Swish Appeal: All Posts by Natalie IacopettiBasketball is basketball.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49391/swish-fave.png2018-01-31T01:01:27-05:00https://www.swishappeal.com/authors/natalie-iacopetti/rss2018-01-31T01:01:27-05:002018-01-31T01:01:27-05:00TCU still rolling — wins 7th straight
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<p><em>No. 22 TCU </em><em>st</em><em>arted the game off slowly against Iowa State, however, a focused Jordan Moore helped her team overcome its slow start. Moore received a lot of help from the Horned Frog’s bench as they outscored the Cyclones’ reserves, 33-12.</em></p> <p id="R2qjEX"><strong>Ames, Iowa -- </strong>The No. 22 TCU Horned Frogs started off slightly sluggish, but ended strong, using a powerful third quarter start to beat the Iowa State Cyclones 75-52 on Tuesday night. </p>
<p id="fnnlNR">“We value and are so grateful for this win and I know our team worked really, really hard,” said TCU head coach Raegan Pebley.</p>
<p id="umftJa">While TCU (16-5, 7-3 Big 12) came out with a very intense defense on Iowa State, the Cyclones (9-13, 3-8 Big 12) got a burst of energy from senior Emily Durr, as she rewarded herself with 10 points in just the first quarter. </p>
<p id="0p5ydI">But that didn’t stop TCU, as a steal from Kianna Ray allowed her to put up a contested lay-up to make the deficit only one point. That layup was followed by a three-point buzzer beater from Amber Ramirez, which gave the Horned Frogs a 21-16 lead at the end of the first quarter. </p>
<p id="ZsOL6Q">Iowa State was missing 6’4 junior Bride Kennedy-Hopoate (strained foot) down low, allowing TCU’s post game to show its strength. TCU was led by 6’3" junior Jordan Moore (25 points, and 6 rebounds) as she showed her power in the paint throughout the game with nobody able to stop her.</p>
<p id="q1rRgM">At the end of the second frame, TCU was in the lead with a 43-29 score.</p>
<p id="cnr7c6">Coming out of halftime, both teams were ready to play. Scoring 13 points in the first four minutes, the Horned Frogs extended the lead by as much as 26 points. The Horned Frogs outscored ISU 22-11 in just the third frame alone, which spoke to the level they were playing at.</p>
<p id="GckOE2">Iowa State started the final stanza on a 10-0 run, but TCU’s 2-3 defense was just too much for Iowa State, as they went in a slump and didn’t score for the last seven minutes of the game. </p>
<p id="ZHM8l5">“They are a top 25 team and they showed that tonight,” said head coach Bill Fennelly of Iowa State on TCU’s defense tonight.</p>
<p id="OPfs7n">Besides Moore's amazing game, Amber Ramirez provided 12 points and a team-high three assists (one of three players with three), and Toree Thompson scored eight points to help the Horned Frogs win seven straight conference games for the first time since 2008.</p>
<p id="brqJTP">Iowa State’s Durr (21 points) and teammate Bridget Carleton (12 points) were the only ones on the court with double figures and the most minutes on the court for the Cyclones. </p>
<p id="5hSepM">“We try and create off each other,” Carleton said. </p>
<p id="qjJ96j">However, Iowa State head coach Bill Fennelly was harder on his team, pointing out the overall lack of effort.</p>
<p id="nOzx3f">“You can’t win any level game with two players,” said head coach of Iowa State about Durr and Carleton.</p>
<p id="CUDiRV">TCU will have a chance at a major upset when they travel to the Frank Erwin Center on Saturday to face the No. 8 Texas Longhorns. As for Iowa State, the Cyclones will look to bounce back against Kansas State on the same day.</p>
<p id="C9ffuL"> </p>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/SwishAppeal/videos/10155539040433229/"></a><p>LIVE post-game thoughts on TCU's win over Iowa State</p>Posted by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SwishAppeal/">Swish Appeal</a> on Tuesday, January 30, 2018</blockquote></div>
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https://www.swishappeal.com/2018/1/31/16953604/moore-reserves-no-22-tcu-whip-iowa-state-ncaaw-big-12Natalie Iacopetti2018-01-18T02:51:03-05:002018-01-18T02:51:03-05:00Baylor beats down Iowa State
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<p><em>Right from the opening tip, No. 4 Baylor went to work on Iowa State and never took its foot off the gas pedal after leading 19-2 after the first. Kalani Brown and Lauren Cox dominated in the blowout victory with almost more points than the Cyclones by themselves.</em></p> <p id="MeD965"><strong>Ames, Iowa — </strong><strong> </strong>For the second time this season, the Iowa State Cyclones couldn't figure out the No. 4 Baylor Lady Bears and their explosive duo of Kalani Brown and Lauren Cox.</p>
<p id="17vIoL">Brown and Cox nearly outscored the entire Iowa State team, combining for 46 points in a 79-50 rout of the Cyclones on Wednesday night.</p>
<p id="ut7yBt">The 13-game winning streak continues for the fourth-ranked Lady Bears (15-1, 6-0 Big 12) as they shot 53% from the court against the Cyclones (8-10, 2-5 Big 12).</p>
<p id="DUCC7p">Iowa State is ranked first in the Big 12 in three-pointers, but the first quarter of the game was not the Cyclones' best effort. Nothing was falling their way, as they ended the first quarter down 19-2. Iowa State shot a ghastly 6% from the floor in that quarter.</p>
<p id="FdUoQb">Iowa State came into the second quarter with a little more pep in their step. While the deficit was still there, the Cyclones shot the ball much better as they put up 17 points in the period, but the Lady Bears scored 21 of their own to hold a 40-19 lead at intermission. </p>
<p id="46oDAL">Iowa State only shot 18% the first two periods as compared to Baylor who his a blistering 60%.</p>
<p id="MVXWyb">Iowa State took charge in the third, making a spirited attempt at a comeback as Rae Johnson hit a corner three to boost the offense in the frame. Madison Wise followed in her teammates steps by adding a bucket after to the Cyclones score. </p>
<p id="bpsMMK">Even though Iowa State outscored the Lady Bears 17-14 in the quarter, it still wasn't enough to make a serious dent in their deficit, as they walked into the fourth quarter down 54-36.</p>
<p id="mMBmoY">Kalani Brown started off the fourth quarter hot for Baylor, hitting a hook layup down the middle. The rest of the quarter was a non-story, as the Lady Bears outscored Iowa State 25-14 the rest of the way, taking home the 79-50 victory.</p>
<p id="hD9MSf">Bridget Carleton led Iowa State with 24 points. She started the game off cold, but once she received energy from the crowd, she broke out of her slump to hit three 3-pointers in the second half.</p>
<p id="nIig7m">Baylor's Lauren Cox praised Carleton's ability to capture the essence of the crowd and metabolize it on the court.</p>
<p id="rf2gvJ">"She's a great player," Cox said of Carleton.</p>
<p id="kMW3Jn">The Lady Bears just truly played their game as a the No. 4 ranked team, as Iowa State just could not get their three-point advantage to spread. Iowa State head coach Bill Fennelly talked about how the first quarter basically set the tone for the remainder of the game.</p>
<p id="uIKoe2">"I don't care who you play against, that's going to put you in a hole," Fennelly said after the game. "And when you're playing a great team like Baylor, that's going to put you in a huge hole."</p>
<p id="bka0TP">Brown and Cox were unstoppable for Baylor as Iowa State had no answer for them. Brown dropped a team-high 25 points, one block, nine rebounds, and four assists while her post partner Cox also had a monster game with 21 points, 15 rebounds, four assists, and nine blocks. </p>
<p id="gmaBDG">Iowa State will continue conference play against #17 West Virginia this Sunday and Baylor will take on Kansas State on Saturday. </p>
<p id="WrB6vJ"> </p>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/SwishAppeal/videos/10155503239883229/"></a><p></p>Posted by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SwishAppeal/">Swish Appeal</a> on Wednesday, January 17, 2018</blockquote></div>
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https://www.swishappeal.com/ncaa/2018/1/18/16904400/no-4-baylor-post-duo-brown-cox-destroys-iowa-state-ncaaw-big-12Natalie Iacopetti2018-01-12T22:19:40-05:002018-01-12T22:19:40-05:00January woes continue for Xavier
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<p><em>Xavier was seeking a much-needed win Friday afternoon on the road at DePaul. Unfortunately, after a slow start, the Blue Demons quickly left the Musketeers in the rear-view mirror.</em></p> <p id="pb9HHt"><strong>Chicago, IL — </strong>The Xavier Musketeers were looking for their first signature of the season.</p>
<p id="VHtdyh">The DePaul Blue Demons were having none of it. Behind a monster game from junior Mart'e Grays, the Blue Demons hushed the Musketeers 79-48 on Friday night.</p>
<p id="909gkW">Xavier came into Friday's game on a four-game losing streak, while DePaul, on the other hand, was going into Wintrust Arena with a two-game winning streak.</p>
<p id="xZlJ2P">The Musketeers, with six freshman playing heavy minutes, were not very aggressive in the first quarter as they had two shot clock violations. In contrast, the Blue Demons tore up the court, finishing the first quarter up 16-9, partially due to their aggressiveness on the boards. </p>
<p id="cdph9p">DePaul’s craving for offensive boards led them to 14 offensive rebounds for the game (14 second-chance points). The Blue Demon defense was air-tight as well, pulling down 30 defensive rebounds for a total of 44 overall.</p>
<p id="Mq7Lkx">“I think our pressure definitely helped us, our defense led to break away layups and open shots," DePaul guard Kelly Campbell said after the game.</p>
<p id="MGrvMj">Led by a balanced offensive attack, DePaul owned the second quarter as well, leaving the first half up 34-24. Grays, who had five straight games in double-figure points, made it six in the first half alone, with 12 at halftime.</p>
<p id="AJiUD3">Only down by ten at halftime, Xavier was ready to come back fighting after coming out of the locker room. But DePaul, ready to put the game out of reach, came out of the locker room determined to extend the lead. A 16-3 run, accentuated by back-to-back threes from Campbell and Grays, put DePaul up 50-39, a lead that would not be extinguished. </p>
<p id="kV2kfw">DePaul head coach Doug Bruno was beyond impressed with the effort he saw on the floor.</p>
<p id="J5ov9d">“I thought we were really focused tonight," Bruno said.</p>
<p id="q441H3">Trying to beat DePaul's full-court press, Xavier could only pass by it with tough and quick passes, which they realized during the third quarter -- which was too late. For the game as a whole, Xavier scored ZERO fast break points, which DePaul's Campbell credits to a focus on defense.</p>
<p id="1LWbqs">“Defense has been a big emphasis for us in these past couple games," Campbell said.</p>
<p id="0Iy0VR">As the fourth quarter started with a score of 61-35, Xavier went on a cold streak. With five minutes left, the Musketeers were 0-for-5 in the quarter. With DePaul's Vinisha Sherrod making back-to-back threes late in the game, Xavier knew it was out of reach, taking out all their starters.</p>
<p id="hnFHo0">The Xavier Musketeers could not handle DePaul’s tough double team pressure and full court press, committing 19 turnovers (13 in the second half), with DePaul scoring 17 points off those turnovers.</p>
<p id="oq8JJm">DePaul got their fifth consecutive Big East win tonight, and will go for a sixth when they face the Butler Bulldogs on Jan. 14 back in the Wintrust Arena in Chicago.</p>
<p id="1IBIzO">With the loss, Xavier now trails the all-time series 15-1, with their lone win coming in in 1984 (82-72).</p>
<p id="rHuMBS">Xavier will look to erase Friday night's game from memory when take on Marquette in Wisconsin on Sunday at 3 pm.</p>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/SwishAppeal/videos/10155490596558229/"></a><p></p>Posted by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SwishAppeal/">Swish Appeal</a> on Friday, January 12, 2018</blockquote></div>
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https://www.swishappeal.com/2018/1/12/16886410/xavier-downward-spiral-depaul-31-point-bashing-ncaaw-big-eastNatalie Iacopetti