Box Score AMES, Iowa – The Stags are starting to grow as a basketball team. Fairfield fought hard in front of the 6,671 crowd at the Hilton Coliseum and gave Iowa State some scares but fell to the Big 12 school 76-63 on Sunday. The Cyclones extended their home winning streak against non-conference opponents to 83, which expands over 11 years.
Kristin Schatzlein led the Stags for the seventh time this season with 19 points while Iowa State shot 20-24 from the line and Brynn Williamson had a season-high 23 points to lead the Cyclones.
The Stags (2-8) trailed by as few as six points with 10:22 left in the game before the Cyclones went on their final run.
Fairfield trailed 45-39 against the Big 12 conference contender until Williamson hit her second three-pointer of the game to put the Cyclones (7-2) up 48-39. Fairfield had two chances to make it a one possession game before that but failed to convert.
The road team would get back within six when Lizzy Ball connected on her first career three-pointer to put Fairfield down 50-44 with just over 11 minutes left.
The difference of the contest came down to rebounding. Iowa State had 44 rebounds in the game compared to Fairfield's 30. The Cyclones also had 18 offensive boards, four coming on one play when Fallon Hayes was finally able to convert the layup and the Cyclones did not look back. The lead soon opened up to 15.
The Stags lost the battle inside to as Bryanna Fernstein had 11 points in the second half, most coming from within the lane.
Fairfield (2-8) started their upset hopes by playing a very slow opening half and controlling the tempo for the majority of the half. The Stags held the Cyclones to one field goal in the first three minutes and trailed just 9-8 with 16 minutes left in the opening stanza.
But the Cyclones, who came in as one of the best shooting teams in the country, quickened the pace with a long range shot and two straight three-point plays to take an 18-8 advantage. The Cyclones helped themselves out by not missing a free thrown (6-6) during that span.
The Stags tried to mount a comeback after Kristine Miller drew an offensive foul by the Cyclones, giving Fairfield some momentum. Kristin Schatzlein used that momentum and drilled a three from the top of the key to cut the Cyclone lead to 18-15. Schatzlein released the shot right when the shot clock buzzer sounded. Schatzlein would hit another long range shot a few seconds later to put the Cyclone lead to 20-18. The junior would hit another jumper with six minutes to go to once again put Fairfield back within shouting distance.
However, once again Iowa State showed why they are one of the best shooting teams in the country. They only shot 33.3 percent from long range in the first half but made every one count. Brynn Williamson went on a 6-0 run to put the Cyclones ahead by at least six for the rest of the contest. Williamson had 18 points in the half, three away from a season-high in any game this year.
Iowa State hit their first seven shots from the line to help with that lead. Fairfield went into the locker room trailing 40-31.
Margeaux Dupuy had her best showing as a Stag in the period. Dupuy would miss two straight free throws, but would get another chance after Iowa State was called for two lane violations. Dupuy relaxed after that, hitting five straight shots (four free throws and a three-pointer) to keep the Stags alive.
Iowa State who came in as the nation's leader in assist-turnover ratio, was limited to six assists and seven turnovers in the opening period. Fairfield had eight assists and five turnovers in the stanza.
Helena Orts had her third-straight productive game tying a career-high 12 points shooting 60 percent from the floor.
Felicia DaCruz had a bounce back game with four points, five rebounds, and four assists.
Fairfield had 14 assists and nine turnovers, the fourth time this season they finished with a positive assist-turnover ratio.
The Stags, who came into today with the 11th most difficult schedule in the country will now travel to 6-4 La Salle on December 28th with tip off at 1pm.
