Last season, the Iowa State women’s basketball team entered with a deep lineup of potential. This year, while the potential may be there, the depth will not be. The Cyclones will work to develop freshmen post players into competitors and Iowa State will depend on its experienced guards for leadership.

“The strength of our team has to be our guard play early,” Fennelly said. “You cannot expect freshmen players to be the strength of your team.”

With senior Alison Lacey and junior Kelsey Bolte at the helm, the Cyclones return two players who were both crucial in last year’s success. Lacey was the second leading scorer for Iowa State last season averaging 11.2 points per game and led the team with an average of 3.7 assists in each contest. Bolte finished third in the conference last year in three point percentage with .377 and finished with 57 treys for the Cyclones.

Four freshmen enter the lineup for Iowa State this year including Jessica Schroll, Chelsea Poppens, Anna Prins and Amanda Zimmerman. Prins will be the biggest height advantage for the team standing at a towering 6’6” in the center position. Sophomore Chassidy Cole also joins the Cyclones this season as a guard from Amarillo, Texas.

After becoming the second team in Iowa State history to reach the Elite Eight, this year’s team has a target on its back. Even though the team may lack experience, especially in the post position, head coach Bill Fennelly claims the expectations will be just as high.

“We need to have our expectations high, but those expectations will not be here on Sept. 15,” Fennelly said. “We’ve always been a team that plays well in February and March.”

Currently the team is limited to practicing with four players or less for an hour at a time. Starting Sept. 15, however, the team will be able to meet as a whole two times per week for one hour.

In the mini-practices the Cyclones have had thus far, Fennelly said it seems like most of the freshmen have adjusted to college life and are ready to become Iowa State student-athletes. The new players will all need to be ready to make a difference once the season begins because of the team’s twelve player roster.

“There’s only 12 bodies so I think especially in the post they look around knowing they’re going to play, so they’re very attentive,” Fennelly said. “They had a good summer and their conditioning level is good.”

Depth will be an issue for the Cyclones this season as they lost five seniors and two players transferred from last year’s roster. The only returning post player for Iowa State is senior Genesis Lightbourne who missed part of the 2008-2009 season due to a knee injury.

Practice Facility

Members of the Cyclone staff will be moving into the new basketball facility starting next week. The $8 million basketball practice area is located in West Ames near the Mortensen Road and South Dakota Avenue intersection.

“It’s a great opportunity for players,” Fennelly said. “If we have players that are serious about skill development they can do it year-round and that’s something that we’ve never had before.”

With today’s economy, Fennelly wanted to stress this newly developed practice facility is not something he sees as a luxury, but rather a need. With more access to the gym, players will be able to walk in anytime they want to practice on individual skills.

New addition

Dan Petersen has joined the coaching staff as a two-year graduate assistant. Petersen graduated in May of 2009 and is familiar with the way Iowa State programs function.

Most of Petersen’s duties will consist of editing and getting video on opponents. With Petersen’s technical savvy, he will be able to break down tape even into individual skills that players want to focus on.

“I really wanted someone that knew the system and he knows our program, he knows our kids,” Fennelly said.

With the breakdown by Petersen, individuals will be able to focus on developing particular skills. In doing so, they will use Petersen’s technology and the new facility to work individually to become all-around better players.

“It will be a preparation tool for games but also a teaching ability to have breakdown for players,” Fennelly said.