AMES — No. 20 Iowa State took to the court in dominant fashion, defeating the Central Michigan Chippewas in the third all-time meeting between the two schools by a score of 82-56 Sunday. With the win, the Cyclones improved their record to 8-2.
Catching fire early
The Cyclones’ lockdown defense led a 31-point first quarter and set the tone in the early minutes. Iowa State took an early 11-3 lead after two turnovers from Central Michigan, followed by 3-point baskets by sophomore guard Arianna Jackson and senior guard Emily Ryan.
The Cyclones forced nine Chippewa turnovers in the first quarter alone, recording two blocks and four steals at the end of the quarter.
Ryan finished the first quarter with 10 points, followed by sophomore center Audi Crooks with nine.
“Things can always be better,” Crooks said. “Night-in and night-out, it’s important that we stay ready and keep our heads up for the entirety of the match.”
Shooting stays sharp
The second quarter largely mirrored the first, opened by another triple from Jackson. Jackson finished the half shooting 2-for-2, both from beyond the arc.
Sophomore forward Addy Brown scored her first points of the matchup in the second quarter on two shots inside the paint. Brown finished the first half 4-for-10 from the field with 10 points and added four rebounds.
Iowa State scored a combined 18 points in the second quarter, which extended its lead to 49-28 at the half.
“[Brown] played well today,” head coach Bill Fennelly said. “We had her in at the five spots, and creating those opportunities for her felt right. It depends on the day and who’s shooting the ball well, but anybody can play well under the right conditions.”
Sophomore guard Kelsey Joens wasted no time in the opening minutes of the third quarter. Quick shots by Joens and Brown extended the Cyclones’ lead to 58-33, followed by a layup from redshirt sophomore Alisa Williams.
Joens’ 3-point basket was her first of the game and her third attempt from beyond the arc. Williams finished the third quarter 2-for-2 from the field with four points.
Brown and Crooks led third-quarter scoring. The duo combined for 16 of the Cyclones’ 21 third-quarter points.
Crooks continued to do what she does best in the third, shooting 4-for-7 from the field and grabbing three rebounds. She finished the game with 19 points and 10 rebounds.
“My teammates trust me to show up consistently, finish strong, and deliver,” Crooks said. “We’re always ready for what other teams bring, and it’s our goal to put the best product on the floor regardless of who’s in front of us.”
Defense dominates late
Even with a commanding 29-point lead, the Cyclones continued to apply pressure. Williams dropped a quick basket, extending her point total to six, and grabbed three rebounds in the fourth quarter.
Junior guard Lily Hansford, sophomore center Lilly Taulelei and Joens added to the Cyclones’ turnover total, with two blocks and two steals in the fourth. Iowa State recorded 42 rebounds, 24 assists and 13 steals.
“It’s always an emphasis that we play the same way regardless of what the scoreboard says,” Ryan said. “We approach the game similarly and focus on winning each possession.”
Iowa State recorded a game-low 11 points in the final quarter and held Central Michigan to a season-low 56 points.
“Keeping any team under 60 points is always the goal,” Fennelly said. “It’s a benchmark that we try to reach and today, our kids bought into that. Visuals like that help us out and keep us on track.”
The Cyclones will hit the road in the coming days for the Cy-Hawk matchup against No. 17 Iowa. The matchup is set for 8 p.m. Wednesday and will be broadcast on FS1.
