On Iowa State’s practice card each day, there is a quote that states: “Opportunities are never lost. Someone else is going to take the ones that you miss.”

With go-to forward Toccara Ross out for a couple of weeks with a knee injury, freshman Ashley Arlen has taken that quote to heart and stepped up to fill the void left by Ross.

Coming off the bench Sunday, Arlen put together a breakout game, earning 10 points and a team-high seven boards in Iowa State’s 80-55 exhibition win over Missouri Western.

Arlen, who was labeled by coach Bill Fennelly as the “biggest surprise from the start of practice,” wasn’t expected to make early impact.

“We thought, in the back of our minds, that she was a redshirt candidate, with so many senior post players,” Fennelly said. “But to her credit, she has taken great advantage, that Toccara got hurt.”

Arlen began her Cyclone career a week ago, against Buena Vista, with a respectable five points and three rebounds. She picked up right where she left off Sunday, overcoming a tentative first half to score eight of her 10 points after halftime.

“Coach was saying that ‘we need someone to step up,’ and I thought I could do that,” Arlen said.

The 6-foot-1, left-handed forward is able to use her strength to challenge and penetrate defenders.

During Sunday’s game, Arlen took advantage of the Griffins’ lack of size by reaching over defenders in order to grab a rebound.

“She’s physical, she’s strong, and being left-handed makes her even a little harder to guard,” Fennelly said.

“She’s the kind of kid that throws some stuff up there that doesn’t look very good, but finds a way to get it in.”

As the Cyclones head into the regular season, Fennelly expects Arlen continue to play a key role in backing up starting forwards Amanda Nisleit and Nicky Wieben.

“Certainly, right now, she is — without a doubt — our first sub off the bench in the post,” Fennelly said. “She’s earned that right, these past two games.”

Trigger happy from beyond the arc

The Cyclones took 38 shots and made 14 from three-point range Sunday, almost double their 21 three-point shot total against Buena Vista.

Senior guard Heather Ezell, whose team-high 18 points all came off three-pointers, said the high shot count was more a result of the Griffin defense than actually part of the game plan.

“They were sinking inside on us, so we had a lot of outside to shoot,” Ezell said.

From the start of the game, the Griffins put a large emphasis on guarding the Cyclone forwards. As a result the Cyclones struggled to penetrate their way to the basket, which forced Iowa State to take shots from a distance.

The three pointers were reluctant to fall in for the Cyclones in the first half as they shot only 29.2 percent (7-24). The Cyclones, however, recovered to make 7 of 14 in the second.

“That is not a number that is great, but I don’t think there were any shots that I would say ‘absolutely don’t shoot,’” Fennelly said.

Knowing they won’t always be able to take as many shots, especially against conference opponents, Fennelly said the team would aim for taking 25 to 27 per game.

“We’ll get 38 three-point shots off in 10 years against Kansas,” Fennelly said jokingly.

Lacey sees more time in play

Standout guard Alison Lacey, who played only nine minutes against Buena Vista, clocked 21 minutes during Sunday’s game.

Due to a nagging hip injury, Lacey missed a majority of practices this fall. Although she said the hip felt fine last weekend, Lacey and the coaching staff decided to play it safe and limit her playing time during the first exhibition.

After she returned to full strength in practice last week, Fennelly’s goal was to get Lacey more time on the court.

“The biggest thing I wanted was [Lacey] to play extended minutes, and that was good to see,” Fennelly said.

“Her conditioning looks good. She is such an important part of our team.”

Lacey struggled to find her shooting rhythm in the first half, going 1-for-6 from the field, but was impressive off the ball, picking up five assists and five rebounds. Eventually she broke out of her shooting funk and finished the game with nine points.