By Chris Williams, CycloneFanatic.com Publisher
Baylor was never in it. On Saturday afternoon in Hilton Coliseum, Bill Fennelly’s Cyclones went 16-of-33 from 3-point range to rout the 11th-ranked Bears, 69-45.
The Cyclones jumped out early to hit 10 threes in the first half and never looked back. To see what head coach Bill Fennelly had to say about the win after the game, click on our CycloneFanatic.com YouTube video above.
Breaking down this game is really pretty simple. This game was an exact representation as to what the season has been like up until now.
This Iowa State women’s basketball program is a lot of things, but none more than a group that perfectly defines the word team. Look up and down at today’s box score and you’ll see. It is a roster full of role players, plus one very wise point guard. In the game of basketball, that is an awfully positive situation.
They all have their own roles, and they know it. Let’s investigate.
Alison Lacey is the leader. She only scored 11 points today, but here 10 assists were monumental. She’s now five assists away from hitting the number 500.
Then, you have your three freshmen post players, Anna Prins, Amanda Zimmerman and Chelsea Poppens. Poppens was 0-for-6 from the field today, yet she still recorded a team-high 14 rebounds. Not helping the team win by scoring the ball? No problem. Go rebound Chelsea.
The other two young posts led the team in scoring. Zimmerman had 15 while Prins recorded 13. Those two also combined for six 3-pointers. That is tough to defend.
Denae Stuckey is the Energizer Bunny. She does more for her team without scoring a point than any player I’ve ever seen.
Whitney Williams? She’s the gunslinger who comes off the bench. Williams was 3-of-4 from 3-point range today.
It seems like Kelsey Bolte hits every 3-pointer that she takes. Bolte had 14 today. She’s like Iowa State’s Dan Majerle, except a lot more active and better on defense.
Superstars are nowhere to be found in this Cyclone roster. They are a complete and total team. Period.
Sure, Lacey is the headliner. She’s the senior, who is also one of the top players in America. But there is nothing flashy about her at all. When she speaks, her teammates and coach listen.
Watching this year’s Iowa State women’s basketball team play is a refreshing reminder as to what a cohesive unit looks like.
Other notes:
– With the victory, Iowa State snapped a six-game losing streak to Baylor.
– Iowa State’s school-record for 3-pointers in a game is 18. The Cyclones fell just two shy of that today.
– Amanda Zimmerman’s 15 point performance was a career-high.
– The Cyclones won their fourth-straight game against the Big 12 South.
– Iowa State has now beaten three straight teams in the Top 25.
