AMES, Iowa – Iowa State (4-0, 0-0 Big 12) remained unbeaten with a 20-plus point victory over Howard (1-3, 0-0 MEAC) by a final of 77-55 Thursday night.
The reigning Big 12 Freshman of the Week Tjaša Turnšek was a star putting up her second double-double through four games with 20 points and 12 rebounds tonight. Turnšek scored 20-plus points for the second-straight game, and has totaled 18 or more points in all four. Turnšek also led the game with five assists.
Mya Babbitt shot four 3-pointers and totaled 16 points. Babbitt continues scoring in double figures every game this season. Alex-Anne Bessette had a season-high 15 points, her first double-figure point game as a Cyclone.
How it Happened
Ashleigh Connor answered Howard’s game-opening 3 with one of her own, and 90 seconds of play later Connor shot another. With Howard within one midway through the first, Babbitt got in on the 3-point party to make it 11-7. Iowa State held onto the lead after one, entering the second up 20-16.
Turnšek had three points as the second quarter got going, but over two minutes would pass before either team put points on the board again. Xiao Zhang ended the break in scoring with a jumper, and while a Howard bucket came next, Bessette shot a 3 right after to make it a double-digit lead (28-18). Howard answered with a triple, but Iowa State kept battling as Bessette was fouled and made her two free throws. ISU’s lead returned to 10-plus at 38-27 with 20 seconds to go as Sienna Harvey put in a bucket, and that score would hold at the half.
Howard opened the half with six-straight points, while Zhang ended the run with a free throw. After a steal by Harvey, Turnšek put in a layup as the score was brought to 41-33 at the 8:14 mark. Scoring was then halted through the media timeout, but right out of the break Ezekiel Gift put in a jumper. Once again, the game saw back-to-back 3s by the two teams with Bessette answering Howard’s, making it an 8-point game with 2:36 to go in the third. ISU’s lead grew to 14 (54-40) on Babbitt’s second triple with 35 seconds to play, and Iowa State headed to the fourth ahead 54-42.
Babbitt then had a third 3 to enter double figures 15 seconds into the final frame, and soon after the Cyclones hit a run of eight growing Iowa State’s lead to 20 at 65-45 as 6:37 remained. ISU would end the night ahead by 22.
Next Up
Iowa State remains home to host UIC Sunday, Nov. 15 at 5 p.m. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.
