712 Digital Group - top

Mansfield Sparks Cyclones To Win 62-54 Over Iowa

Sports

December 8th, 2011 by Jim Field

AMES, Iowa – Senior Lauren Mansfield scored a season-high 15 points, nine of which were from three-point land in Iowa State’s 62-54 victory over Iowa Wednesday. Four Cyclones scored in double figures for the second time this season in the annual Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk series rivalry. Iowa State improves to 5-2, while Iowa falls to 5-4 overall this season.

Mansfield caused a momentum shift in the first half after drawing a charge with just 52 seconds remaining, which ignited the Cyclone crowd and her teammates. Iowa State went on to force a Hawkeye turnover and responded with a trey by Cyclone guard Nikki Moody four seconds before halftime. Moody’s three-pointer brought the Cyclones within three, but it was forward Hallie Christofferson’s basket with just a half second to play that put the Cyclones down by just one point heading into the locker room. Christofferson went up strong after receiving a pass from Moody on an inbounds play and converted from the charity stripe after drawing the foul.

Freshmen Brynn Williamson and Moody each contributed solid performances for the Cyclones. Moody finished with 13 points and was six-for-six from the free throw line. The Euless, Texas native converted on four crucial free throws in the final two minutes of the game as the Hawkeyes pushed for a comeback. Williamson posted 11 points for Iowa State and finished three-for-six from three-point range.

As a team, the Cyclones improved dramatically from the first half to second in three-point field goal percentage. Iowa State shot 41.7 percent from beyond the arc in the second period compared to just 18.2 percent in the first.

Iowa State forced 22 Hawkeye turnovers, the second-most Iowa has committed this season.

Despite an early exit from the game due to a knee injury, which isn’t considered to be serious, with three minutes remaining, Poppens scored 10 points, grabbed nine rebounds and drew three charges for the Cyclones. In the first half alone, the Cyclone forward posted six points and five rebounds. This is the fifth game Poppens has scored 10 points or more.

Iowa was led by center Morgan Johnson’s 16 points. Johnson converted on five of 10 from the free throw line and grabbed seven boards for the Hawkeyes. Melissa Dixon chipped in 11 points for Iowa and two buckets from beyond the arc.

With the win, Iowa State leads the 2011-12 Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series by a score of 11-4.