KDSN RADIO Sports
Iowa State loses in opening round of NCAA Tourney to Toledo
KNOXVILLE, Tennessee – No. 17 Iowa State (22-10, 11-7 Big 12) fell to Toledo (29-4, 16-2 MAC) by a final of 80-73 in the NCAA Tournament First Round Saturday afternoon.
Toledo built a lead out to as much as 16 while shooting at 48 percent through the game. Iowa State cut the advantage down to five but fell short of the comeback. Ashley Joens (23), Lexi Donarski (13), Emily Ryan (11) and Denae Fritz (11) shot in double figures for ISU.
Joens led the Cyclones with 23 points and 13 rebounds to end her Cyclone career with 65 double-doubles. The senior had a perfect performance from the charity stripe with 11 free throws. The total ties the NCAA Championship single-game school record while being the highest amount made at a perfect percentage in program history.
How it Happened
Iowa State responded to a 5-2 Toledo advantage with a 7-0 run to take the lead. Toledo followed to shoot efficiently from deep, making its fourth trey on five attempts with 3:10 to go in the first as Iowa State remained up 19-18. Joens led the team with nine points as the Cyclones entered the second frame ahead 23-10.
Action kept within a point as the quarter began. At the 6:36 mark, the Rockets then hit their fifth 3-pointer as they held the lead 29-25. Toledo extended its advantage to 34-25 tallying 12-straight points. After Toledo went ahead double digits, Nyamer Diew drained a triple to put the score at 39-32. At the end of the first half, Toledo led 43-36.
Joens made her second shot from beyond the arc to open Cyclone scoring in the half. Toledo continued to pull ahead, building an advantage of 54-41 with just under six minutes to go in the third. The Rockets remained shooting at nearly 60 percent as Joens converted a three point-play to halt a Toledo run, making the score 57-44. Joens continued shooting perfectly from the free throw line, making her 10th for a score of 61-50. Donarski then buried a triple as the Cyclones cut into the lead to end the third at 61-53 on a 7-0 run.
Morgan Kane made a tough layup to extend the run to nine-straight. Toledo continued to keep the lead, but the advantage was cut to six (67-61) as Donarski sent in the basket with 5:31 to go. With 3:12 on the clock, Ryan made Iowa State’s fifth 3-pointer to put the score at 72-66. A minute remained in the game as Donarski sent in two free throws and Fritz put in a basket making in 76-70. Fritz then made a quick triple out of a timeout as the score stood at 78-73. Iowa State was unable to compete the comeback falling 80-73.
