FORT MYERS, Fla. (Interstat) — The Iowa State women’s basketball team used a dominant first-half performance to remain undefeated, fending off a late challenge from Marquette to secure an 84-73 victory on Friday at Alico Arena.

The Cyclones, improving to 8-0, built a commanding 47-35 halftime lead by shooting efficiently and controlling the paint, a cushion they would need as the Golden Eagles mounted a persistent second-half comeback that ultimately fell short. Marquette’s record moved to 4-2 with the loss.

Iowa State set the tone early, opening the game on a 15-5 run. The Cyclones’ offense was fluid and multifaceted, closing the first quarter with a 23-18 lead and extending it significantly in the second period. A key sequence late in the first half saw Arianna Jackson sink a three-pointer off an assist from Jada Williams, pushing the Iowa State advantage to 47-35 heading into the break.

Jada Williams, a 5-foot-8 guard from Kansas City, Missouri, was instrumental in the victory, posting a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds in 27 minutes of action. She was complemented by a balanced scoring attack from her teammates.

Addy Brown, a 6-foot-2 forward from Derby, Kansas, stuffed the stat sheet with 18 points, six assists and three blocks. Center Audi Crooks, standing 6-foot-3 from Algona, Iowa, matched Brown’s scoring output with 18 points of her own, adding six rebounds. Sydney Harris provided a crucial spark off the bench, contributing 13 points, including a pair of critical free throws in the fourth quarter that helped stifle Marquette’s final push.

For Marquette, the effort was led by Jaidynn Mason. The 5-foot-9 guard, also hailing from Kansas City, Missouri, scored a team-high 17 points. Skylar Forbes, a 6-foot-3 forward from Markham, Canada, added 13 points and three blocks in a team-high 33 minutes, while Halle Vice of Bettendorf, Iowa, chipped in nine points and five rebounds.

The Golden Eagles refused to capitulate after the intermission, consistently chipping away at the deficit throughout the second half. They outscored Iowa State 21-14 in the final quarter, cutting the lead to single digits on multiple occasions. A three-pointer from Mason with 8:01 remaining brought Marquette within 72-69, marking the closest they had been since the opening minutes.

Each time Marquette threatened, however, Iowa State had an answer. After Mason’s three, the Cyclones responded with free throws from Sydney Harris. When Marquette’s Olivia Porter scored on consecutive drives to make it 76-73, Iowa State’s Addy Brown found Mackenzie Hare for a clutch three-pointer, pushing the lead back to six with 3:59 left. Crooks then sealed the game with a layup, giving the Cyclones an 84-73 lead with just over three minutes to play, a margin Marquette could not overcome in the final stretch.

The game was part of a multi-team event at Florida Gulf Coast University, with an announced attendance of 553. Iowa State will look to continue its perfect start when it hosts Northern Illinois on Dec. 7. Marquette, meanwhile, must regroup quickly as it travels to face Gonzaga on Sunday.