In the final Cyclone Challenge game ever, ISU coach Bill Fennelly had a goal to finish on top. And that’s exactly what he did.

Iowa State (9-2, 0-0 Big 12) defeated UC Riverside (8-5, 0-0 Big West) 71-54 in the championship game of the Cyclone Challenge, improving Fennelly’s record to a perfect 34-0 in the event.

The Cyclones opened the game on an 8-0 run over the Highlanders, starting out much faster than they did in the opening round against Howard on Monday.

“We really guarded hard the first four minutes,” Fennelly said. “We were smart and efficient. I think our kids really accepted the challenge.”

The Cyclones were able to keep a comfortable lead over the Highlanders throughout the first half, due in part to senior guard Nikki Moody. Moody dropped 14 points in the first half alone and shot 50 percent from the three-point line in the half.

“She was aggressive offensively, got into the open court a little bit,” Fennelly said. “Her three-point shot has gotten a little bit better. We had some decisions with the ball that we’d like to have back, but she’s the one that can create a lot of things for our team.”

Moody finished the game with 19 total points, leading the team.

She wasn’t alone in her offensive attack, however. Sophomore guard Seanna Johnson recorded her second double-double in two days, finishing the game with 18 points and a season-high 13 rebounds.

The pair’s performance helped keep the team from falling into an early slump, something that they’ve had to deal with on more than one occasion this season. The biggest reason for the change, they say, came in their preparation.

“I think my mindset [changed] for sure,” said guard Nicole Blaskowsky. “I think a lot of us, we were told we were playing a good team, a pretty aggressive team…We take pride in those things. It was really more of a preparation and pride thing.”

Tuesday’s game marked the last non-conference game of the season for the Cyclones, as they host Big 12 foe Kansas State on Jan. 3. These tournament games, Johnson said, give them a little extra time to prepare for conference play. The next step, she said, is just to get focused again.

“I think these two games were pretty good, especially going into the Big 12,” Johnson said. “We just have to refocus and step up to the challenge.”