DURHAM, N.C. (AP) -- Kate Oliver scored 16 points and Marist held on after blowing much of a 20-point lead to beat Iowa State 74-64 on Saturday in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
Brandy Gang added 13 points as the 10th-seeded Red Foxes (31-2) won their 27th straight game and their NCAA opener for the first time in three years.
Marist used a 25-4 run to build its big lead late in the first half, then came up with a couple of timely baskets after the seventh-seeded Cyclones (22-11) pulled within six with 4½ minutes left in the game.
First came a layup from Oliver that pushed the lead to 62-54 at the 4-minute mark. Elise Caron then took a pass from Erica Allenspach and launched a 3-pointer that swished through as the shot clock expired for a 67-56 lead with 2:51 remaining.
Anna Prins had 25 points to lead Iowa State, which shot just 35 percent.
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