Cyclones Looking for Answers in 2006-07

Each new season brings new questions for coaches, players and fans, and Sunday brings the first real test for the Iowa State women's basketball team, as the Cyclones open the 2006-07 campaign against St. Cloud State in an exhibition contest. The game tips at 2 p.m. at Hilton Coliseum.

The coaching staff already has two solid answers to this season in seniors Lyndsey Medders and Megan Ronhovde, but head coach Bill Fennelly will be looking for answers to many more questions as the season finally gets underway.

“I think we have the possibility of depth, but I don't think we are there yet,” Fennelly said. “You have Lyndsey and Megan with a tremendous amount of experience and really none after that. Nicky (Wieben) and Heather (Ezell) have played one year, and Gillian and Amanda didn't play much last year. I think there are answers to some of our questions, we just have to find them.”

Fennelly opens this season with 14 active players, the largest number on an Iowa State roster since 2001-02 when the Cyclones had 15 players. And the best part is that they are relatively healthy. Minus Rachel Pierson, who will miss the Cyclones exhibition opener due to a virus, Fennelly will have a full compliment of players to work with. Ezell has returned from offseason knee surgery. Pierson's back surgery, which kept her out last season, was successful and Medders' broken foot has healed.

“The thing we've got to do is find combinations where all the new players are not all on together, where Lyndsey is in with Anna (Florzak) and Aus (Alison Lacey), or Nicky is in with Shellie (Mosman),” Fennelly said. “We have to try and balance it so there is some experience on the court. That's what we've been working on in practice, trying to find combinations that are not just efficient, but give our new kids the best chance to have success. Having success early is really important for a young player.”

The X factor for the Cyclones will be three seniors, including Medders and Ronhovde, who have been starters for ISU nearly all of their careers. Medders has earned numerous accolades this preseason, including being named to the All-Big 12 Preseason Team and several preseason All-America squads. She led the nation in assists per game (7.7) and led the team in scoring with 16.5 ppg as a junior, despite playing through injury and missing three games. Ronhovde played a critical role for the Cyclones a year ago, posting seven complete games, and often playing out of position. She had five double-doubles on the season, averaging 9.5 points and 7.3 boards a game. Their biggest impact on this team, however, isn't the number of points they score or the assists and rebounds they rack up.

“I think No. 1, they know what it means to wear an Iowa State uniform,” Fennelly said. “No. 2, they understand the things the coaches want and they can do it on the court and are great examples. The best thing as a coach is that your best players are your hardest workers. That is by far the absolute best, and our best two players are our hardest workers. They are a great example of what we want them to do. Then when they leave the court, they demonstrate how to mange themselves, how to handle school and all the little things it takes to be a Division I basketball player.”

They are two peas in a pod. They bring drastically different personalities to the court, but they compliment each other in how they lead this team.

“Everything they do is critical to our success. They've actually been better than I expected, which is pretty high praise, because I thought they were pretty good going into it. The thing is that their personality is totally different. Lyndsey is a lot more vocal and Megan is much more serious, but they have a way of playing off of each other.”

So while the experience is the known, the six newcomers are the unknown, but they are progressing with each practice.

“Toccara is going to start on Sunday, so her progress has been very good,” Fennelly said. “Shellie is probably the first guard off the bench. Those two, without question, have probably advanced the quickest. Anna and Aus have shown flashes, but it has kind of been up and down for them. The encouraging part is that they have had their best practices the last week, which is good. Genesis is probably the furthest behind, but in her defense, we switched positions. We wanted to see if she could handle a guard spot, but she's not ready for that.”

The test begins Sunday for these newcomers, as they put on the Cyclone uniform for the first time and step out in front of the faithful Iowa State fans. Mistakes are to be expected, but there is a bigger question that Fennelly wants answered.

“I want to see who on this team understands what it means to wear an Iowa State uniform and play in this building. That sounds corny, but it's the truth, because that is important to us. It's a great place to play. We've had a great tradition playing here and we've got great fans. I think it is an appreciation of playing here and playing in front of these fans.”

St. Cloud State is up first for the Cyclones on Sunday afternoon and then ISU will have one more tune-up against Upper Iowa a week later, before the regular season snaps into action. While fans will have new faces to learn on the court, they will also have to adapt to new surroundings in Hilton Coliseum as the offseason has brought a facelift to the building, including new seats, new scoreboards, and a freshly painted floor.

“Everyone is excited to get started. The fun part is the games, and for us especially the new stuff in Hilton. We've been working on our game and they've been working on the building. It will be fun to go out and play. I know we are playing a good team. St. Cloud State has had success the last two years, so they know what they are doing. They have the preseason Division II Player of the Year (Erika Quigley), so it is exactly the kind of exhibition game that you want. You play a good team that is well coached, organized and talented. I think we are ready to go.”

Cyclones Looking for Answers in 2006-07

Players Mentioned

Alison Lacey

Lyndsey Medders

Lyndsey Medders

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Megan Ronhovde

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Cyclones Looking for Answers in 2006-07

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