AMES, Iowa – Iowa State (3-0, 0-0 Big 12) remained undefeated with a 77-61 win over Eastern Illinois (0-3, 0-0 OVC) Sunday afternoon.
Tjasa Turnsek led all with 20 points, her first 20-point game. Mya Babbitt continued her 3-point efficiency with four made today and totaled a season-high 18 points. Xiao Zhang (14) and Gift Ezekiel (12) made for four Cyclones scoring in double figures.
How it Happened
An early triple put the Panthers on the board first, but Zhang put the Cyclones in front herself with two jumpers. The teams went back-and-forth from there as the seventh lead change of the game was provided by Arianna Jackson with a 3 at the 5:14 mark. Two free throws gave EIU the lead at the end of one at 17-16.
The Cyclones took the lead back on a triple by Babbitt with 3:49 to play in the half, but Eastern Illinois took it right back on the next trip down the court. Zhang put ISU back on top at 29-28 with just over three to play, while EIU’s Nyah Hardy put in a triple to flip the lead once again. Zhang continued to score as time ticked away, giving Iowa State the lead at 33-31 at the half.
Both Zhang and Turnsek entered double figures less than a minute into the third quarter, extending the Cyclone lead out to six. Alex-Anne Bessette made it a double-digit lead at 45-35 with a jumper as the clock read 5:40 and Iowa State remained with a 10-plus point lead entering the fourth at 55-44.
As the Panthers cut their deficit down to six (55-49), Babbitt came back with her third 3-pointer with 7:29 remaining. The lead returned to 10-plus with buckets by Turnsek, and Ezekiel joined the trio of Cyclones scoring in double figures shortly after with a pair of free throws midway through the fourth. Iowa State remained up to take the 77-61 victory.
Next Up
Iowa State next hosts Howard Thursday, Nov. 12 at 6:30 p.m.
