The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – Members of the Iowa State women’s basketball team continue to pop up on preseason awards list, with Lexi Donarski and Ashley Joens both being named to the John R. Wooden Award Women’s Preseason Top 50 Watch List, announced on Tuesday. The Cyclones were one of 13 programs to feature multiple student-athletes on the initial watch list.
For Joens, this adds to an already lengthy preseason awards slate, which includes the AP Preseason All-America Team, Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year, All-Big 12 Preseason Team, the watch list for the Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy and Cheryl Miller Award. Joens is a familiar name around the Wooden Award, making it to last season’s Wooden Award National Ballot, the final list of 15 candidates who were eligible to be voted for.
Thru two games, Joens leads Iowa State with her 21.5 points and 12.5 rebounds per game, posting double-doubles in each of the Cyclones’ victories.ADVERTISING
Donarski makes her first career National Player of the Year watch list, and adds it to her All-Big 12 Preseason Team accolade. The 2021-22 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year is second on ISU with 16 points per game, scoring a game-high 21 en route to helping guide the Cyclones to a 79-55 win over Southern last Thursday.
Donarski, Joens and the Cyclones return to action on Wednesday at UNI. Tip will be at 6 p.m. on ESPN+.
