No. 8 Iowa St women shake off slow start, top Southern 79-55

By ANDREW LOGUE
Associated Press

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Lexi Donarski scored 22 points and No. 8 Iowa State pulled away from Southern 79-55 on Thursday night.

The Cyclones (2-0) trailed early, 10-8, after hitting just three of their first 14 shots. Iowa State missed its first nine attempts from 3-point range.

Donarski hit eight of 16 shots, including five of 13 from 3-point range. Emily Ryan added 19 points and Ashley Joens had 15 points and 14 rebounds, recording the 51st double-double of her career.

“No one has to tell them they didn’t play the way they’re capable of playing,” Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly said. “They already know it, and that’s a good thing.”

Aleighyah Fontenot led Southern (0-2) with 18 points.

Southern made nine of its first 16 shots and began 4 of 6 on 3s.

“I thought we got a little tired, and their size on the inside, it was tough,” Southern coach Carlos Funchess said. “We did a good job trying to box out, but sometimes that size negates everything you’re trying to do.”

The Cyclones owned a 50-23 rebounding edge, which made up for their 39-percent shooting in the first half.

Donarski hit a 3 that gave Iowa State a 40-29 lead at halftime, ending a 17-9 run.

“It was a good team to have early on our schedule,” Donarski said. “It makes us play, go after loose balls and things like that.”

BIG PICTURE

Iowa State won a day after signing its highest rated recruiting class in school history. The Cyclones’ five-player class is ranked No. 10 nationally by ESPNw/HoopGirlz. The list includes 6-foot-2 forwards Addy Brown of Derby, Kansas, and Jalynn Bristow of Wichita Falls, Texas (ranked No. 31 and No. 47, individually).

UP NEXT

Southern: The schedule doesn’t ease up for the Jaguars, who play No. 20 Oregon on Monday. Southern lost its opener at Iowa, 87-34.

Iowa State: Plays its first road game Wednesday at rival Northern Iowa. The Cyclones escaped last year’s meeting, 70-69.

___

AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25