AMES — The Cyclone women’s basketball team opened the 2023-24 season with a home win 82-55 against Butler. The new-looking team finally got to show what it was made of and put the off-season talk in the rear-view mirror.

A strong defensive effort and a big second-half turnaround on offense led Iowa State to a win to start the season.

Here are the three biggest takeaways from the season opener:

Cyclone defense locks down post, forces perimeter shots

Butler’s starting lineup consisted of four guards and a forward. The height difference was big, especially with Isnelle Natabou and Audi Crooks at center for Iowa State.

The defense contained Butler all game. The Bulldogs barely made their way inside, and when they did, they quickly kicked the ball out for a three.

“It’s been kind of a unique thing for us because we haven’t coached physical, true, back-to-the-basket post players ever at Iowa State,” Iowa State head coach Bill Fennelly said.

Iowa State gave up just 26 points in the paint and held Butler to a substantially low 3-point percentage. 

Butler went 4-for-22 from three in the first half and did not get any better in the second, making 7-of-32 overall. Butler made it hard on itself at times too, forcing shots quickly and not spreading the ball around for open looks.

Freshmen turn it up in the second half

The biggest story this season is the five freshmen. They have had high expectations all through the off-season and finally got to go out and show their skills.

There were some mistakes early on. Missed shots and turnovers plagued the freshmen throughout the first half.

“The message was simple at halftime. We had 11 turnovers and 29 points; in the second half we had four turnovers and 51 points,” Fennelly said. “It was great to see our team play that way and play with a lot of interchangeable parts.”

Butler double-teamed Crooks throughout most of the first half, and she turned the ball over four times in seven minutes of court time. It seemed they knew she was a threat that needed to be contained.

The mistakes allowed Butler to close in on the lead, trailing by one early in the third quarter. 

Then a new team emerged. 

The Cyclones started hitting shots and not turning the ball over. Nyamer Diew sparked the scoring streak with two threes in the third.

That opened up the rest of the offense. Kelsey Joens and Addy Brown added to the 3-point-party, as the trio went 5-for-6 from three in the third quarter, taking the lead up to 15 entering the fourth.

Joens finished 3-for-6 from three, and Brown went 5-for-7 from the field in their Iowa State debut.

“Our freshmen are willing and able to learn. They want to grow, they want to be coached [and] they want to do what’s best for the team,” Diew said.

Crooks had a big shift in her game as well. She played nine minutes in the second half, had zero second-half turnovers and scored six of her eight points in the second half.

Natabou was proud that Crooks was able to contribute more than just scoring points.

“Points are great; everybody knows that,” Natabou said. “But setting great screens, being active in defense, helping your teammates get great shots—shooters like Hannah [Belanger], [Diew] and Kelsey [Joens], they need open shots. Your teammates need you. Your ego doesn’t need you; you can do it, and Audi [Crooks] knew it already.”

Diew goes off

Diew did not play in the exhibition game Wednesday against Truman State. That time off seemed to be worth it, as she was the biggest factor on both sides of the ball.

Diew transferred from Butler to Iowa State, so she had some experience with Butler’s tendencies.

“We just look at it as any other game,” Diew said. “I still have the Iowa State jersey at the end of the day. It’s just a competition, somebody you have to beat.”

In her 34 minutes, Diew had 19 points and nine rebounds, four being offensive. She was one short of a double-double but did lead the Cyclones in points and rebounds.

“[Diew] was the best player on the court for us,” Fennelly said.

Her post-game was a big key, getting four baskets in the paint and forcing fouls. Diew went 5-for-6 from the charity stripe.

Diew’s presence was felt the entire game. The leadership she brings to the team will be something that the freshmen can look to for improvement and positivity.

“Our team did a great job not only with all of the physical stuff but mentally preparing too,” Diew said.

The Cyclones’ next game will be their first road test as they take on the Drake Bulldogs. The game will start at noon Sunday and will be streamed live on ESPN+.