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
No. 4 Seed ISU Travels to Kentucky for NCAAs
03.17.2009 | Women's Basketball
AMES, Iowa ?The 17th-ranked Iowa State women's basketball team earned a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Basketball Championship and will face No. 13 seed East Tennessee State in the first round of the tournament at 6 p.m. Sunday, March 22, in Bowling Green, Ky.
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“I've been fortunate to be a part of a lot of teams that have done this,” Iowa State head coach Bill Fennelly said. “It's just as exciting every year. Anytime we see our name go up there it's special. This never gets old. If you are a basketball fan, this is the best day of the year. It's better then Christmas.”
The Cyclones earned a fourth seed in the Berkeley Region, while Duke is the No. 1 seed in that regional. Iowa State will make its third consecutive NCAA appearance and this will be Cyclones' 10th trip over the past 12 seasons, with all coming under the direction of Fennelly. The winner of the Iowa State-East Tennessee State game will play the winner of the Tennessee (No. 5 seed) vs. Ball State (No. 12 seed) game.
Iowa State is 24-8 on the season and made it to the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship semifinal game before falling to seventh-ranked Baylor, snapping a five-game winning streak. East Tennessee State is 20-10 this season and defeated Jacksonville in the championship game of the Atlantic Sun Tournament to earn its second straight NCAA Tournament bid.
“We're excited that we're a four seed, that's a great seed for us,” junior guard Alison Lacey said. “Now we're going to have to see what Coach Fennelly comes up with for a scouting report and see what we have to do tomorrow in practice.”
Iowa State has been a No. 4 seed or higher six times and is 11-9 in NCAA tournament appearances. In 1999, the Cyclones were a No. 4 seed and advanced to their only Elite Eight berth. ISU has advanced to the second round of the tournament in each of the last two seasons.
“We've been through this enough that we know you'd better be ready for the first one,” Fennelly said. “It's an honor to be in the tournament and we're ready to go and get playing.”
Six teams from the Big 12 made the NCAA cut, with Oklahoma receiving a No. 1 seed. Texas A&M and Baylor were each awarded No. 2 seeds. All eight teams that earned NCAA berths last season won their first round game for the first time in NCAA Tournament history.
TICKET INFORMATION
A limited number of tickets are available from the Iowa State Athletics Ticket Office for the NCAA Women's Basketball first and second-round games in Bowling Green, Ky.
Members of the Cyclone Club or basketball season ticketholders, should call the ISU Athletics Ticket Office at 515-294-1816 or toll free at 1-888-478-2925 to order tickets. Cyclone Club members or season ticketholders may also stop at the ticket office in the Jacobson Building between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. to place their ticket orders in person. A limit of four tickets per account may be ordered. Orders will be taken until Tuesday, March 17, at 5 pm. All orders are based on availability.
Tickets are only for the session that Iowa State participates in. Those who purchase first-round tickets through Iowa State will be charged for the second round only if the Cyclones advance. If Iowa State does not advance, purchasers will not be charged nor will tickets be available for the second round.
All other fans should order tickets from the Western Kentucky University at wkusports.com or 270-745-5222 and there is no limit on the number of tickets that can be ordered.
Players Mentioned
Syracuse Post-Game vs. ISU (NCAA First Round)
Saturday, March 21
Syracuse Previews Iowa State (NCAA Tournament First Round)
Friday, March 20
Iowa State Previews Syracuse (NCAA Tournament First Round)
Friday, March 20
Bill Fennelly and Audi Crooks Talk NCAA Selection Show
Sunday, March 15
