Joens earns invite to USA women’s AmeriCup Team Trials

Ashley Joens looks for a pass against Kansas at Allen Fieldhouse. Photo Courtesy Kansas Athletics // Andy Eisch

The following is a press release courtesy of Iowa State Athletic Communications.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado – Iowa State women’s basketball’s Ashley Joens was one of 20 collegiate women’s basketball student-athletes invited to the 2021 USA Women’s AmeriCup Team trials.

The trials will take place from April 18-21 and will be held at the University of South Carolina. The invitations were handed out by the USA Basketball Women’s Junior National Team Committee and USA Women’s Senior National Team Committee.

Ten nations from North, South and Central America and the Caribbean will take part in the 2021 AmeriCup, held June 11-19 in Puerto Rico. The top four finishing teams will advance to compete in one of four 2022 FIBA World Cup Qualifying Tournaments in hopes of earning one of the 12 spots in the 2022 FIBA World Cup field. Australia, host of the 2022 World Cup, and the 2020 Olympic champion, earn automatic berths to the World Cup, but will be required to participate in the qualifying process.

USA National Team head coach Dawn Staley (South Carolina) will serve as head coach of the USA AmeriCup Team, and she will be assisted by University of Arizona head coach Adia Barnes and Jennifer Rizzotti, 2021 USA National Team assistant coach.

Joens has won two Gold medals with USA Basketball to date, at the 2018 FIBA Americas U18 Championship, where she served as the team captain, and also with the FIBA U19 World Cup.

Joens is fresh off one of the best seasons in Iowa State women’s basketball history. She set a new school record of 24.2 points per game, while finishing the season second in points scored (678), tied for seventh in rebounding average (9.5), fourth in free-throw percentage (.883), third in free-throws made (181), sixth in free throws attempted (205), fourth in field goals made (223), third in field goals attempted (482).

Joens’ 24.2 points per game, led the Big 12 conference and ranked fifth nationally. Her 46.3 percent from the field was also a career best. Joens also finishes the season as the NCAA leader in free throws made with 181.

Jared Stansbury

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Jared a native of Clarinda, Iowa, started as the Cyclone Fanatic intern in August 2013, primarily working as a videographer until starting on the women’s basketball beat prior to the 2014-15 season. Upon earning his Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Iowa State in May 2016, Jared was hired as the site’s full-time staff writer, taking over as the primary day-to-day reporter on football and men’s basketball. He was elevated to the position of managing editor in January 2020. He is a regular contributor on 1460 KXNO in Des Moines and makes regular guest appearances on radio stations across the Midwest. Jared resides in Ankeny with his four-year-old puggle, Lolo.

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