Super sophs lead Iowa State women’s basketball past South Dakota State

AMES — Iowa State’s standout sophomores carried the Cyclones to victory on Monday in Hilton Coliseum.

Iowa State beat South Dakota State, 75-56, in a nonconference women’s basketball game thanks to some stellar play from Lexi Donarski, Emily Ryan and Aubrey Joens.

The Cyclones went on a 9-0 run late in the second quarter thanks to two Joens 3-pointers and a Ryan and-1.

Early in the third quarter, Iowa State used a 16-3 run to pull away from South Dakota State and put a 20-point cushion between the Cyclones and the Jackrabbits. Iowa State shot 6 of 7 from the field during the run, led by Donarski, who made three shots and had eight of the 16 points.

Donarski led all scorers with 22 points on 8-of-15 shooting from the field and 3-of-7 from 3-point range.

Ryan had 12 points and was 4-of-11 from the field with five assists and four steals.

Aubrey Jones was productive off the bench. She had nine points on 3-of-7 shooting from 3-point range. She also led all players in rebounding, pulling down nine boards.

Iowa State was able to go on those runs thanks in large part to its defense and getting out in transition.

“Our defense was really good,” Coach Bill Fennelly said. “I would not want Lexi Donarski guarding me. I’m telling you, that kid can get up into you. Emily Ryan proved again to be a really good defender. When you can get eight or nine points in a row in a game like that, and then play smart — we only turned the ball over nine times, you’ll have a chance (to win), especially in this building.”

Iowa State held South Dakota State to just 34 percent shooting from the field and turned the Jackrabbits over 13 times.

“Offense a lot of times starts on the defensive end, so being able to get consecutive stops is important and then being able to capitalize on offense is what gave us some runs tonight,” Ryan said. “Defense is what takes you to the next level and that’s what we needed tonight.”

While Donarski and Ryan played well, Fennelly said the player of the game was Joens off the bench.

“I thought that was Aubrey Joens’ best game at Iowa State,” Fennelly said. “She guarded, she made shots and are you kidding me? That kid got nine rebounds? She weighs 120 pounds soaking wet but she has the Joens DNA. She loves to compete. It hasn’t been going well for her, to be honest with you. But she was ready to go tonight. I thought she was tremendous.”

Speaking of the Joens DNA, her older sister Ashley Joens wasn’t as efficient as she usually is, but still scored 17 points and grabbed eight rebounds. She shot just 5 of 16 from the field, but was 6 of 7 from the free-throw line.

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