AMES, Iowa – The 12^th-ranked Iowa State (1-0) women’s basketball team opened the 2021-22 campaign Thursday morning with a 65-38 win over Omaha (0-1) at Hilton Coliseum.

Emily Ryan had nine steals, tying the school record set by Tracy Horvath against Marquette on Jan. 7, 1989. Ryan also became just the sixth player in Big 12 history to hit the mark. Ryan added nine points and tied a career-high with three blocked shots. Lexi Donarski had a game-high 18 points for the Cyclones, while Ashley Joens had 15 points and eight rebounds. Izzi Zingaro had a career-high seven rebounds off the bench, while Denae Fritz had four assists.

How It Happened

It was a slow start for the Cyclones, as Omaha led 12-11 after the opening quarter. Iowa State was held scoreless for the first 3:32 of the game and was 1-of-12 from 3-point range in the opening frame. The Cyclones opened the second quarter on a 10-2 run and took a 26-18 lead at the half after holding the Mavericks to just six points in the second quarter.

Iowa State held a 19-9 advantage in the third quarter, taking a 45-27 lead into the final quarter. Iowa State opened the fourth on a 12-4 run before pushing the lead to 27 with 1:17 to play, its largest lead of the day. Iowa State had a 19-6 advantage in points off turnovers and 21-9 in second chance points.

Up Next

The Cyclones return to action on Monday, Nov. 15 against South Dakota State at Hilton Coliseum. Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m. and will be broadcast on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.