Iowa State Travels To LSU For Thursday Challenge

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Where: Pete Maravich Assembly Center - Baton Rouge, Louisiana
When: Thursday, Dec. 2 at 8 p.m.
Projected Starting Lineup: Morgan Kane, Aubrey Joens, Ashley Joens, Emily Ryan, Lexi Donarski
Radio: Cyclone Radio Network/Learfield
Talent: Noah Wolf, Jamie Steyer Johnson
TV: ESPN2
Talent: Courtney Lyle, Carolyn Peck

The Lead
The 14th-ranked Iowa State women's basketball team is set to hit the road to take on LSU for the first meeting between the two programs. Iowa State's matchup against LSU is part of the Big 12/SEC Challenge, and the Cyclones hold a 2-3 record since the 2016-17 season.

Key Storylines

The 14th-ranked Iowa State women's basketball team is one of just 23 unbeaten teams in women's college basketball as of Nov. 29. The Cyclones 7-0 start is the program's best since the 2013-14 season, when ISU rattled off 14-straight wins.
Ashley Joens is one of just eight players in the nation averaging at least 20.0 points and 9.0 rebounds. Last season the All-American averaged 24.2 points per game en route to being named the Cheryl Miller Award Winner.
Emily Ryan has tallied 20 steals so far this season, she ranks 41st in the nation in steals per game with 2.9 per game. In ISU's season opener against Omaha, she tied the school record with nine steals. Her nine steals are also second in a single game in the NCAA this season.
Iowa State has three student-athletes averaging double figures through seven games this season, beginning with Ashley Joens (20.3), Lexi Donarski (16.6) and Aubrey Joens (13.4).
Iowa State ranks first in the nation in 3-pointers per game with 12.4 per contest. In ISU's last two games, the Cyclones have connected on 18 and 12 triples, respectively. The Cyclones' 87 triples on the year also ranks first nationally.
Iowa State is the only team in the nation with three players with 20 or more triples on the year. Aubrey Joens (27), Ashley Joens, (23) and Lexi Donarski (23).
Iowa State ranks 14th nationally in scoring offense, averaging 82.6 points per game. The Cyclones also rank 20th nationally in scoring margin, outscoring their opponents 23.4 points per game.

Last Time Out

The Iowa State women's basketball team is off to a 7-0 start for the first time since 2013-14 after winning the Gulf Coast Showcase in Estero, Florida, topping Charlotte, Penn State and UMass en route to claiming the championship trophy.
Iowa State relied on its starters for much of the tournament, with four of the five averaging double figures in ISU's three games.
Ashley Joens led the way averaging 21.0 points, followed by Lexi Donarski (14.7) Aubrey Joens (13.7) and Morgan Kane (11.7).
Iowa State's Ashley Joens was named the Tournament MVP, while Lexi Donarski was named to the All-Tournament team.
As a team, Iowa State knocked down 37 3-pointers in three games to claim the crown.

Joens Among NCAA's Top Active Career Leaders

Senior guard Ashley Joens is flying up the NCAA's active career leader rankings.
Joens is currently eighth in the NCAA in active career scoring average, netting 18.4 points per contest.
She ranks first in active career scoring among true seniors in the NCAA, with 1,822 career points.
Joens is also tied for eighth in career double-doubles with 34.
Joens is swiftly climbing the NCAA's career free-throws made category, with 455 made in her career, which ranks seventh.
Joens also ranks seventh in career free-throw percentage at 82.4 percent.
With 824 career boards, Joens checks in at 19th among active NCAA players.

One of the few

Both Iowa State men's and women's basketball programs have enjoyed early season success. As of Dec. 1, the ISU men's team is 6-0 and the women's program is 7-0
As of Dec. 1, the ISU men's team is 6-0 and the women's program is 7-0 making the Cyclones one of just four schools in the NCAA with both programs off to 6-0 starts, joining Arizona, BYU and Duke.
Iowa State is also one of nine schools in the country with both men's and women's programs ranked in the AP Poll. ISU joins Arizona, Baylor, BYU, Kentucky, Michigan, Tennessee, Texas and UConn.

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Players Mentioned

Lexi Donarski

Ashley Joens

Aubrey Joens

Morgan Kane

Emily Ryan

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics