Iowa State Cyclones
Overall Rank: #21
Conference Rank: #4 Big 12
Iowa State Team Page
A pretty experienced squad returns to the floor in 2012-13 for the Cyclones and veteran Head Coach Bill Fennelly. Iowa State traditionally is one of the best supported women’s basketball programs in the country and arguably one of the more consistent nationally in regard to being a top 25 caliber squad. With Chelsea Poppens leading the way, the Cyclones look to build on a tough 2011 and threaten the likes of Baylor and Oklahoma for overall supremacy in the always difficult Big 12 conference. One of the toughest in women’s college basketball.
2011-12 Record: 18-13, 9-9
2011-12 Postseason: NCAA
Coach: Bill Fennelly
Coach Record: 372-183 at Iowa State, 538-226 overall
Strengths:
It starts with senior Chelsea Poppens at the forward position. Poppens has an excellent all-around game as she led Iowa State in scoring in 2011-12 with a 14.2 point per game scoring average. She was also a force on the boards with an average of 10.6 rebounds per contest, including 132 offensive rebounds. Hallie Christofferson and Nikki Moody bring more valuable scoring versatility and playmaking to the Cyclone offense. Christofferson is an ace from behind the three point arc as she hit nearly 39 percent of her shots. Moody is the leading assist returner for Iowa State as she had 133 assists in her freshman season.
Weaknesses:
The lack of numbers in the post outside of Anna Prins and freshman Madison Baier could cause problems, especially if teams can get Prins and Baier in foul trouble by attacking the post. That is going put a lot of extra pressure on the Cyclone perimeter players to defend at a high level and also to carry the offensive load in 2012-13 for Coach Fennelly. It also is going to be very important to generate whatever scoring they can from Prins by taking advantage of her 6-7 height. She should be able to stand in reasonably well against the likes of Brittney Griner of Baylor and the post players of Oklahoma and West Virginia.
Final Projection:
There is plenty of experience back in Ames this season with three double-figure scorers back in the starting lineup for Coach Fennelly. The non-conference schedule should be conducive to building up some confidence heading into conference play as a road trip to play in-state rival Iowa is arguably the stiffest test in the non-conference schedule. Some of the key conference battles for the Cyclones include January 23rd when defending national champion Baylor comes to Ames. This could be a great opportunity for Iowa State to make a huge statement nationally as to where they stand. If Iowa State can hold its own down in the post and Poppens has another stellar season in 2012, the Cyclones should safely be in the elite of the Big 12. And they should be primed to make a deeper run in the NCAA Tournament avoiding a first round exit like they had last season against Wisconsin Green-Bay.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NCAA
Projected Starting Five:
Brynn Williamson, Sophomore, Guard/Forward, 6.0 points per game
Nikki Moody, Sophomore, Guard, 10.0 points per game
Hallie Christofferson, Junior, Forward, 10.2 points per game
Chelsea Poppens, Senior, Forward, 14.2 points per game
Anna Prins, Senior, Center, 7.9 points per game
Madness 2013 WNBA Draft Rankings:
#5 Chelsea Poppens
Madness 2012 Women’s Basketball Recruit Rankings:
#99 Emiah Bingley
