The 10-seed Iowa State women’s basketball team (18-13, 9-9 Big 12) saw its season come to an end on Friday in the first round of the NCAA Tournament after a 78-66 loss to the seven-seed Dayton Flyers.
Iowa State was led by a 17 points and five assist performance from senior point guard Nikki Moody in her last game in cardinal and gold. Junior forward Seanna Johnson (12 points and six rebounds) junior guard Kidd Blaskowsky (11 points and six boards) and senior forward Brynn Williamson (11 points) were the other Cyclones to score in double-figures.
Iowa State trailed by eight points at the halftime break, but would trail by as much as 17 during the second half. The Cyclones did cut the lead to eight late in the contest but the Flyers were able to knock down free throws and move on to face the winner of the game between two-seed Kentucky and 15-seed Tennessee State.
Iowa State shot 37.7 percent from the field in the contest and 24.1 percent, with seven makes, from behind the three-point arc. The Flyers shot 48.3 percent from the arc and knocked down five three-pointers on 35.7 percent shooting.
Senior guard Andrea Hoover led Dayton with 20 points and senior forward Ally Malott added 18 points and 12 rebounds.
The Cyclones graduate three seniors from this year’s team, unanimous first team all-Big 12 selection and all-time assists leader Nikki Moody, honorable mention all-Big 12 selection Brynn Williamson and starting forward Fallon Ellis.
