CycloneFanatic.com’s women’s basketball coverage for the 2010-11 season is brought to you by our good friends at Wilson Toyota in Ames.
By Ian Smith, CycloneFanatic.com Contributor
AMES – Cal State Northridge is very appropriately nicknamed the Matadors.
Olé!
Iowa State (8-2) went around and through Cal State Northridge (0-11) for an easy 93-47 victory on Monday night at Hilton Coliseum. The 93 points are by far the highest output by the Cyclones this year.
Kelsey Bolte (16), Chelsea Poppens (15), Hallie Christofferson (14) and Amanda Zimmerman (11) all scored in double figures as every Cyclone except Chassidy Cole scored. Lauren Mansfield added 10 assists, including nine in the first half.
“We completely understand the competition level, but the one thing we talked a lot about is not being average,” Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly said. “Average if you look it up – I put it on the board – typical, common, ordinary. We certainly didn’t want to be that way and we weren’t.”
The outcome was never in doubt as No. 21 ranked Iowa State jumped out to a commanding 24-3 advantage. The Cyclones put the Matadors down easy behind strong starts from Kelsey Bolte, Chelsea Poppens and Hallie Christofferson. The trio combined for 33 points in the first half to push Iowa State to the early lead.
In a funk offensively all season, the Cyclones started to find its rhythm by pushing the tempo and going inside. Lauren Mansfield continually found her teammates in the paint. Christofferson, Anna Prins, Poppens and Zimmerman all did damage as Iowa State built a 51-15 halftime advantage.
The Iowa State post players combined for 49 points in the game.
“The game plan was to play quick, get up and down the floor, try to score quickly, and try and jam the thing down into the post” Fennelly said.
Mansfield excelled at point guard again for Iowa State. The junior scored eight points to go with her 10 assists in only 22 minutes. The efficient Cyclones notched 26 assists on 34 baskets.
“It’s always good to get other people scoring, and move the ball around,” Mansfield said. “I feel like we are getting better offensively, getting through our plays against these easier teams which is going to help us in the future when we play harder teams.”
Player of the game
Elly Arganbright doesn’t play a lot of minutes for Iowa State, but she makes the most of it when she gets in the game. The freshman drilled two 3-pointers and finished with nine points.
“It always good to play,” Arganbright said. “When the shots go in, it feels better.”
A walk-on from Panora, Arganbright’s 15 minutes were her most in a game this season.
“She’s an Iowa kid that loves Iowa State that’s not going to play a lot down the road,” Fennelly said. “Those are days you’re going to remember. That’s what’s being a college athlete is about. That’s what’s being a walk-on is all about.”
Fabulous freshman
Hallie Christofferson is proving not only does she belong in the Big 12, she’s going to excel. The fabulous freshman is putting up some serious numbers to start her career.
Entering Monday’s game, Christofferson led Big 12 freshman in rebounding with six per game. The Hamlin, Iowa native also ranked third in blocks (0.8) and 10th in scoring (8.7).
Christofferson only improved those statistics in Monday’s blowout. She scored six of the Cyclones’ first 10 points and finished the game with 14 points and 8 rebounds in only 18 minutes of action.
Quick hits
– Not only did Iowa State destroy Columbia, 73-27, last time out, it also set a school record for lowest field goal percentage against. The Lions made just 16.1 percent of its shots (9-for-56).
– Entering Monday’s game, the Cyclones ranked sixth in the nation allowing only 49.3 points per game. Even better, Iowa State is fourth in the country in field goal percentage against (31 percent).
– Iowa State’s previous high for points this season was 73 against Columbia.
– The official attendance for Monday’s game was 6,904
Who’s next?
Iowa State now has eight days off before its next game in the Cyclone Classic against Florida A&M on Dec. 29. The Rattlers are 3-4 on the season.
The Cyclones are back in action the next night when they host Prairie View A&M, who is 4-4 so far this season.
