In the 1980s, the Houston Rockets had Hakeem Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson.

In the ’90s, the San Antonio Spurs featured David Robinson and Tim Duncan.

Entering the new millennium, the Cyclones have their own version of the “Twin Towers” in sophomore Angie Welle and junior Gintar‚ Cipinyte.

The duo stands 6-4 and 6-5, respectively, and offers ISU basketball a physical inside one-two punch the likes of which Hilton Coliseum hasn’t seen since Tony Rampton and DeWayne Johns.

“One of our problems from last year is that we didn’t have enough depth in the post,” head coach Bill Fennelly said. “We brought Big G in and I think that’ll be an immediate help.”

Cipinyte, or “Big G” as she has come to be known, joins the Cyclones after a prep career in Lithuania and two years at Seward County Community College.

The tallest player in Cyclone women’s basketball history, Cipinyte dominated the junior college ranks, leading Seward to the 1999 national championship and picking up MVP honors at the region, district and regional tournaments along the way.

“G’s done really well. She’s a big, strong, left-handed inside player,” Megan Taylor said of her teammate. “Pretty much look at Angie Welle and you know how she plays. She’ll add a lot of depth to the inside that we didn’t have last year.”

Cipinyte will join Welle, who has already established herself as a solid Big 12 center.

The Cyclones’ field goal percentage and blocked shot leader in ’98, Welle started 32 of 33 games in her freshman campaign.

“You’re talking about a kid that started 32 games at center against every other Big 12 team with their senior centers and no help off the bench,” Fennelly said.

Welle followed up an amazing North Dakota prep career with her contributions to ISU’s Elite Eight team last year.

She saved her best game of the season for the Cyclones’ second-round NCAA matchup with Oregon – a game in which she contributed 21 points and 10 rebounds. After that, Welle turned in 10-point, seven-rebound performances against both Connecticut and Georgia.

So, how will Fennelly utilize this massive duo? He’s not counting out the possibility of featuring them both in the same front-court.

“We’re going to try it,” he said. “We’ll probably try everything a couple times. We want to give Angie a chance to get away from the basket and play in the high post. It’s probably not something we’ll do a lot, though.”

Primarily, the Cyclones’ head coach just appreciates having some depth at the position. With two talented centers, Fennelly should be able to keep the position fresh throughout the game.

Despite a few differences, the pair brings many of the same tools to the table for ISU.

“Angie runs the court better – she can move better, laterally and up-and-down,” Fennelly said. “When you get G in the box, you’re not going to move her. G’s a center. There’s no doubt about what position she can play.

“They’re both unique. They’re both left-handed. They can both shoot the ball from the free throw line,” he said. “They’re different in a lot of ways, but they both have the ability to bang and to rebound.”

Welle realizes that Cipinyte presents a challenge to her starting role but welcomes anything that shores up the thin Cyclone front court.

“As a returning starter, I’m going to have to fight to keep my starting spot from the newcomers,” she said. “That’s how it has to be. It’ll make for intense practices and some good competition.”