Inès Nezerwa

AMES — The Iowa State women’s basketball team never trailed in a 71-53 victory over New Orleans on Sunday afternoon at Hilton Coliseum.

The Cyclones (5-1) shot 44 percent from the field and forced the Privateers (2-5) into 22 turnovers they converted into 23 points.

ISU sophomore Ashley Joens continued her hot play of late with game-highs of 24 points, seven rebounds and six steals. Inès Nezerwa tallied a career-high 21 points with four blocked shots to help the Cyclones command a 34-18 advantage in the paint, and Rae Johnson made four of the team’s six 3-pointers to score 12 points.

Kayla Thomas was the only New Orleans player to reach double-digit scoring, netting 11 points off the bench.

Iowa State goes on the road for its next game, visiting Alabama for Thursday’s 5 p.m. game as a part of the Big 12/SEC Challenge.

IOWA ST. 71, NEW ORLEANS 53

At Ames

NEW ORLEANS (2-5) — Larry 0-1 0-0 0, Woods 1-3 0-0 2, Bruce 0-1 0-0 0, Franklin 1-5 1-1 3, Pimpton 0-0 0-0 0, Malone 1-2 0-0 2, Kay. Thomas 4-8 1-2 11, Brisco 3-6 0-0 6, Deck 2-9 1-2 6, Delgado 2-6 0-0 5, Duncantell 2-5 0-0 5, Jordan 3-7 2-2 9, Dio. Thomas 2-6 0-0 4. TOTALS 21-59 5-7 53.

IOWA ST. (5-1) — Nezerwa 8-11 5-6 21, Scott 1-8 0-0 2, Espenmiller-McGraw 1-6 0-0 2, Joens 9-17 6-6 24, Johnson 4-7 0-0 12, Kane 0-2 3-4 3, Camber 0-1 0-0 0, Frederick 0-1 0-0 0, Thurmon 2-3 1-4 7, Washington 0-1 0-0 0. TOTALS 25-57 15-20 71.

New Orleans 15 8 18 12 — 53

Iowa St. 22 20 15 14 — 71

3-Point Goals–New Orleans 6-23 (Bruce 0-1, Franklin 0-2, Malone 0-1, Kay. Thomas 2-2, Deck 1-7, Delgado 1-3, Duncantell 1-3, Jordan 1-3, Dio. Thomas 0-1), Iowa St. 6-23 (Nezerwa 0-1, Scott 0-4, Espenmiller-McGraw 0-3, Joens 0-4, Johnson 4-7, Camber 0-1, Thurmon 2-2, Washington 0-1). Assists–New Orleans 10 (Dio. Thomas 3), Iowa St. 17 (Espenmiller-McGraw 8). Fouled Out–None. Rebounds–New Orleans 36 (Duncantell 7), Iowa St. 38 (Joens 7). Total Fouls–New Orleans 22, Iowa St. 12. A–9,266.