Iowa State adds Australian forward/center, Lauren Mills

Garrett Kroeger

Iowa State women’s basketball coach Bill Fennelly will now have two natives from the land down under on this year’s roster.

JUCO transfer Bride Kennedy-Hopoate, who hails from Brisbane, Australia, has been a nice addition down low this season for the Cyclones. The Aussie has averaged 7.9 points and 4.7 rebounds per game in her first year in the cardinal and gold. And now Kennedy-Hopoate will be joined by follow Australian, Lauren Mills.

“We are excited to add Lauren to the Cyclone women’s basketball family,” Fennelly said in a press release. “Getting Lauren here now allows her to get acclimated in all areas of Division I basketball and how we do things at Iowa State. Adding inside depth is always important at this level and we feel Lauren has a great upside.”

The Hobart, Tasmania, Australia native is 6-foot-2 forward/center who has competed on development teams in her native Australia, representing Tasmania in the U14 through U18 Basketball Championships. Over the last two seasons, Mills has competed at the highest levels of netball in Tasmania.

Although Mills is immediately eligible, she is expected to redshirt the remainder of the 2017-18 season. She will have four years of eligibility with the Cyclones.

“I’m extremely happy and excited to be here in Ames and I cannot wait to start working with the coaching staff and the girls over the next four years,” Mills said in a press release.