Iowa State women’s basketball coach Bill Fennelly called Saturday the “most anticipated day that I’ve seen in the five years I’ve been here.”

The reasons were fairly obvious. Both the men’s and women’s basketball teams were to play in home games that were crucial to their respective Big 12 title hopes.

The men ended up defeating Oklahoma State 72-61 and now can win the conference title outright with two more victories.

The women, meanwhile, had a successful evening as well, defeating Baylor 112-79. The squad has only one game left to play, but must win at Texas in order to capture the league crown.

But another main reason for all the anticipation was a chance to bid adieu to five Cyclone senior basketball players, each of whom have brought something unique to the program during their stay.

Monica Huelman, a 6-2 forward from Vinton, was the first player that Fennelly signed to play at Iowa State.

She came in and immediately contributed in her first season, starting 17 of the team’s 29 games. She was a big part of Iowa State’s first NCAA Tournament team in school history.

After starting nine games in her sophomore year, she regained her starting role last season, averaging a career-high 5.8 points while starting 32 of 33 games.

This season has been a struggle for Huelman. She underwent minor knee surgery at the beginning of the season and has had various other ailments that have precluded her from playing more than 20 minutes in any game.

Fennelly said she’s been able to work through the adversity.

“She’s been here through the good and the bad. She’s had to go through a lot this season, and never complained. People always talk about what a leader is, and what it takes to be one. Well, Monica is a leader,” Fennelly said.

She is the program’s all-time leader in appearances with 117, and needs only two more blocks to set the school record at 93.

Desiree Francis has also been a big part of what the Cyclones have been able to accomplish in the past year.

The 6-1 forward, originally from the West Indies, has brought enthusiasm and athleticism to the team and quickly endeared herself to Cyclone supporters with her one-hand rebound and exciting style of play.

Francis, who has a very good chance at making a name for herself in the WNBA, broke her hand early in the second half Saturday night and could be lost for the season.

The third and final senior on the women’s team is Stacy Frese. The 5-7 point guard from Cedar Rapids immediately became a fan favorite when she transferred from the University of Iowa following her freshman year in Iowa City.

Since coming to Ames, she has become Iowa State’s all-time leader in three-pointers and assists and is fourth all-time in scoring.

She has made first-team All Big 12 two years in a row and is possibly the most popular athlete in women’s basketball history.

Meanwhile, the men’s team also had a couple of seniors contribute to the shocking turnaround that has made them one of the best stories in college basketball this season.

Stevie Johnson, a 6-4 forward from Beaumont, Miss., has been a contributor all of his four years in Ames.

After being the second all-time leading scorer in the history of Mississippi, Johnson was recruited to Iowa State by Tim Floyd.

After playing an average of 13 minutes per game as a freshman, Johnson became a starter in each of the next two seasons.

However, with Iowa State being 27-33 in those campaigns, it wasn’t always a pleasant experience for Johnson.

This season, however, he has come on strong and is averaging a career-best 7.7 points and 5.0 rebounds per game.

However, statistics aren’t the best way to measure Johnson’s performance.

“He does all the filthy work that nobody else wants to do. He plays defense, rebounds, dives for balls on the floor. He’s a big part of our team,” fellow senior Michael Nurse said.

Nurse, a native of Teaneck, N.J., brought confidence and a swagger to the team when he arrived a year ago. After a solid start to the 1998-99 season, Nurse was hit by a bus when crossing a street in Ames, and while he was sidelined for only a short time, the injury did derail him.

However, he has come back strong this season and is second on the team in scoring at 12.4 points per game. His ability to come through in the clutch has distinguished his play.

Ultimately, the final three weeks or so left in both teams’ seasons will determine how they are remembered. But one thing that won’t soon be forgotten is the impact these five players have had on both programs.