Cyclones Cruise to 89-39 Win over Niagara

Monday, December 29

Ames, Iowa

7:30 PM

Iowa State

9-2

Niagara (Cyclone Challenge)

1-11

Team	1	2	F
Niagara	22	17	39
Iowa State	54	35	89

Cyclones Cruise to 89-39 Win over Niagara

12.29.2008 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: cyclones.com

AMES, Iowa ? The Iowa State women's basketball team shot 50.9 percent and 13 players found the scoring column as the Cyclones demolished Niagara 89-39 Monday night at Hilton Coliseum in the first round of the American Family Insurance Cyclone Challenge.

Iowa State improved to 9-2 this season and is a perfect 5-0 at home. Junior Kelsey Bolte led the Cyclone attack early and finished with a season-high 21 points. Heather Ezell (13) and Ashley Arlen (12) also finished in double figures against the Purple Eagles. Denae Stuckey led the charge on the glass with seven rebounds. Arlen also chipped in six boards as the Cyclones posted a 37-27 margin on the glass, including 15 offensive boards.

Complete Post-Event Coverage
Final Stats Notes Newsconference Game 1 Box Score		Quotes First Half Replay Second Half Replay

Iowa State hit 11 three-pointers against Niagara, getting three each from Bolte, Ezell and Amanda Nisleit. The Cyclones were also strong at the charity stripe, hitting 22-27.

“Overall I thought we played solid,” ISU head coach Bill Fennelly said. “Niagara was a little overmatched. I was really proud of Kelsey Bolte. She missed her first four shots and she kept shooting. That was good to see. It was good to see everyone play, but we have a lot more work to do tomorrow.”

The Cyclones rolled to a 54-22 lead in the first half, hitting 58.5 percent from the field, their best shooting percentage in a half this season. Four ISU players recorded seven points or better, led by Bolte's 19 points at the break. Iowa State hit seven three-pointers, with three each from Bolte and Nisleit.

Iowa State jumped out to a 20-6 lead early, sparked by four treys, including two by Nisleit over a minute and a half stretch. Niagara cut the margin, 26-18, but the Cyclones responded with a 10-0 run, getting scoring from four different players during the stretch. ISU scored the final nine points of the half, capped by a three by Bolte, for a 32-point halftime lead.

After Niagara scored the first field goal of the second half, Iowa State ran off 10 straight points, including a pair of three-pointers by Ezell, for a 64-24 advantage. Claire Rockall hit the first field goal of her career and then assisted on a Toccara Ross layup as the Cyclones forged ahead, 78-34. Niagara scored just five points the rest of the way.

The Cyclones will face North Dakota (6-7) in the championship game of the American Family Insurance Cyclone Challenge at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. Niagara will take on Lamar in the consolation game at 5 p.m. at Hilton Coliseum.

North Dakota 72, Lamar 58

North Dakota came from behind to earn a 72-58 win over Lamar in the first game of the American Family Insurance Cyclone Challenge. Lamar led by as many as 12 points in the first half, but the Fighting Sioux slowly chipped away to close the gap to five at the half, 35-30, and took control midway through the second half. North Dakota was led by Kierah Kimbrough's 25 points (10-15) and eight rebounds. The Fighting Sioux outrebounded Lamar, 43-31, and North Dakota shot 39.4 percent from the field and 42.4 percent (7-23) from three-point range.