Even though she’s nearly 2,000 miles away from home and her close-knit family, freshman point guard Lyndsey Medders said she hasn’t gotten homesick since coming to Iowa State.

“My family is very close,” she said. “Because of that and the [family-like] atmosphere here, I haven’t been homesick.”

The Los Angeles native says she still sees her family occasionally, and her mom comes to as many of her games as possible. The first collegiate game her dad saw her play was her breakout game against Oklahoma.

“No flights go directly from L.A. to Des Moines,” she said. “My mom usually leaves at midnight and gets to Ames around [8 a.m.]”

Medders has never had to look far for inspiration. Her 19-year-old brother Bryan, an Arizona State freshman, provides plenty. Born without either a femur (thigh bone) or humerus (upper arm bone), Medders said he has never been able to compete in athletics the way she has.

“He basically walks on muscle,” she said. “He’s learned to make the best of what he’s got, though. I try to make the best of what I have, too.”

Although she said she is comfortable in Ames, the transition from Los Angeles to the Midwest has been somewhat of a culture shock for Medders.

“I was surprised by all of the country music,” she said. “I listen to rap and hip-hop a lot, so it was a big change. We listen to a lot of country on the court before games, but I listen to rap in the locker room.”

Medders, a 5-foot-9 freshman, stepped into the Cyclone backcourt this season and made an immediate impact.

Against then-No. 15 Oklahoma on Jan. 20, Medders shot 4-of-4 from 3-point range and led the Cyclones to a 69-51 victory with 20 points.

Medders said her performance against the Sooners was personal.

“I was heavily recruited by Oklahoma,” Medders said.

“I really wanted to have a good game to show them that I made the right choice [by coming to Iowa State].”

Powerhouses Kansas State, Vanderbilt and Washington were all interested in Medders, but she still chose to be a Cyclone.

“I fell in love with this place,” she said. “Coach Fennelly made me feel very comfortable here. He brings out the best of you, on and off the court. He knows so much about the game, but it’s his personality that puts him above other coaches. Most [coaches] just lack his personality and ability to motivate.”

Medders is gaining great experience despite her freshman status, which will be beneficial to the team in the future.

“[Erica] Junod is our only senior,” she said. “Our team is really young. We have five juniors and five freshmen. Brittany Wilkins is the only sophomore.”

Medders said Junod’s experience and leadership are vital ingredients to this year’s team.

“Junod and [Anne] O’Neil are the leaders on the court,” she said. “But coach Fennelly is our real motivator. His attitude dictates our emotions.”

The unselfish, pass-first player said she said her hard work is why she’s where she is today.

“I lived in the gym,” she said. “I’m a student of the game, and I read coaching books all the time. My goal is to play until my legs won’t allow me and then [I want to] be a coach.”

Immediately thrown into the spotlight in Ames, Medders said most of the attention she receives is positive.

“Women’s basketball isn’t really a big deal in California,” she said. “Here, when I go to the grocery store, people tell me ‘good game’. It’s a change.”

However, the public figure status brings occasional negative attention, too.

“I’ve only had one instance where some random guy has called me for a date,” she said. “[But] with our phone numbers online, anyone can call you.”

With three full seasons ahead of her, Medders said she has one goal for her career at Iowa State.

“I want to look back and say I was part of some of the greatest teams at ISU,” she said.