WBB: *** #20 Iowa State vs. USC Upstate Game Thread - Tuesday 6:30 ESPN+ ****

[BoxsterCy]

Who: No. 20 Iowa State (6-2, 0-0 Big 12) vs. USC Upstate (2-7, 0-0 Big South)
Where: Hilton Coliseum – Ames, Iowa
When: Tuesday, December 3, 2024 – 6:30 p.m. CT

The Links
WATCH: ESPN+
PxP: Larry Morgan Analyst: Chelsea Poppens Sideline: Marijke Mendeszoon
LISTEN: Cyclone Radio Network – Varsity App or Radio Affiliates
PxP: Noah Wolf Analyst: Jamie Steyer Johnson
LIVE STATS
IOWA STATE GAME NOTES

 

[BoxsterCy]

Likely a "nothing to see here" sort of game. After ISU they play KSU and later at Drake.

Maybe Lily H. and Lilly T. can get some minutes and get something going. Can't really think of much else of interest for this game other than just playing well and moving on.

Spartan starters:

Jeni Levine 5'-6" JR
Rebekah Gordon 6'-1" SR
Gracie Barnes 5'-9" Soph
Cassie Gallagher 5'-11" R-FR
AC Markham 5"-10" SR

 

[mred]

Likely a "nothing to see here" sort of game. After ISU they play KSU and later at Drake.

Maybe Lily H. and Lilly T. can get some minutes and get something going. Can't really think of much else of interest for this game other than just playing well and moving on.

Spartan starters:

Jeni Levine 5'-6" JR
Rebekah Gordon 6'-1" SR
Gracie Barnes 5'-9" Soph
Cassie Gallagher 5'-11" R-FR
AC Markham 5"-10" SR

Hopefully ramp up some minutes for Reagan as well.

 

[BoxsterCy]

Hopefully ramp up some minutes for Reagan as well.

At some point I'd think we settle on some sort of more limited rotation. Not sure our style lends itself to playing ten players at least 10 minutes a game like we have to start things off. Not like we have to rotate players in and out because we are going full court defense on every possession or looking for a spark from a failing starting five. Some of the combinations look a bit lost on the court at times.

 

[mred]

USC Upstate:

• Does have one 6'4" player -- freshman Madison Miller -- but she is the only person on their 16-player roster who has yet to see action this season. I'm guessing she's been injured, but USC-Upstate news is a little hard to find. She's on the roster and listed in the game notes, and she was definitely a decent player in high school.
• Beyond that, they have two 6'2" players who come off the bench as well as their 6'1" starter, so they do have a little height.
• They are out-rebounding opponents overall this season, and they are a competent three-point-shooting team at around 34%.
• On the flip side, they are shooting only 37% overall and averaging 21 turnovers per game.
• They have a variety of decent players with no obvious #1 option, but Gordon, Gallagher, and Levine seem to be the foundation.

Bottom line: they are currently 2-7 with a #339 NET. One win was Clinton College of the NCCAA. The only NCAA Div I win was an 8-point win @ #359 South Carolina State (for reference, Chicago State is #358). Losses include a 7-point home loss to #346 Queens and a 2-point home loss to #252 Morehead State.

 

[acoustimac]

Def shouldn’t be a challenge. Like Boxter I think this will be a good opportunity to play some people. Hansford has to make a shot at some point. Hopefully several. Start working Wilson to make up for lost time. Same with Lily T. This is where players like Joens and Harris can show their stuff. If the starters are in much in the second half it’s not a good thing.

 

[ESciGuy]

Seeing tonight's opponent, I can't help but think of this:

 

[Ms3r4ISU]

All five of our starters have scored! First time out we’re up 12-3.

 

[Ms3r4ISU]

Make that our first 8 players in have all scored, including Kelsey J.

 

[swclone11]

Now ten have scored lol

 

[BoxsterCy]

Hansford might finally score. Spartans are playing no defense and all of our three looks are wide open shots.

 

[mred]

48-13 at half. Our shooting could be better, but overall we're playing very well.

 

[Ms3r4ISU]

I like seeing the different combinations of players, and most work pretty well together.

 

[BoxsterCy]

48-13 at half. Our shooting could be better, but overall we're playing very well.

Hot 54% from field and 50% from three in 1st quarter. Not so hot 26% and 12% in the 2nd.

Not that it mattered with Upstate scoring 2 points in the 2nd.

 

[Ms3r4ISU]

Lily H needs to score!

 

[ClonesMagic1]

The lid is off for Lily Hansford!!!!

 

[swclone11]

Not much to learn from this one since this could be one of the worst teams we play this year, but honestly feels rare that we truly blow one of these out - by 50 or more. 30 or more, yeah that happens, but still cool. I thought we saw some really nice things from our non-starters. Taulelei seems like a really nice add, may not be as talented as Bristow from last year, but seems consistent and has room to grow.

 

[geewago]

I guess we found out that (South Carolina in state) is quite a bit better than (South Carolina up state).

 

[mred]

Nobody played less than 11 minutes or more than 20. Everybody scored, including Hansford knocking the lid off the basket. Only 6 turnovers. Nobody got hurt.

You can always nitpick, but this game went about as well as could be expected.

 

[MuskMisk]

I am glad a few players were hitting 3s and Lily H got her first bucket of the year. Hopefully this will build good things for the team, some tough games in their future.