IRVING, Texas – Iowa State women’s basketball guard Ashley Joens claimed Big 12 Player of the Week for the first time this season. She averaged 32.5 points and 8.0 boards per game while shooting 56.8 percent from the field.

The honor marks Joens’ seventh-career Big 12 Player of the Week honor, which puts her at tied for 10^th in Big 12 history.

On the Week, Iowa State defeated TCU on the road and fell to then-No. 1 South Carolina. Against TCU, Joens netted 33 points off an efficient 10-of-15 from the floor. She also added 11 boards for her 20^th double-double of the year.

Joens was equally impressive against South Carolina, netting 32 points against one of the nation’s best defenses. Her performance earned her high praise from South Carolina head coach.

Joens is averaged 31.5 points on the year, which ranks first in all of Division I.

Iowa State women’s basketball returns to the court on Wednesday as they take on Iowa on BTN Plus at 6:30 p.m.

IOWA CITY, Iowa – The University of Iowa Athletics Department conducted 601 COVID-19 PCR tests for the week of Nov. 30-Dec. 6, 2020. Seven positive tests and 594 negative tests have been received. As part of the return to campus protocol, testing began May 29, 2020, and includes student-athletes, coaches and staff. A total of 330 positive tests, 10,826 negative tests and one inconclusive test have been received.

The Big Ten Conference began daily rapid antigen surveillance testing on Sept. 30, 2020. Any positive tests identified through the surveillance testing process would be confirmed through a PCR test and reflected in the numbers listed above.

Following the positive test result, protocol established by UI Athletics and medical staff, including contact tracing procedures, is being followed to ensure the safety of all UI Athletics student-athletes and staff. This mandatory protocol also includes isolation for the individuals who test positive, and quarantine for those individuals who might have been exposed to someone with the virus.

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State junior quarterback Brock Purdy was named one of 17 semifinalists for the Davey O’Brien Award.

The Davey O’Brien Award is given annually to the nation’s best quarterback.

Purdy has continued his assault on the Iowa State record book in his third season as the Cyclone signal-caller, owning or sharing 25 school records in his career (game, season, career).

Purdy is the winningest quarterback in school history with 22 overall wins and 19 victories vs. conference opponents. He has an all-time record of 12-1 vs. Big 12 foes in Jack Trice Stadium.

The Gilbert, Ariz., native had another fantastic season directing the Cyclone offense to one its most prolific campaigns in school history. Purdy’s 66.2 percent completion rate is the third-best season total in school history.

Purdy ranks third in the Big 12 in passing efficiency (145.6), the fourth-best total in school history, and his 17 touchdown passes is third-best in the Big 12. He’s tossed a TD pass in nine-straight games, tying for the fourth-best streak in school history.

Purdy is 70-of-91 (76.9 pct.) for 903 yards and 10 touchdowns and zero interceptions in his last 14 quarters, helping the Cyclones to a first-place finish in the Big 12 regular-season standings and a spot in the Big 12 Championship Game for the first time in school history.

DALLAS, Texas – The Doak Walker Award, a trophy given annually to the nation’s best running back, trimmed its list to 10 finalists this afternoon and it’s no surprise that Iowa State sophomore sensation Breece Hall made the cut.

The prestigious award will announce its finalists on Dec. 21 and select a winner on Jan. 7 on the Home Depot College Football Awards Show on ESPN.

Hall is also one of 18 semifinalists for the Maxwell Award, given annually to the nation’s best collegiate football player.

A native of Wichita, Kan., Hall has made a swift rise to one of the nation’s elite running backs in 2020 by leading the nation in rushing yards (1,357), 100-yard rushing games (8) and multi-TD rush games (6), first down rushes (66), yards after contact (797), consecutive games with a rush TD (10) and 20+ yard rushes (14).

With 90+ rushing yards and at least one rush TD in all 10 games season, Hall has been the most consistent running back in the nation. He’s averaged at least 4.3 yards per carry in every game and is one of only four FBS players since 1996 to have 100+ rushing yards and 1+ TD in the first eight games to begin a season.

Hall’s versatility is what makes him stand out above the rest. He’s among the nation’s leaders in rushing TDs (17- 2^nd nationally), overall TDs (19- 2^nd nationally) and scoring (114- 2^nd nationally). Hall is averaging 135.7 yards per game, second in the nation among teams playing five games, and 6.11 yards per carry.

He’s caught 18 passes for 144 yards and two touchdowns and averaging 150.1 yards from scrimmage.

Hall has also proven to be one of the most elusive and explosive backs nationally. He leads the nation in 50+ yard rushes (4), ranks second in 10+ yard rushes (34) and is second nationally in missed tackles (59).

He has recorded just one lost fumble in 449 career touches.

Statistics alone makes Hall’s season incredible, but perhaps his biggest accomplishment on the year is his impact on winning. The Cyclones, currently ranked ninth nationally in the CFP poll, claimed first place in the Big 12 regular-season standings and a spot in the Big 12 Championship Game for the first time in school history.

Doak Walker Award Semifinalists
Travis Etienne, Clemson
Breece Hall, Iowa State
Najee Harris, Alabama
Mo Ibrahim, Minnesota
Jermar Jefferson, Oregon State
Sincere McCormick, UTSA
Isaiah Spiller, Texas A&M
Jaret Patterson, Buffalo
Javonte Williams, North Carolina
Kyren Williams, Notre Dame

IRVING, Texas – Iowa State quarterback Brock Purdy was named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week for his outstanding performance against West Virginia on Saturday.

Purdy was sensational in helping Iowa State clinch first place in the Big 12 regular-season standings and a spot in the Big 12 Championship Game for the first time in school history.

Purdy was precise and elite in the 42-6 win over West Virginia, completing 87.0 percent (20-of-23) of his passes, the second-best single-game completion rate in school history. He also accounted for four touchdowns, three through the air and one by rush, the sixth time in his career he’s been responsible for four or more touchdowns in a game.

Purdy threw for 247 yards and rushed for 38 yards.

The Gilbert, Ariz., native is 70-of-91 (76.9 pct.) for 903 yards and 10 touchdowns and zero interceptions in his last 14 quarters.

Purdy also set or tied two school records in the win. His rushing touchdown gave him 17 in his career, tying the school mark for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback.

Purdy has now led Iowa State to 22 victories, the winningest quarterback in school history.

He owns or shares 25 school records.

IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa freshman Caitlin Clark was named Big Ten Women’s Basketball Player and Freshman of the Week, the conference announced Monday. 

Clark’s Player of the Week nod is the first Big Ten weekly honor for a Hawkeye since Kathleen Doyle earned the award on Feb. 10, 2020. Clark is the first Big Ten student-athlete to be honored with both awards in a single week since Nebraska’s Jessica Shepard on Jan. 25, 2016. She is the second Hawkeye to win both in the same week — Sam Logic earned both honors twice in 2012 (Feb. 14, Feb. 28).

The West Des Moines, Iowa, native averaged 26.5 points, nine assists, four rebounds, and 2.5 steals in the Hawkeyes wins over Drake and Wisconsin. In Iowa’s in-state bout versus Drake, Clark tallied 30 points, 13 assists, four steals, three rebounds, and a block. Against Wisconsin, she posted 23 points, five assists, five rebounds, and a steal.

Clark is the only freshman in the nation to put up 30 points and have at least 10 assists in a single game (since 2015-16). Clark’s 30 points is the most from a Big Ten freshman since Michigan’s Haillie Thome scored 31 against Minnesota on Jan. 31, 2016. Clark’s 13 assists are the most from a Big Ten Freshman since Maryland’s Destiny Slocum had 13 against Illinois on February 9, 2017.

Clark and the Hawkeyes host Iowa State on Wednesday for the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk game. Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m. (CT). The game will be streamed on BTN Plus. Iowa returns hits the road on Saturday to take on Michigan State. Tipoff is yet to be set.