LUBBOCK, TX – No. 15 Iowa State (9-2, 1-0 Big 12) topped Texas Tech (12-2, 0-1 Big 12) ending TTU’s 11-game win streak by a score of 81-58. Iowa State posted its sixth-straight victory in Lubbock.
Ashley Joens (22) and Lexi Donarski (21) ascended the 20-point mark while Emily Ryan (15) and Stephanie Soares (14) totaled four Cyclones in double-figure scoring. ISU shot at 44.8 percent as the Cyclones cemented the 23-point victory.
Ryan and Soares both had double-doubles, with Ryan grabbing a career-best 10 and Soares getting 16, her best as a Cyclone. Soares has seven double-doubles in her first 11 games at Iowa State. The duo also combined for seven blocks, Soares getting four and Ryan three.
How it Happened
Iowa State held a narrow edge of 9-8 halfway through the first frame as Joens piled up seven points making three of her first four shots. TTU took the lead of 14-13 with 1:06 on the clock before Denae Fritz tied it up on a made free throw to end the first knotted at 14.
Fritz followed that up with a layup to start the second strong as Ryan then recorded the game’s first triple at the 8:58 mark. The Lady Raiders were held scoreless for over two minutes as ISU built a lead out to seven. ISU remained ahead, taking a run of seven capped on two Ryan free throws for a double-digit lead at 32-21. Iowa State continued the offensive firepower going on another scoring spree, including two back-to-back shots from deep by Nyamer Diew and Donarski. ISU took a 14-point lead into halftime, handing Texas Tech its first halftime deficit of the season.
Soares blocked her fourth shot to open the second half as Joens drove up the court for a layup to enter double figures. Donarksi and Ryan followed suit, notching double-figure points less than three minutes into the quarter. TTU made five of its last six field goals prior to the media timeout, but the Cyclones kept ahead at 54-41.
ISU brought a 57-44 lead into the final frame as Soares continued to add to her stat line with a layup 10 seconds in. The Lady Raiders then hit a run of 10-straight to trim its deficit to single digits for the first time since the second quarter at 61-54. Iowa State pressed on, going up by 20 for the second time as the Cyclones remained up by over 20 to end the game.
Top Performances
Stephanie Soares put up double-double No. 7 through 11 games this season. Soares also grabbed her 10th 10-plus game this season with 14 points and 16 rebounds. Emily Ryan was the second Cyclone with a double-double (15 points, 10 rebounds), her second-straight.
Ashley Joens tallied her fifth 20-plus point game of the season and 62nd of her career. Joens led the game with 22 points on 8-of-12 shooting. Lexi Donarski notched 21 points, her third game this season with at least 20 or more.
Up Next
No. 15 Iowa State hosts West Virginia for the conference home opener Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.
