ISU women play 'ISU way' for 10 minutes, win

DES MOINES - Brynn Williamson received her late shooting orders.

Simply put: Score.

The Iowa State true freshman promptly - and happily - complied.

Williamson drained the Cyclones' first two three-pointers during a 34-14 second-half run, helping ISU to a 71-64 comeback win over Drake before 2,420 fans at the Knapp Center.

“(Coaches) told me that's my spot where I really need to step up and hit a shot,” said Williamson, whose only baskets came during an 11-1 spurt that cut a 13-point Bulldogs lead to three with 8:33 left. “I knew they were coming. I'd only shot two in the first half, so I was like, ‘It's time.'”

For 30 minutes, it appeared time would run out before ISU (2-0) mounted any type of run.

But Nikki Moody - also a true freshman - revved up the offense and defense at the point and senior forward Chelsea Poppens finished strong around the basket, notching 16 of her team-high 18 points in the second half.

“I think I just kind of slowed it down,” Poppens said after first-half struggles in the paint. “I wasn't just chucking shots up. I had a little more patience.”

Cyclone coach Bill Fennelly was running out of it as Drake's Stephanie Running struck for a team-best 18 points on 9-of-11 shooting in the first 27 minutes.

The forward's previous career high?

Eight points, achieved four times last season.

“She literally almost won the game for them,” Fennelly said. “She hit some big shots, tough shots. We wanted to sag off her a little bit and to their credit, they ran a lot of good stuff to get her open.”

The Bulldogs (0-2) led by as many as 13 points, but saw Moody key ISU's second big run - a 17-0 splurge that included her blocked shot, drive the length of the floor and assist to Poppens.

That play (Moody) made in transition, going coast to coast, everybody was kind of looking at each other,“Who was that?” Fennelly said. “because that doesn't happen at Iowa State very often.”

Moody scored 16 points and added three assists.

Cyclone forward Hallie Christofferson recorded a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds.

“Just enough shots, just enough hustle plays,” Fennelly said. “In a game like this you've got to find anything you can.”

ISU went 30:17 without a three-point basket.

If the Cyclones - including Williamson and Jessica Schroll, who also hit a key three in the final run - an historic streak would have ended.

ISU has now hit at least one three in an NCAA-record 519 consecutive games, dating back to 1995.

“Certainly an important game for us,” Fennelly said. “Great finish. I've been asking this team to play the Iowa State way and I think we did in the last 10 minutes.”

[gallery columns="2"]