The Iowa State women’s basketball team opens their season on Thursday, with an exhibition matchup against the Falcons of Wisconsin-River Falls. The Cyclones come into Thursday’s opener ranked 12th in the the preseason AP Poll.
Bill Fennelly enters season 27 with one of the most talented squads in his tenure at Iowa State. The Cyclones are lead on the court by reigning Cheryl Miller Award winner Ashley Joens, who averaged 24.2 points per game in 2020, a new Iowa State record. Lexi Donarski will look to build off a Big 12 Freshman of the Year campaign, as she averaged 13 points per game as a freshman. Joens and Donarski were named preseason 1st-team All-Big 12. Sophomore point guard Emily Ryan was named All-Big 12 Honorable Mention.
Wisconsin-River Falls is members of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference at the Division III. The Falcons are coming off of a 2-7 campaign in 2020-21, with their season starting in February due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. The Falcons are returning their top two scorers from 2020-21 in guard Jenna Zeman and forward Macy Nilsen.
Tipoff is slated for 6:30 PM at Hilton Coliseum in Ames.