DES MOINES, Iowa – Iowa State used a 17-0 second-half run to come from behind to defeat the Drake Bulldogs, 71-64, Tuesday evening at the Knapp Center. The win improves Iowa State to 2-0 on the season while Drake falls to 0-2.
Chelsea Poppens stepped up for the Cyclones in the second half. After a quiet first half from the junior, Poppens was the key to Iowa State’s late comeback and victory. Poppens contributed a team-high 18 points, 16 in the second half, and eight rebounds. Nikki Moody posted a career-high 16 points while Jessica Schroll added 13 and Hallie Christofferson 11. Christofferson completed her first career double-double with a team-leading 11 rebounds.
Down 59-50 with 5:55 to go, Iowa State put together a string of baskets and defensive stops to get back into the game. The Cyclones tied the game at 59-59 on a driving layup by Moody and a converted free throw. Iowa State took the lead with 2:33 to play when Schroll rebounded her own missed layup and put it back. Poppens put the Cyclones up for good with a fast break layup on an outstanding pass from Moody.
The Cyclones were down 50-37 with 10:27 to go in the half, Iowa State assembled an 11-1 run to reduce the deficit to 51-48 with eight minutes to play. Drake responded to get the lead back up to six multiple times before a three by Kyndal Clark put the Bulldogs back up 59-50 with 5:55 to go.
The first half was a back-and-forth affair as Drake and Iowa State both controlled play for portions of the first half. The first 20 minutes consisted of six lead changes and five times the scores were deadlocked. Iowa State took a late lead in the first half on a layup by Schroll to take a 23-22 lead with 3:17 to go but the Bulldogs would retake the advantage and go into the locker room with a 26-24 lead.
Iowa State shot a disappointing 5-of-20 from the field in the first half, including 0-of-5 from three. The Cyclones were better from the free throw line converting 14-of-18 attempts. The Cyclones were led by eight points from Moody followed by six from Schroll.
Christofferson posted five points and five boards in the first 20 minutes and Fallon Ellis provided four rebounds from off the bench.
The Bulldogs were led by an exceptional shooting effort from Stephanie Running. Running led the Bulldogs with 18 points on 9-of-14 shooting. Rachael Hackbarth posted a double-double with 15 points and 14 rebounds and Clark also posted 15 points.
The Cyclones are back in action Sunday when they play host to Northern Arizona. The game is slated for a 5:30 p.m. CST tipoff.
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