When ISU junior All-American center Angie Welle got in foul trouble last year, Iowa State got worried. Head coach Bill Fennelly said “it’s no secret” that the team struggled without Welle in the game.

Fennelly got some help toward fixing that problem this week, as Iowa State received a national letter of intent from junior college All-American Melanie Bremer of Northeast Community College in Norfolk, Neb.

“She’s someone we really felt could add something to our team,” Fennelly said. He added that Iowa State needs someone who can battle inside in the Big 12, “somebody who could be a rebounder and post up.”

In Norfolk, Bremer proved she could do both, scoring 24.7 points per game and averaging 9.1 boards, while leading her team to a 29-4 record and runner-up in the NJCAA Region IX Tournament.

Bremer describes her play as being physical inside and also able to shoot from outside when needed.

“I like to post up,” she said. “I think I’m considered a physical player.”

The 6-1 junior added that when she is double-teamed in the post, she can take it outside and make the open basket.

Fennelly said that with the lack of depth this year and the health problems that freshman center Kate Bauman suffered led him to find some players capable of banging inside in this year’s recruiting class. Bauman has suffered with asthma and has not been able to get in to shape to play. Fennelly said he wouldn’t know what condition she will be in until fall.

In the meantime, Bremer is someone he feels can make an immediate impact, like Desiree Francis did when she transferred to Iowa State in the 1998-99 season.

“I think she can make an immediate impact on our team,” Fennelly said, adding that the Cyclones will need some help because the Big 12 is going to be tougher than ever next season.

Bremer was pleased to have such high praise from her future coach.

“It’s an honor to have the respect and support of your coaches,” she said. “But I know that I’m going to have to work hard for a lot of things [at Iowa State].”

Another reason Fennelly wanted depth was the possibility of an injury to Welle or another post player.

“We were lucky to not have any injuries [last year],” he said. “It was something that needed to be addressed.”

Along with Bremer, the Cyclones will be bringing in four other players who can play forward if needed. Mary Fox is a 6-0 guard/forward from Lakewood, Ohio. Brittany Wilkins will join the squad as a 6-3 forward/center from Kennard, Neb. Finally the Cyclones will have two local girls on the team, Lisa Kriener, a 6-2 forward/center from St. Ansgar and Tracy Paustian a 5-11 forward from Walcott.

“We brought in kids that fit our style of play,” Fennelly said of his recruiting class. He said that because they are all freshmen, he wanted to get someone such as Bremer with more experience to take pressure of the freshman.

“It allows us to be more flexible with Tracy [Gahan],” Fennelly added. Gahan was used as a rebounder last year, but is also a good scorer and now will be free to shoot more.

Fennelly focused mainly on post players this year because Welle will be a senior along with Gahan, and won’t be around after next year. Plus, the team has two solid guards returning with starter Lindsey Wilson and reserve Erica Junod, who played in all the games, coming back.

“We have two really good returning guards,” Fennelly said. “We will count on a great deal from them, they know the system.”

Fennelly added that there will be a guard in next year’s recruiting class.

“We don’t want to get caught where we lose everyone at once,” he said.