 0-0 8, Eckerle 2-5 3-4 7, Sizemore 4-9 2-2 11, Artist 6-9 0-0 12, Bond 5-9 0-0 12, McCellan 3-6 0-1 6, Smith 0-1 0-0 0, Carr 0-0 0-0 0, Perry 3-5 0-1 6, Kelly 5-13 2-2 13, Cook 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 32-67 7-10 75.

IOWA ST. (9-0)

Cofield 3-9 1-2 8, Kriener 3-4 3-6 9, Welle 7-9 11-15 25, Wilson 8-21 6-7 23, Gahan 3-6 7-8 14, Fox 0-0 0-0 0, Paustian 0-2 2-2 2, Cizek 2-2 1-3 5. Totals 26-53 31-43 86.

Halftime-Iowa St. 47, E. Kentucky 29. 3-Point goals-E. Kentucky 4-15 (Bond 2-4, Sizemore 1-3, Kelly 1-5, McNair 0-1, Artist 0-1, Smith 0-1), Iowa St. 3-15 (Gahan 1-3, Cofield 1-5, Wilson 1-6, Paustian 0-1). Fouled out-Welle, McNair, Bond. Rebounds-E. Kentucky 30 (Artist 6), Iowa St. 40 (Welle 11). Assists-E. Kentucky 17 (Artist 5), Iowa St. 17 (Gahan 9). Total fouls-E. Kentucky 32, Iowa St. 18. Technical-E. Kentucky bench. A-11,459.