Cyclones Hold Off Virginia Tech, 75-69

MALIBU, Calif. -- The Iowa State women's basketball team used hot three-point shooting and a solid rebounding effort to take a large second half lead and held the Virginia Tech Hokies at bay, 75-69, Friday afternoon in Malibu, Calif.

Three Cyclones finished in double figures, led by senior All-America candidate Lyndsey Medders. The Los Angeles, Calif., native posted 23 points, seven rebounds and seven assists in her first trip home during her collegiate career. Junior Toccara Ross turned in her first career double-double of the regular season with 18 points and 11 rebounds and sophomore Heather Ezell had 12 points and seven assists for the Cyclones.

Iowa State got out to a 14-point lead, 66-52, with just under eight minutes left in the contest after Ezell and Medders knocked down three-point tries around an Amanda Nisleit two for the Cyclones. ISU took another 14-point advantage at 72-58 off a Megan Ronhovde trey with four and a half minutes left. The Hokies were able to cut the lead to six points with seven seconds left in the game, but the Cyclones earned the win to improve to 3-0 on the season.

Iowa State shot 50 percent from the field, including a 14-of-27 effort from downtown for 51.9 percent. The Cyclones held the Hokies to 38.7 percent for the game and 29.4 percent from three-point range. ISU tied Virginia Tech on the boards, 41-41, despite a size advantage for the Hokies.

The Cyclones took a 41-39 lead into the locker room, with a 53.3 shooting percentage from the field and an 8-of-15 showing from three-point range. Iowa State trailed most of the first half, getting down early, 19-9, before staging a three-point shooting barrage.

Nisleit hit back-to-back treys to put the Cyclones within three points, 26-23, for the first time with eight minutes left in the opening period. Medders hit a three after getting a fastbreak layup to take ISU's first lead of the contest, 28-26. Iowa State led 41-37 with 2:25 remaining on a layup by Ezell, but ISU didn't score the rest of the way, finishing the half up 41-39.

Virginia Tech's Kirby Copeland finished with a double-double, turning in 28 points and 10 rebounds, but ISU was able to hold 6-6 center Nare Diawara to six points and three boards. Brittney Anderson had 13 points for the Hokies.

The Cyclones will face Pepperdine, a 91-62 winner over Tennessee Tech on Friday, at 5:30 p.m. CST.

Players Mentioned

Heather Ezell

Heather Ezell

Lyndsey Medders

Lyndsey Medders

Amanda Nisleit

Amanda Nisleit

Megan Ronhovde

Megan Ronhovde

Toccara Ross

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