WBB: Poppens lifts Iowa State to NCAA 2nd round

Chelsea Poppens led three players in double figures with 19 points as the fifth-seeded Cyclones held off Gonzaga 72-60 in a first-round game of the Spokane Regional at Spokane, Wash.

Hallie Christofferson had 18 points and Brynn Williamson added 17 for Iowa State (24-8), which will play the winner of No. 4 Georgia and No. 13 Montana on Monday at the same site.

Gonzaga, which had its 15-game winning streak snapped, was led by Taelor Karr with 15 points. Haiden Palmer added 14 for the 12th-seeded Bulldogs (27-6).

Iowa State led most of the way. The Cyclones took a 34-31 lead into the break and never trailed again. Gonzaga, which rolled through West Coast Conference play with a 15-1 mark and had enjoyed enormous success playing in Spokane in the NCAA tournament, cut the lead to 62-57 in the closing minutes but could not get any closer.

Iowa State put the game away at the free-throw line going 17-for-18 during the contest. The Bulldogs attempted 71 field goals to just 44 for the Cyclones, who are playing in their seventh straight NCAA tourney.