Iowa State Vs West Virginia Women's Basketball
The Background
On February 13th, 2021, the Iowa State Cyclones and the West Virginia Mountaineers faced off in a highly anticipated women's basketball match. Both teams were ranked in the top 25, with Iowa State at number 18 and West Virginia at number 20. The game was played at the WVU Coliseum in Morgantown, West Virginia.
The Cyclones came into the match with a 12-6 overall record and a 8-3 record in the Big 12 conference. The Mountaineers had a slightly better record, with a 14-3 overall record and a 8-3 record in the conference. This match was crucial for both teams as they jostled for position in the conference standings.
The Players
Both teams had some standout players who were expected to make a difference in the match. For Iowa State, Ashley Joens was the player to watch. Joens is a junior guard who leads the Big 12 in scoring with an average of 23.6 points per game. She also averages 9.4 rebounds per game and has been named the Big 12 Player of the Week five times this season.
For West Virginia, Kysre Gondrezick was the player to watch. Gondrezick is a senior guard who averages 20.2 points per game and has been named the Big 12 Player of the Week twice this season. She was also recently named to the midseason watch list for the Wooden Award, which is given to the top player in women's college basketball.
The Game
The match started off with both teams playing strong defense, with neither team able to score for the first two minutes. However, Iowa State was able to break the deadlock with a three-pointer from Joens. The Cyclones were able to build a small lead, but West Virginia fought back and tied the game at 21-21 with just over six minutes left in the second quarter.
From there, the game was back and forth, with both teams trading baskets. Iowa State was able to take a slight lead into halftime, with a score of 32-30. In the second half, the Cyclones were able to build on their lead, with Joens scoring 14 points in the third quarter alone. However, West Virginia fought back and cut the lead to just four points with four minutes left in the game.
In the end, Iowa State was able to hold on and win the game, with a final score of 85-68. Joens was the star of the game, scoring 36 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. Gondrezick also had a strong game for West Virginia, scoring 21 points.
The Aftermath
The win was a big one for Iowa State, as it moved them into a tie for second place in the Big 12 conference standings. Joens' performance was also impressive, as she showed why she is one of the top players in the country.
West Virginia, on the other hand, dropped to fourth place in the conference standings with the loss. However, Gondrezick's strong performance was a bright spot for the team.
Overall, the match between Iowa State and West Virginia was an exciting one, with both teams playing hard until the very end. It was a great showcase for some of the top players in women's college basketball, and fans can look forward to more exciting matches in the future.
