The ISU women’s basketball team has struggled offensively in Big 12 play, and coach Bill Fennelly can think of one way to change that.

“When you’re not shooting well, you have to get more shots,” Fennelly said.

In other words, Fennelly wants the Cyclones to get more rebounds. Iowa State has been outrebounded in four of their seven Big 12 games and tied once; the other two games came against the Colorado Buffaloes, who are 2-6 in conference play.

“Colorado is a team that has great size and we outrebounded them by 13, but then we go to Kansas [also 2-6 in the Big 12] and get outrebounded by 12,” Fennelly said.

Unfortunately, the Cyclones may have a tough time improving their rebounding numbers, given that their two leading rebounders from last season, junior Nicky Wiebe and senior Toccara Ross, are out for the season with torn ACLs.

Junior Amanda Nisleit and sophomore Alison Lacey agreed that the team needs to work harder.

“Most of the time we are there, but the other team is taking the ball out of our hands,” Lacey said. “So, I think it’s a little more effort and being tough with the ball.”

Anderson, newcomers in tough position

When Wieben went down with a torn ACL, junior center Jocelyn Anderson stepped into the starting lineup and doubled her playing time overnight.

“Jocelyn Anderson is probably in the most unfair position of anyone I’ve ever coached in what we’re asking her to do,” Fennelly said. “The kids are unfortunately learning on the job. It’s tough, but I’m sure all of us have been thrown into something we weren’t ready for.”

Anderson has struggled shooting the ball but has made up for it with rebounding and shot blocking, averaging over two blocks per game.

Lacey said newcomers like Anderson are doing an admirable job considering the situation that they have been thrown into.

“They’re getting minutes that I don’t think they expected to get or anyone really thought,” Lacey said. “[Anderson] is doing a really good job, and no one would doubt the effort of anyone on this team, Lacey said.

“Her shots will start to fall, but I think everyone is doing the best they can.”

Nisleit said the team is using this as a learning experience.

“I think everyone is working really hard and we just have to keep working hard,” Nisleit said.

“I think people are put into different positions, but I think everyone is just learning a lot and taking in a lot.”