Nenadic Leads Way as VU Women’s Basketball Battles #16/18 Iowa State
Valpo women’s basketball redshirt junior Milana Nenadic (Kitchener, Ontario/Cameron Heights [Idaho State/Maine]) enjoyed easily the most prolific game of her collegiate career, exploding for 20 points to lead the Beacons on Wednesday as they dropped a 97-50 decision at #16/18 Iowa State.
How It Happened
– Matched up against Iowa State All-American post Audi Crooks, Nenadic went right at her early on, scoring eight points in the first four-plus minutes to help Valpo to a 10-8 lead.
– The Cyclones closed the final 5:26 of the opening period on an 8-0 run to lead 16-10 with 10 minutes elapsed.
– Iowa State pushed its lead to double figures for the first time three minutes into the second quarter, but on back-to-back possessions, Kylie Waytashek (Royalton, Minn./Royalton) and Mor Shabtai (Tel Aviv, Israel/Tichonet) drilled 3-pointers to bring the Beacons back within 24-18 with 6:10 to play in the half.
– The Cyclones limited Valpo to just four points the remainder of the half, reeling off a 19-4 run to close the half as the Beacons trailed 43-22 at halftime.
– Nenadic had eight points as Valpo out-scored Iowa State 17-11 over the first 6:50 of the second half to bring its deficit down to 54-39.
– The Cyclones once again closed the quarter on a run, this time a 13-3 run to push their lead back out to 67-42 with 10 minutes to play, and then scored the first six of the fourth quarter en route to the win.
Inside the Game
– Wednesday’s game was the 49th time in program history Valpo has faced a nationally-ranked team and the eighth time it has played a current Big 12 program.
– Nenadic more than doubled her previous collegiate scoring output with her 20-point night, which included the first 3-pointer of her career. Making her first collegiate start, the junior also matched her career high with six rebounds and set a new best with a pair of steals.
– Shabtai tied her career best in the scoring column, dropping eight points for the second time this season. She also handed out four assists, just one off her career high, while not committing a turnover in 29 minutes of action.
– Kamryn Winch (Bonne Terre, Mo./North County [Maryville]) led all players with eight rebounds, while Autumn Dibb (Muskego, Wis./Muskego) came down with six boards.
– Valpo shot just 29% (18-of-62) from the floor and was 5-of-17 from 3-point range. Iowa State hit at a 53.4% clip (39-of-73) from the field, but the Beacons held the Cyclones to just 4-of-16 from the 3-point line.
– Crooks scored a school-record 43 points for the Cyclones, the first time Valpo has surrendered 40+ to an opposing player since 1991.
Next Up
Valpo (0-3) gets its home schedule underway Sunday afternoon as part of Back-to-Back Beacons day at the ARC, as the women host Milwaukee at 4 p.m.