Completed Event: Women's Basketball versus UCF on January 31, 2026 , Win , 65, to, 52
Final
Women's Basketball
65
UCF
52
Iowa State University Athletics
Women's Basketball Signs Five for 2005-06
11.12.2004 | Women's Basketball
AMES, Iowa -- The Iowa State women's basketball program has signed five student-athletes for its 2005-06 recruiting class, head coach Bill Fennelly announced today. It is the largest recruiting class to sign in Fennelly's 10 years at ISU, replacing a senior class of five that will graduate this year.
"We knew heading into this recruiting period that it was critical to sign a great class, and I believe we did exactly that," Fennelly said. "Our staff worked very hard and the results are outstanding. This is a group that brings a great deal to the program and that is key as we lose five special seniors this season. All of the recruits are talented and come from outstanding programs. Most importantly, they are great kids from great families. They will fit the culture of Iowa State in grand fashion."
Gillian Bjerke, a 6-2 forward from Pelican Rapids, Minn., is a four-year letterwinner for Pelican Rapids High School. She is a two-time all-conference and all-section performer. Bjerke earned Class 2A honorable mention all-state recognition in 2004, averaging 17.8 points and 8.4 rebounds while leading the Vikings to a 24-4 record. Her 499 points last season broke the single-season scoring record, keeping her on pace to surpass 1,000 career points and set the school career scoring record.
Bjerke, who led the squad with 236 rebounds, shot a team-best 51.7 percent from the floor as a junior. The two-year team captain played one summer of AAU basketball with the North Tartan squad, winning the 2004 state championship. Bjerke competed against current Cyclone sophomore Megan Ronhovde's West Central Area High School team in the Heart O'Lakes Conference.
"We found Gillian late this summer and we were very impressed with her game," Fennelly said. "We need help inside. Her ability to run and her high-low game really fits our style. She comes from the same conference as Megan Ronhovde and hopefully Gillian can make an impact like Megan has."
Heather Ezell, a 5-9 guard from Springfield, Mo., missed the remainder of her junior season after suffering a torn ACL in January. As a sophomore, she earned second team all-state honors from The Associated Press en route to leading Kickapoo High School to a 31-0 record, the Class 5A state championship and a No. 13 national ranking by USA Today. The Lady Chiefs went 25-3 her freshman year, advancing to the state quarterfinals.
Ezell, a two-time all-Ozarks Conference selection averaged 10.5 points, 2.4 assists and 2.6 rebounds as a sophomore. She averaged 7.1 points while shooting 41.8 percent from behind the arc her junior year, compiling a 9-1 record and a No. 16 national ranking before her injury.
Ezell returned to the court for AAU action this summer, averaging 15 points, five rebounds and four assists for the Southwest Missouri Phantoms in July. Her AAU team owns seven consecutive Missouri Valley regional championships, won the 2003 U.S. Junior Nationals Las Vegas Classic title and captured the 2003 Atlanta Adidas Showtime national championship. Ezell was voted Missouri Valley AAU player of the year in 2000.
The all-district guard was also an outstanding softball player in her three-year prep career. Ezell was a two-time all-conference pitcher and was voted the softball team MVP last fall. She led the squad in stolen bases as a sophomore and earned softball academic all-league honors three times.
"Heather is an outstanding long-range shooter," Fennelly said. "We will lose some of our perimeter scoring this season and needed someone to pick up some of that. Heather is smart and very determined. We like her versatility and we think she can play all the spots on the outside. She is also a huge Cardinals fan, which is a great bonus."
Amanda Nisleit, a 6-0 forward from Woodbury, Minn., is a three-time all-state and all-conference performer for Woodbury High School. She averaged 13.7 points and 6.6 rebounds in the last three seasons, leading the Royals to three consecutive conference championships and state tournament appearances and a combined record of 80-9. Nisleit averaged 14.9 points and 7.1 rebounds while shooting 55.4 percent from the floor last season. She averaged 15.7 points and 6.3 rebounds as a sophomore, leading Woodbury to the Class 4A state championship and an undefeated 29-0 record.
The three-year letterwinner earned all-state tournament team honors three times and already owns the school record for career rebounds (586). Nisleit has 1,219 career points and is on pace to finish first or second on Woodbury's career scoring charts. She is a two-time team captain and a nominee for Minnesota's Ms. Basketball award. MinnesotaPreps.com picked her as the 2003-04 preseason conference player of the year and named her to its preseason all-state team as the No. 1 junior in Minnesota.
Nisleit was a teammate of current Cyclone freshman Lisa Bildeaux on the Minnesota Stars AAU team and earned 17U MVP honors at the 2004 Minnesota AAU Awards. She earned all-conference honors as a middle hitter on Woodbury's volleyball team.
"Amanda is a player with a very good all-around game. She has played inside and out and we think she can become a very good wing player at the college level. She has played on winning teams her whole life and that attitude will be a big bonus. Amanda has family members who attended Iowa State, so she has some Cyclone blood in her already."
Rachel Pierson, a 6-3 center from St. Louis, is a two-time all-state pick by The Associated Press. She averaged 16.4 points and 9.5 rebounds for Incarnate Word Academy, shooting 56.5 percent from the floor last season. She was an honorable mention Midwest preseason All-American selection by Street & Smith's magazine, ranked No. 74 on the All-Star Girls Report, ranked No. 83 on the Blue Star Index's top 100 seniors of 2005 and was listed among MOsports.com's list of Missouri's top seniors.
Pierson, who also earned all-state recognition from both the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association and the Missouri Sportswriters and Sportscasters in 2004, led her squad to a 28-3 record and a third-place finish at the Class 5A state tournament as a junior.
A three-year letterwinner for the Red Knights, Pierson was an all-conference selection and was named all-metro by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Her 508 points last season put her in the 1,000-point club. Incarnate Word compiled a 21-6 record her sophomore season with Pierson averaging 14.2 points and 9.2 rebounds per contest. IWA is 65-19 during her three-year varsity career.
"Our No. 1 priority in recruiting was to sign an impact player in the post and Rachel is that person," Fennelly said. "We think she is one of the best high school post players in the country. She has the skills and mental toughness it takes to play at this level. Rachel plays in a system that will really make her adjustment to the college game much easier. She will have an immediate impact on our program."
Nicky Wieben, a 6-3 forward from Ankeny, Iowa, is a three-time all-state, and all-conference honoree. Named the 2004 Iowa Gatorade Player of the Year, she has led Ankeny High School to three consecutive state championships. She was named to the all-state tournament squad all three years, captaining the team as a junior.
Wieben averaged 12.4 points and 6.4 rebounds last season, shooting 52.0 percent from the floor. She averaged 12.7 points and 8.6 rebounds as a sophomore, hitting 53.7 percent of her shots. Wieben, a preseason Midwest All-America pick by Street & Smith's magazine, owns a 68-11 record in her three varsity seasons at Ankeny.
Also an outstanding swimmer, Wieben won the 2004 state titles in the 200-yard medley relay, 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard freestyle, helping the Hawkettes to a second-place team finish overall. She has earned all-state honors 14 times and won the 2001 state championship in the 400-yard freestyle relay. Her sister Jamie is a junior on the Cyclone swim team.
"Nicky was our first commitment and got things started for us in a big way," Fennelly said. "She is a hard worker as is evidenced by not only her basketball career but all her years as an outstanding swimmer. Nicky runs extremely well and plays in one of the best high school programs anywhere. It is good to get another Ankeny player after Erica Junod graduated."
2005-06 Iowa State Women's Basketball Recruits
Name, Ht, Pos, Hometown (High School/College)
Gillian Bjerke, 6-2, F, Pelican Rapids, Minn. (Pelican Rapids)
Heather Ezell, 5-9, G, Springfield, Mo. (Kickapoo)
Amanda Nisleit, 6-0, F, Woodbury, Minn. (Woodbury)
Rachel Pierson, 6-3, C, St. Louis, Mo. (Incarnate Word Academy)
Nicky Wieben, 6-3, F, Ankeny, Iowa (Ankeny)
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G/F
/ Women's BasketballG/F
/ Women's BasketballSaturday, March 21
Friday, March 20
Friday, March 20
Sunday, March 15
