It might have been the earliest in-game standing ovation in women’s basketball history.

But as most fans and teammates will attest, the applause was more than deserved.

Only two seconds into Saturday’s senior day game against Colorado, a foul was committed on purpose to send Alison Lacey to the bench for the rest of the game as a cheerful roar emanated from the grateful crowd of 11,946 at Hilton Coliseum.

Lacey, often considered one of the greatest players to ever wear cardinal and gold, didn’t have the luxury of the customary send off most seniors of her caliber have earned, but the fans still made the best of her moment.

Due to a lengthy battle with a severe bronchial illness, she has been isolated from basketball-related activities for most of the past week, leading her to the abbreviated senior day appearance.

“I was definitely sad, but I knew there was nothing I could do about it,” Lacey said. “I knew at the beginning I was going to just stand in the corner, hope that we would foul, and get out of there quickly.”

Continued fatigue and shortness of breath made coach Bill Fennelly hold Lacey out of the final two regular season games in hopes of having her at full strength for the Big 12 Tournament.

Countless hours of sleep have helped Lacey begin to get on the right track, and she will work with the doctors this week to determine the best time for her to return.

“I’m getting better each day,” Lacey said. “Today is definitely the best I have felt since I got sick, and we’re just going to look day-to-day to see when I’ll get back.”

There may have been a No. 2 seed in the conference tournament on the line Saturday, but the Cyclones had already been assured of a top four seed and a first round bye.

This allowed Fennelly to have no reservations in making sure all five of his seniors started and got the playing time they earned in their final regular season home game.

It was also a bit easier for the coaching staff to sit Lacey, knowing it wasn’t technically going to be her last game in Ames.

Hilton Coliseum was selected as a host site for the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament, and NCAA rules state that if a host team makes the tournament, they will automatically play their first two games at home.

“Most senior days are extremely emotional,” Fennelly said. “But we’re lucky that we get to play here again. It’s a little bit different because this isn’t the last time they’re going to play here. Knowing we’re going to play here in the NCAA Tournament takes away some of the emotional sting.”

Lacey, Denae Stuckey, Shellie Mosman, Anna Florzak, and Genesis Lightbourne all closed out their Iowa State careers on Saturday, becoming the eighth consecutive senior class to win on senior day.

Their legacy with the Iowa State program will resonate for years to come, as this quintet will leave Ames as one of the most successful senior classes of all time.

They currently rank third in program history in victories (97), fourth in winning percentage (.724), and have made to at least the Big 12 semifinals and the NCAA tournament second round in all four years.

Last month, Lacey became the first player in school history to register 1,500 points, 500 rebounds, and 500 assists in a career, leading to national recognition and cementing her All-American status.

The rest of the group may not have had the same statistical and physical impact on the team as Lacey, but their demeanor and actions as true student-athletes are sure to live on for quite some time.

“I walk at Hilton a lot, and I see those eight NCAA banners everyday,” Fennelly said. “I tried to make them understand the legacy that could go with this senior class. You have kids that didn’t get the same recognition on the court, but certainly are people I can say I’m honored to have coached.”