Last season, Denae Stuckey seemed to be right in the middle of some of Iowa State’s biggest games. Whether it be her 3-pointer in the Sweet 16 win over Michigan State or her clutch performances during the Big 12 tournament, Stuckey was able to step up when the Cyclones needed her most.

This season is no different. With no clear-cut No. 2 player, Iowa State has looked to the play of role players like Stuckey to contribute when asked. And while she has accepted that she won’t get as much attention as senior guard Alison Lacey, she knows her place on the team is just as important as any other.

“Even though [the role players] don’t get as much attention [as Lacey], it’s OK, because as long as the team is successful that’s fine,” Stuckey said. “I’m a role player and I know exactly what my role is, and I don’t need all the attention Lacey gets.”

Looking at last season’s numbers, one would not have believed Stuckey would be as crucial a role player as she has been this season. However, in a season where no one really knew what to expect, the numbers she has posted this season have been a pleasant surprise for the Cyclones.

“To her credit, she’s gone from role player to someone that has impacted our team, and someone who starts and establishes themselves as a very critical part of our team,” coach Bill Fennelly said.

Entering the year, Stuckey knew what would be asked of her. The team only returned a handful of experienced players and would be asked to follow up on the success of an Elite Eight team. For reasons such as those, Stuckey has set her own personal expectations higher and has seen an increase from last year in almost every statistical category.

“I expect to make hustle plays. I expect for myself to score when I’m open, or, if I’ve got a chance to do something, just to contribute to the team,” Stuckey said. “This year, my role has really grown since the past years I’ve been here, and I’ve really been excited about it; I’ve been excited about the way I have been playing.”

Despite her 5-foot-8-inch frame, Stuckey has found herself leading the team in rebounding, with 6.4 boards per game, including two games in which she grabbed 10 rebounds. And while she isn’t Iowa State’s number one scoring threat, and will not light up the scoreboard with 30-point or even 20-point games, her effort at both ends of the court has not gone unnoticed by the team.

“[Stuckey] does the dirty work that nobody really wants to do,” Lacey said. “She rebounds and she plays great defense. She sparks us, and that gets us going — gets us excited — and everyone gets into the game when she does those things.”

Players like Stuckey are crucial to the success of a young team like Iowa State’s. Coaches and players agree she has been the spark to a successful beginning of a long basketball season, and according to Stuckey, the excitement the team has when a big play is made is all the motivation she needs when she’s on the court.

“If I make a big play, I like to see my teammates get excited with me — jumping around and smiling,” Stuckey said. “I like to be a spark in my team, and I like to see them smile. It’s nice to see coach Fennelly smile sometimes, so my thing is to go out there and just give it my all and just try to do as much as I can for the team.”