Ashley Joens looks to stay out of foul trouble as Iowa State women’s basketball tries to bounce back against Baylor

AMES — Ashley Joens found herself in a rare position late in Iowa State’s 78-77 loss Wednesday at Kansas State: On the bench and unable to return.

The Cyclones’ senior standout fouled out for the first time in the past 26 games.

She must ensure getting into foul trouble doesn’t become a trend as No. 12 ISU (15-5, 7-3 Big 12) prepares to face Baylor (15-6, 6-3) at 5 p.m. Saturday in Hilton Coliseum (ESPNU).

“Those things kind of happen,” said Joens, who scored nine of her 17 points in the fourth quarter against the Wildcats. “You just have to play through them and I think the team did a good job of continuing to battle through (it).”

On Saturday, Joens and the Cyclones will face an unranked Bears team for the first time since Feb. 1, 2003. Baylor won its first of three national titles under then-head coach Kim Mulkey two years later and remains a deeply talented and athletic team regardless of whether there’s a number by its name or not.

“They’re a very, very skilled team,” said ISU head coach Bill Fennelly, whose team is tied with Oklahoma for second place in the Big 12 standings. “Their guards are good. They play with a lot of freedom. They shoot the ball quickly. They’re not the tallest team, but they’re very physical.

“They’re going to attack us. They seem to really embrace and be excited about the big stage. That’s kind of a Baylor thing.”

It’s also a Joens thing. She’s already the Cyclones’ all-time leader in scoring, rebounding, 3-pointers made and free throws converted, but is 2-7 all-time against the Bears.

“They don’t quite have the size that they normally have, but they’re still a big, strong, fast team and they’re gonna come out and give us everything they have,” Joens said. “We just have to be able to counter it and continue to play the entire 40 minutes."

Baylor routed ISU, 87-62, last season as Joens was honored on senior night. She was mulling over whether to return via a COVID year or not at the time, but ultimately decided to spend one more season with the Cyclones, who have won 11 consecutive games at Hilton since that loss to the Bears.

“Ash has been a part of this situation for five years and there’s fewer and fewer opportunities for her and our fans to see her,” Fennelly said.

And vice versa. Saturday’s crowd likely will be supercharged by whatever happens when the ISU men take on Kansas in a top-15 matchup a few hours earlier — and against a team such as Baylor, every cheer counts.

“When things are going well it kind of gives us more energy,” Joens said. “And if things aren’t going well, they kind of keep us going.”

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