Five Cyclones scoring in double figures and a dominant second quarter lifted Iowa State to a 90-65 victory over Arizona on Saturday afternoon, marking the team’s second straight win.
Iowa State (16-5, 4-5 Big 12) used a 27-14 advantage in the second quarter to break the game open and never looked back. Arizona (10-9, 1-7 Big 12) was forced to finish the final 2:40 with just four players on the floor after five Wildcats fouled out and Tanyuel Welch exited with an injury.
The Cyclones controlled nearly the entire contest, holding the lead for 38:59. Iowa State trailed for just 32 seconds and the score was tied for only 29 seconds.
Jada Williams led Iowa State with 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting, adding four rebounds and seven assists against her former team. Despite missing the morning shootaround due to illness, the junior guard delivered one of her most efficient performances of the season.
“We found out probably 45 minutes before the game that she wanted to try it,” head coach Bill Fennelly said. “She’s a tough kid and she loves to compete. She’s as tough as anyone on our team. She’ll probably say the turnovers were because she was sick, but she’s a baller.”
Audi Crooks finished with 17 points, while Arianna Jackson scored 15 and knocked down four 3-pointers. Sydney Harris added 14 points off the bench, and Alisa Williams chipped in 12 to round out the balanced scoring effort.
Iowa State led 21-15 late in the first quarter before closing the period on a 10-0 run over the final 3:33. Arizona briefly cut the deficit to 35-25 midway through the second quarter, but the Cyclones responded with a quick 9-0 run in a span of 99 seconds to restore separation.
At halftime, Iowa State owned a 53-29 lead after shooting 10 of 12 from the field in the second quarter, including 4 of 5 from 3-point range. The Cyclones continued to build the margin in the third quarter, reaching a 24-point lead on multiple occasions.
Arizona opened the fourth quarter with six of the first eight points, but the final period was the lowest-scoring quarter of the game. The teams combined for 28 points, with Iowa State scoring 15 to comfortably close out the 90-65 win.
Up next: Iowa State travels to No. 19 Texas Tech on Wednesday for a 6 p.m. tip, with coverage available on ESPN+.
