Lacey providing leadership spark for Cyclones

AMES - Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly has made no secret of his team's dependence on senior guard Alison Lacey. Lacey has lived up to her coach's expectations.

“She is playing at an all-Big 12 level,” Fennelly said. “Her numbers are staggering.”

Lacey enters tonight's game with Iowa at Hilton Coliseum averaging 16.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 8.5 assists. Her assist-to-turnover ratio (5.1) ranks as the best in college basketball.

As the team's best and most experienced returning player, leadership responsibilities have fallen on Lacey's shoulders.

Five seniors from last year's Elite Eight team are gone, and Lacey is the veteran of a squad with four freshmen and two sophomores playing key roles.

“There's no one in our program that has more pressure on them than she has,” Fennelly said. “If she doesn't play well, we don't have a chance to win. Everyone knows it.”

She didn't have much choice, Fennelly jokes, but Lacey said she was ready to accept that role.

“I enjoy it when things are going good. When they are a little tough it's hard,” she said. “Coach Fennelly helps me through it. I see what he goes through now and appreciate him a little more.”

A native of Canberra, Australia, Lacey had to do some studying on the Iowa-ISU series. She's been in the United States only since age 16.

“I thought they were the same team,” Lacey said. “I learned pretty quickly it was a huge rivalry.”

ISU (5-1) begins its most difficult stretch of games tonight before the start of the Big 12 Conference schedule Jan. 9.

The Cyclones play Sunday at Minnesota. Iowa (5-4) will try to snap a 43-game streak of ISU home wins over non-conference opponents during the regular season.

“Our kids are excited about playing. These are fun games,” Fennelly said.

Junior guard Kelsey Bolte is expected back after sitting out a victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff because of a sore Achilles.

Freshman Anna Prins did not play because of a virus and is doubtful for tonight's game. The 6-7 center is averaging 13.0 points and 6.0 rebounds.

Cyclone players should be properly motivated to face their in-state rivals.

“There shouldn't be a whole lot of pre-game speeches,” Fennelly said. “If you are not juiced up to be involved in this game you are in the wrong place.”