Cyclones have their answer at point guard

ThIowa State began the season without a good idea of what it had at its signature spot: point guard.

After seven games, six of them victories, the Cyclones have discovered their biggest question mark isn't much of a question after all. Lauren Mansfield goes into Thursday's 7 p.m. game at No. 19 Iowa (8-1) third nationally in assists (7.0) and looking like she should have been the obvious choice all along.

“She has been everything we could have asked for and more,” Coach Bill Fennelly said. “I've been pleasantly surprised at the impact she's had in a short amount of time.”

Most believed without departed All-American Alison Lacey, ISU would struggle offensively.

The shooting hasn't been great and there's still room for improvement, but Mansfield has efficiently run the team while also producing some points. The transfer from Midland (Texas) College is second on the team in scoring (10.1 ppg) and is shooting 47.6 percent from behind the 3-point line.

“She's a very smooth point guard,” forward Chelsea Poppens said. “Lauren's been great for us this year. I'm glad she came here.”

Mansfield was the first Cyclone newcomer to start at point guard in a season opener since Stacy Frese in the 1997-98 season. She dished out nine assists in that game, a 58-32 victory over Western Illinois.

The lefty's work in a victory over TCU in the Virgin Islands was even more impressive. Mansfield had 20 points, six rebounds and five assists and got the Cyclones from down seven points to up five with 3-pointers on four straight possessions.

“For coming in just this year and having to learn a new system I think she's doing really well,” center Anna Prins said.

Cyclone point guards have played well in recent Cy-Hawk Series games, four of the last five ISU victories.

Lacey put up a triple double last season, Lyndsey Medders had two 20-point games and in a 77-61 victory in 2005 dished out 14 assists, then the second-best game total in school history.

Six busloads - about 300 people - are headed to Carver-Hawkeye Arena hoping to see a similar performance. Rest easy, Cyclone fans.

Mansfield's play - or lack thereof - will not be the reason if ISU does not achieve its goals this season, Fennelly said.

“Our point guard is good enough to win at this level,” he said. “Not carry a team yet, like Alison Lacey or Lyndsey Medders, but she's pretty damn good. And she's going to get better.”