Senior forward Toccara Ross has been approved for a medical redshirt and is now eligible to play in 2008-2009.

Iowa State received confirmation from the Big 12 that Ross, who was a starter on a team that reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament in the 2007-2008 season, will be able to return to the women’s basketball team next season, after tearing her ACL at Minnesota on Dec. 21.

Ross said she was very excited to find out that she gets to play another season for the coaching staff and for her teammates. Ross played at Kirkwood during her first two years of college before coming to the Cyclones for the 2006-07 season.

“To experience Hilton magic is something I was really glad to get a third opportunity at,” Ross said.

Ross had been averaging 6.4 points and 3.7 rebounds before her injury this season, including 15 points and 10 rebounds against Iowa. She also averaged 10.7 and 7.3 rebounds with four double-doubles while starting 31 of 35 games the previous season.

The women’s basketball team will now return its entire roster from a team that reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year.

“Even with me and Nicky out this year, they did a phenomenal job this season,” Ross said.

The Cyclones will also add three recruits to a team that won more than 20 games for the second straight year as well.

Ross said the team is going into next season with some lofty goals, especially returning five seniors.

“We’re definitely going to go into it with a chip on our shoulder,” Ross said. “We’re going to set some standards for ourselves because we know what we can do in the Big 12, and [Coach Bill Fennelly] mentioned that we’re going to have one of the toughest schedules that Iowa State has ever had.”