Iowa women's strong fourth quarter leads to fourth straight win over Iowa State

AMES, Ia. — For parts of the past decade, the Cy-Hawk women’s basketball rivalry has full of memorable moments for both teams.

Iowa would win in Iowa City. Iowa State would take on the next season in Ames.

For nearly 10 years, no one seemed to have a firm grasp on the series.

Until now.

Iowa kept its control over the rivalry, winning its fourth straight over the Cyclones on Wednesday, this time by a 75-69 count at Hilton Coliseum. The Hawkeyes became the first team in the in-state rivalry to rattle off at least four straight wins since Iowa State won five in a row from 1997 to 2001.

Iowa State, which trailed by as many as nine, closed out the third quarter with a 7-0 run to make for a dramatic final quarter. Ashley Joens tied the game 48-all on a pair of free throws, setting the stage for another epic ending, like the close call the two teams had a season ago when Iowa triumphed 73-70.

This one wasn’t as nail-biting.

Iowa pulled away in the fourth quarter by going on a 7-0 run, starting with back-to-back baskets by Monika Czinano. A 3-pointer by Tomi Taiwo gave the Hawkeyes a 55-48 lead it would never surrender. Makenzie Meyer, who finished with 18 points, connected on a 3-pointer later in the fourth to give the Hawkeyes a 62-53 lead.

Iowa State kept coming at Iowa, though. Later in the quarter, Joens made a pair of free throws to cut the lead to 66-62. But Czinano delivered the dagger again when she barely beat the shot clock with a jumper with 47 seconds left to give Iowa some breathing room. She finished with 20 points.

Joens, a native of Iowa City, poured in 26 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for Iowa State. But it wasn’t enough for the Cyclones, who struggled a bit from the free-throw line and considerably from beyond the arc. The Cyclones shot 21-for-27 from the charity stripe and only 4-for-20 from distance.

Wednesday’s game was especially emotional for Iowa State. William “Bill” Fennelly, the father of Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly, died earlier in the day. There was a moment of silence before the game.

Check back later Wednesday for more details from the game.

► More Wednesday:Iowa State's coach took the sidelines hours after his father had passed away