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New Cyclones play a lot like old Cyclones
By Bobby La Gesse
Date Posted: 2009-11-17
The Iowa State women’s basketball team hung the banner to commemorate last year’s Elite Eight team on Sunday.
By the way, the Cyclones and their revamped lineup played Sunday, fans may have thought the Elite Eight team was back on the court. No. 24 ISU used a strong defensive effort and a second half offensive surge to make easy work of Florida Atlantic 80-40.
“I just asked them to give us the kind of effort that that team would have expected, and I think we did that,” Fennelly said.
It started on the defensive end for the Cyclones (1-0), who lost eight players from last season’s squad. ISU held the Owls (0-1) to 27.5 percent shooting for the game. The Cyclones made it a point to keep Florida Atlantic guards Andrea Taylor and Lyrell Barfield from getting open looks.
The duo combined for only eight points.
“Going through practice, you never know how we are going to come out, especially having young people never having to follow a scouting report, especially how much we emphasize it at Iowa State,” guard Alison Lacey said. “That is why I’m nervous about it, but they did great.”
After a slow start, the ISU offense got going by getting the ball to freshmen Anna Prins (20 points) and Chelsea Poppens (17 points). But Prins did more than score on the block. She also hit three 3-pointers.
“I take it as it comes I guess,” Prins said. “I wasn’t expecting to get that many open looks, but that’s the great thing about basketball. You take it when it’s open.”
Fennelly liked the way Lacey (11 points, nine assists, zero turnovers) ran the offense. The Cyclones shot 62.5 percent in the second half and 51.9 percent for the game.
ISU had to play a five-guard lineup twice in the first half as Poppens sat with two fouls. The Cyclones only have two healthy forwards. They had practiced an all-guard look for 5 minutes in practice just in case a situation like Sunday’s arose.
Fennelly said the Cyclones will likely start only one forward in the future. Both Poppens and Prins started the game, but only Prins started the second half.
Fennelly believes both Prins and Poppens should be starting but added that it’s best for the team if they both rotate playing one of the forward spots until either Amanda Zimmerman (ankle) or Genesis Lightbourne (knee surgery) return.
“We decided in the second half we were going to keep subbing Pop and Anna for each other,” Fennelly said. “Our worst fear is Pop getting those fouls early. They both deserve to start, obviously, and they are going to be good players, but we have to figure out a way to manage the game most importantly.”
Injury update
Guard Anna Florzak didn’t dress for Sunday’s game. Neither did Lightbourne or Zimmerman. Florzak, who wore a walking boot on her left leg, is dealing with an Achilles problem. Fennelly doesn’t expect them to play at Drake on Nov. 22.
Prins earns Big 12 honor
On the heels of her 20-point performance in the season opener, Prins was named the Big 12 Freshman of the Week on Monday.
“For Anna to be named Big 12 Freshman of the Week is a special way to begin her career at Iowa State,” Fennelly said in a statement.
Bobby La Gesse can be reached at (515) 663-6929 or rlagesse@amestrib.com.
By Bobby La Gesse
Date Posted: 2009-11-17
Iowa State forward Chelsea Poppens had 17 points as the Cyclones defeated Florida Atlantic 80-40 on Sunday.
Tribune photo by Ronnie Miller
Tribune photo by Ronnie Miller
The Iowa State women’s basketball team hung the banner to commemorate last year’s Elite Eight team on Sunday.
By the way, the Cyclones and their revamped lineup played Sunday, fans may have thought the Elite Eight team was back on the court. No. 24 ISU used a strong defensive effort and a second half offensive surge to make easy work of Florida Atlantic 80-40.
“I just asked them to give us the kind of effort that that team would have expected, and I think we did that,” Fennelly said.
It started on the defensive end for the Cyclones (1-0), who lost eight players from last season’s squad. ISU held the Owls (0-1) to 27.5 percent shooting for the game. The Cyclones made it a point to keep Florida Atlantic guards Andrea Taylor and Lyrell Barfield from getting open looks.
The duo combined for only eight points.
“Going through practice, you never know how we are going to come out, especially having young people never having to follow a scouting report, especially how much we emphasize it at Iowa State,” guard Alison Lacey said. “That is why I’m nervous about it, but they did great.”
After a slow start, the ISU offense got going by getting the ball to freshmen Anna Prins (20 points) and Chelsea Poppens (17 points). But Prins did more than score on the block. She also hit three 3-pointers.
“I take it as it comes I guess,” Prins said. “I wasn’t expecting to get that many open looks, but that’s the great thing about basketball. You take it when it’s open.”
Fennelly liked the way Lacey (11 points, nine assists, zero turnovers) ran the offense. The Cyclones shot 62.5 percent in the second half and 51.9 percent for the game.
ISU had to play a five-guard lineup twice in the first half as Poppens sat with two fouls. The Cyclones only have two healthy forwards. They had practiced an all-guard look for 5 minutes in practice just in case a situation like Sunday’s arose.
Fennelly said the Cyclones will likely start only one forward in the future. Both Poppens and Prins started the game, but only Prins started the second half.
Fennelly believes both Prins and Poppens should be starting but added that it’s best for the team if they both rotate playing one of the forward spots until either Amanda Zimmerman (ankle) or Genesis Lightbourne (knee surgery) return.
“We decided in the second half we were going to keep subbing Pop and Anna for each other,” Fennelly said. “Our worst fear is Pop getting those fouls early. They both deserve to start, obviously, and they are going to be good players, but we have to figure out a way to manage the game most importantly.”
Injury update
Guard Anna Florzak didn’t dress for Sunday’s game. Neither did Lightbourne or Zimmerman. Florzak, who wore a walking boot on her left leg, is dealing with an Achilles problem. Fennelly doesn’t expect them to play at Drake on Nov. 22.
Prins earns Big 12 honor
On the heels of her 20-point performance in the season opener, Prins was named the Big 12 Freshman of the Week on Monday.
“For Anna to be named Big 12 Freshman of the Week is a special way to begin her career at Iowa State,” Fennelly said in a statement.
Bobby La Gesse can be reached at (515) 663-6929 or rlagesse@amestrib.com.
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