Iowa State women find balance in 84-75 win against Northern Iowa

CEDAR FALLS - Things hadn't been coming easy for Iowa State women's basketball and the Cyclones knew a trip to Northern Iowa wasn't going to get any easier.

That's why walking away from the McLeod Center allowed Iowa State to breathe a sigh of relief, even though it was just a small one.

'We challenged them to make it better and they did,” said Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly. 'I saw a lot not just in how we played, but I think we saw a lot about the character and toughness of our team tonight which was great to see. Very, very proud of them.”

An 84-75 win for Iowa State in its first game in December was what the team has been calling a new start to the season.

The Cyclones (3-3) might be using their victory against the Panthers (3-3) as a springboard, but junior Seanna Johnson has stayed as consistent as anybody. Johnson finished with 28 points and 10 rebounds with five steals and three assists in 38 minutes with 13 points in the fourth quarter.

'(Fennelly) told me to keep shooting,” Johnson said. 'I missed the first couple threes I shot, but he said, ‘Keep shooting them if they're going to guard you like that. Hit the three.' Towards the end, I think Jadda (Buckley) found me the ball and my teammates found me cutting and I just got easy baskets.”

Iowa State raced out to a 19-6 lead after one quarter while Northern Iowa shot just 12.5 percent. But the Panthers chipped the lead away and tied the game 49-49 in the third period - and for the first time since 0-0 - on two free throws from Angie Davison. Madison Weekly led the UNI effort with 26 points and eight rebounds.

Northern Iowa took the lead 52-49 on a 3-pointer from Amber Sorenson, but 18 seconds later Bry Fernstrom drilled a three of her own to force a tie after which the Cyclones did not trail again. Fernstrom finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds, showing more of the consistency she's been striving for.

'Baskets fell early for me,” Fernstrom said. 'It was a big thing for my confidence and staying positive throughout the game, but shots were just falling for me tonight.”

Iowa State had two players join Johnson and Fernstrom in double figures with Buckley chipping in 10 points while freshman Meredith Burkhall came off the bench for 11 points in 14 minutes. Fennelly has preached an effort to find more of a scoring balance, and found a combination that worked for the time being.

'I think they'll sleep well going home tonight,” Fennelly said. 'I'm sure tomorrow will be a day off because we're gassed.”

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