Iowa State uses aggressiveness to beat UC Riverside

AMES - As slow as the start was for Iowa State in its first game of the Cyclone Challenge, just the opposite could be said for the tournament final.

The Cyclones came out of the gates on an 8-0 run to beat UC Riverside 71-54 on Tuesday night. Iowa State's (9-2) win wrapped up the nonconference portion of the schedule, and left ISU coach Bill Fennelly liking what he saw from his team early on defense.

'I thought tonight, for the first time in awhile, I thought we were locked in pretty well defensively for 40 minutes,” Fennelly said. 'The game plan was to guard (Simone) DeCoud and Brittany Crain and they go 7-for-26. I think for the first time in awhile, some of our kids who were struggling to score really stayed locked in and defended.”

The Highlanders (8-5) have three players averaging double-figure scoring, with Crain leading the way with 23.6 points per game. DeCoud (13.7) and Annelise Ito (11.5) join Crain in double figure averages.

Some ISU players got a chance to watch Riverside's game on the first day of the Cyclone Challenge and were made well aware the energy level and aggressiveness would have to be taken up a notch.

'We take pride in those things,” said Nicole 'Kidd” Blaskowsky, who finished with nine points. 'We stopped the two key players that we needed to stop that got most of their shots and I think it was more of a preparation and pride thing.”

Senior guard Nikki Moody led the way for Iowa State with 19 points, six rebounds and five assists. Sophomore Seanna Johnson also joined her in double figures with 18 points while chipping in 13 rebounds for her second double-double in as many days.

With the Cyclone Challenge serving as the last opportunity to play nonconference opponents, Johnson knows the chance to play them at home was pretty valuable.

'I think these two games at the Cyclone Challenge were pretty good for us, especially going into the Big 12,” Johnson said. 'Getting Jadda (Buckley) back will be key for us, so we just have to refocus and step up to the challenge.”

Tuesday's final also proved to be the final game of the Cyclone Challenge. Due to Big 12 scheduling, Iowa State will not be able to host the event in the future. Fennelly is disappointed to see the tournament end, knowing how important nonconference games in late December can be.

'There's bowl games going on and so many other important things and now, when is that game going to fall?” Fennelly, who is 34-0 in the Cyclone Challenge, said. 'It's been great and I'm glad we did it because it's a chance to play two games and we can bring our kids home.”

Iowa State will host Kansas State in its Big 12 opener Saturday at 1 p.m.