arizona Women’s Basketball Falls to Iowa State Amidst Foul Trouble, Gears Up for Rivalry Matchup
Arizona Women’s Basketball faced a challenging afternoon in Ames, Iowa, succumbing to a 90—65 defeat against Iowa State on Friday, a game significantly impacted by extensive foul trouble. The Wildcats, who were led by Noelani CornfieldS 19 points, will look to rebound next week against their in-state rivals.
Arizona’s contest was marred by an unusual number of fouls, ultimately seeing five players – Molly Ladwig, Kamryn Kitchen, Achol Magot, Nora Francois, and Noelani Cornfield – foul out of the game. This left the team playing the final 2:40 with only four available players, severely hindering their ability to compete effectively down the stretch.Iowa State capitalized on Arizona’s depleted roster, extending their lead in the fourth quarter.
Despite the adversity,the Wildcats demonstrated resilience,with three players reaching double-figure scoring. Noelani Cornfield led the charge with a team-high 19 points,while Sumayah sugapong contributed 13 points,extending her streak of double-digit performances to five consecutive games. Nora Francois proved dominant on the boards,securing eight rebounds for Arizona,and Cornfield also showcased her all-around game with five assists.
A luminous spot for Arizona was the performance of Molly Ladwig, who earned a starting position and delivered a career-high 10 points, providing a valuable offensive spark.
The Wildcats demonstrated renewed energy after halftime, narrowly outscoring Iowa State 23—22 in the third quarter. This surge was fueled by improved ball movement and increased defensive pressure. However,arizona was unable to maintain this momentum in the fourth quarter as the mounting foul trouble and the Cyclones’ late-game execution proved too much to overcome.
Looking ahead, Arizona will travel to face its in-state rival, Arizona State, next Wednesday, January 28th, with tip-off scheduled for 6:30 MST. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and available on 1400 AM radio.
