DES MOINES — Taylor McAulay’s career game coupled with a fast start carried the Drake women’s basketball team to an 85-73 victory over Iowa State on Sunday at the Knapp Center.

In the first of two straight in-state rivalry games for the Bulldogs, Drake (3-0) raced to a 20-point lead in the first half, then fought off the Cyclones after they stormed back to take a brief lead in the fourth quarter.

McAulay topped her previous career best of 14 points with 16 in the first half and finished with 27, one of three Drake players to score at least 20. The junior left-hander shot 9-of-14 from the field, making a career-best six 3-pointers.

Grace Berg added 22 points while Katie Dinnebier tallied 20 points, seven assists and a career-high six steals.

Audi Crooks led the Cyclones with 23 points in 19 minutes off the bench. Hannah Belanger totaled 11 points for Iowa State (1-1).

Cyclone men clobber Idaho State

AMES — Tre King and Keshon Gilbert scored 16 points each and the Iowa State men’s basketball team defeated Idaho State 86-55 on Sunday.

The Cyclones (3-0) led 44-25 at halftime and kept up the pace in the second half.

Curtis Jones scored 14 points off the bench and Milan Momcilovic added 11 points for the Cyclones.

Maleek Arington led Idaho State (1-2) with 15 points and Miguel Tomley added 11. They were the only two starters with more than six points.

Iowa State had 17 steals and 15 assists.

Iowa men handle Alabama State 98-67

IOWA CITY — Patrick McCaffery scored 22 points and Payton Sandfort added 17 points and 12 rebounds to help Iowa beat Alabama State 98-67 Friday night.

Sandfort made three 3-pointers — including a four-point play — and scored 12 points in the final 2:32 of the first half as the Hawkeyes used a 9-0 run over the last 90 seconds to take a 49-37 lead into intermission. Alabama State trailed by double figures the rest of the way. Alabama State guard CJ Hines made two free throws to open the second-half scoring but Iowa scored 17 of the next 21 points to take control for good.

The Hawkeyes (2-0) had 27 assists on 33 made field goals and scored 20 points off 16 Alabama State turnovers.

Antonio ‘TJ’ Madlock scored 15 of his 23 points in the second half for the Hornets (0-2). Hines finished with 15 points and five assists and Jasteven Walker added 13 points, nine rebounds and two blocks.

Iowa hits the road to take on No. 8 Creighton on Tuesday.