Cyclones prepare for Devilettes

Zach Gourley

The ISU women’s basketball team will face Mississippi Valley State on Sunday at Hilton Coliseum, two days after its 62-54 win against Iowa.

Coach Bill Fennelly said in an email to the Daily that his team’s shooting must improve as they move forward, as the Cyclones (5-2) shot just 34 percent from the field Friday night and are shooting at just 38 percent on the year.

“Shooting is a concern. The bottom line, it takes work and getting up shots, even extra on their own,” Fennelly said. “[We] must make the layups and convert at the free-throw line.”

On Sunday, the Cyclones will face a Mississippi Valley State squad that has struggled offensively as well this season.

Fennelly praised the defensive effort as the reason the Cyclones won Friday’s game, but said that attention to detail will be critical to their continued improvement.

“I think defensively we can always work harder to know the game plan,” Fennelly said. “At times, we do not communicate every well.”

The Devilettes have shot just .313 percent from the field so far this year and are led in scoring by senior guard Ka’Neshia Smith, who is putting up 9.5 points and four assists per game so far this season.

Though the Devilettes come into Sunday’s game with a 1-4 record, their schedule has assured the they will be road tested, as they have already played road games at Nebraska, Kentucky, Marquette and Mississippi State.

The Cyclones may be without their leading scorer and rebounder Sunday as junior forward Chelsea Poppens suffered what Fennelly called a minor MCL sprain on Friday night.

“We will see how she feels for Sunday. I would say she is questionable,” Fennelly said.

The Cyclones will face the Devilettes at 2 p.m. Sunday at Hilton Coliseum.