AMES – No. 14 Iowa State (12-1, 1-0 Big 12) rang in 2022 and Big 12 action with an 88-72 win over West Virginia (7-4, 0-1 Big 12). As a team, the Cyclones finished with 26 assists on 33 made baskets, while outrebounding the Mountaineers 45-34 en route to its fifth-straight win of the season.
In total, five Cyclones finished in double figures, led by a 29-point, 11-rebound performance from Ashley Joens, marking her 38th career double-double. Beatriz Jordão tied her season high with 14 points, while tying her career-high with three assists. Lexi Donarski added 14 points, while Morgan Kane chipped in 10 points off the bench.
Emily Ryan had another tremendous performance at the point, recording her second-straight double-double with 10 points and 16 dimes. She finished just one rebound shy of a triple double with nine boards. Her 16-assist performance tied the ISU school record, set by Lyndsey Medders on Dec. 30, 2005 against IPFW. Her 16 dimes also set a new career high for the second time in as many games, following a 15-assist performance in ISU’s last game against Prairie View A&M.
How It Happened
The Cyclones took advantage of the Mountaineers early, jumping out to a 13-4 lead by the under-5 timeout in the opening quarter. Iowa State pushed the pace behind 4-of-7 shooting from deep, jumping out to a 22-10 lead by the end of the quarter. Ashley Joens paced Iowa State with nine points and four rebounds, as Ryan chipped in three points and four dimes.
The Cyclone post players had a day in the second quarter, as Kane and Jordão combined for 10 of ISU’s 26 points in the second quarter. Overall, Iowa State was as efficient as ever, going 10-of-16 (62.5%) from the field, assisting on seven of its 10 made baskets in the quarter. By halftime, the ISU lead had grown to 48-30, as all eight Cyclones seeing game action had scored for ISU.
The West Virginia offense would begin to click, shooting 64.3 percent from the field, but Iowa State would match the Mountaineers hot shooting beginning with 14 points from Ashley Joens off 5-of-6 shooting. Jordão added six points off 3-of-3 shooting with the Cyclones finishing 11-of-18 from the floor as a team. ISU closed out the quarter with a 77-58 lead it would not relinquish, rolling to an 88-72 win to open league play.
Up Next
Iowa State hits the road to face Oklahoma in Norman, Okla., on Wednesday, Jan. 5. The game will be at 6 p.m. on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
