Cyclone Comeback Bid Falls Short at Iowa

IOWA CITY, Iowa – No. 22 Iowa State (5-1, 0-0 Big 12) dug itself a 14-point hole in the first six minutes of the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series women’s basketball contest, then came back and made it a game but Iowa (7-3, 0-0 Big Ten) maintained a narrow lead down the stretch and prevailed  over the Cyclones, 50-42 Thursday in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Iowa State still leads the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series by a 9-6 margin.

Iowa State took its only lead on a Hallie Christofferson three-pointer that made it 26-24 with 12:20 left in the game. Iowa countered with a 14-3 run and led 38-29 with 7:13 to go.  The Cyclones, playing without injured All-Big 12 post Chelsea Poppins for the third straight game, would not go away. Iowa State went on a 10-1 surge and a pair of Christofferson free throws tied the score, 39-39, with 3:58 left.

The biggest shot of the game may have been the next bucket as Iowa’s Melissa Dixon hit on a three-pointer from the corner with 3:39 left to put Iowa back in front 42-39. It was a lead the Hawkeyes would never relinquish as Iowa State’s only basket came on a three by Anna Prins that cut Iowa’s lead to 45-42 with 1:41 remaining. Cyclones would get no closer.

Nikki Moody led Iowa State with 12 points, six rebounds and five assists. Christofferson finished the game with 10 points and 13 rebounds. Christofferson has been in double digits the last seven games dating back to last season. Prins had 10 points and eight rebounds. The two teams combined to hit on just 30 of 108 shots (.278). Theairra Taylor and Dixon each had 11 points to lead Iowa.

It didn’t go well for Iowa State early. Iowa scored the first 14 points of the game over the initial 6:02. But the Cyclones calmed down and began to find the range from beyond the arc. Iowa State outscored Iowa 12-2 and when Anna Prins ended that run with a three with 5:32 left in the half the Hawkeye lead had shrunk to 18-15. Prins scored on a putback with 2:48 to go as Iowa held a 20-17 lead at the half. 

Iowa State will play host to Fairfield Sunday at 1 p.m. in Hilton Coliseum.