Joens named Cheryl Miller Award finalist — again

Iowa State Cyclones guard/forward Ashley Joens (24) takes a three-point shot over Baylor Bears guard/forward Darianna Littlepage-Buggs (5) during the second quarter at Hilton Coliseum Thursday, Nov.10, 2022, in Ames, Iowa.

The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletic Communications.

AMES, Iowa – The run for Ashley Joens to three-peat as Cheryl Miller Award winner has reached its final stage, as the Iowa State star was named one of five finalists for the prize given to women’s college basketball’s best small forward, the Basketball Hall of Fame announced on Wednesday.

The other finalists are Rickea Jackson of Tennessee, Haley Jones of Stanford, Gianna Kneepkens of Utah and Madi Williams of Oklahoma.

Joens has once again been outstanding for Iowa State this season, leading the Big 12 and ranking 17th in the country with her 20.5 points per game. She has saved some of her best basketball for the end of the season, as she has scored at least 20 in each of Iowa State’s last four games. Joens continues to be one of the best rebounders around as well, ranking fourth in the Big 12 with her 9.2 rebounds per game, which she has helped convert into 11 double-doubles.

Joens’ many individual milestones continue to pile up, as she is just two games played away from setting a new Big 12 record in that category and is only 98 points away from becoming the 14th player in NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball history to reach 3,000 career points.

Fan voting for the Cheryl Miller Award will begin on Friday on hoophallawards.com. The fan vote will count as one committee vote during the final selection process.

Joens and No. 23 Iowa State are in action tonight at Kansas. Tip will be at 7 p.m. on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.

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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