Iowa State women’s basketball continues to seek consistency

AMES — Iowa State women’s basketball coach Bill Fennelly doesn’t put much stock into terms such as “must wins” or “big weeks.”

He is, however, a believer in “big opportunities,” and that’s a concept the Cyclones (10-6, 1-2 Big 12) embrace in Wednesday’s 7:30 p.m. matchup with Arizona State (8-7, 2-1) in Tempe.

“I think anytime you can get a road win, it’s always good,” said Fennelly, whose team will face the Sun Devils for the first time since 1995 — his first season as ISU’s head coach. “I think the biggest challenge for us right now is trying to find some kind of rhythm, rotation that allows our execution and efficiency to match up with our effort.”

Fennelly has said repeatedly he has “zero issues” with the Cyclones’ commitment to hard work, but at some point, favorable results need to accompany that grit-founded quality on a consistent basis, and it’s why he’s been mixing and matching lineups liberally early in the conference season.

That trend, he said, will continue until he and his staff find a configuration that clicks frequently, rather than erratically — but there’s one tweak he immediately plans to make.

“I would say Kelsey Joens (may play more),” Fennelly said of the sophomore guard and former West Liberty star. “I don’t know if there’s anything in particular except that the kid is in the gym a lot. She’s working at it. I mean, she deserves a chance to maybe get a few extra minutes here and there.”

Perhaps Joens — who shoots a solid 37.5 percent from 3-point range, but is averaging just 13.4 minutes per game — may supply an answer on both ends of the floor. ISU’s seeking a consistent performer beyond the productive sophomore front court duo of Audi Crooks (23.2 points per game, 8.1 rebounds) and Addy Brown (13 6 points, 7.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists), as well as senior point guard Emily Ryan, who’s scored more than double her season average in the past two games.

But however the revamped rotation plays out, the Cyclones are eager for a reset of sorts as they complete a two-game road swing through the southwest on Saturday at Arizona (11-5, 2-1).

“Going on the road just gives us more time — we’re all together,” said transfer guard Sydney Harris, who’s shot a blistering 49.2 percent from long range this season but has struggled at times defensively. “There (are) no outside distractions. Not saying we have any (otherwise), but it’s just different. I think it will be fun.”

Especially if ISU can finally start executing with regularity for a full 40 minutes, not just in fits and starts.

“Hopefully (we) play better and find those five to seven minutes we’ve missed kind of in every game that we’ve lost,” Fennelly said. “We’re gonna see two good teams, and that’s the nature of this league.”

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