Iowa State women’s basketball notes: Ashley Joens expects decision on extra year ‘soon’

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Iowa State women’s basketball star Ashley Joens says a decision will be revealed soon regarding her future with the program.

Joens has played four seasons for the Cyclones, but with the NCAA allowing an extra season of eligibility because of the pandemic, she can stay for a fifth campaign.

“I haven’t thought about that yet,” Joens said Friday night shortly after the end of the team’s season. “I’ll decide soon.”

Joens, who’s from Iowa City, is a second-team All-American and a three-time All-Big 12 Conference first-team selection.

The Cyclones (28-7) bowed out of the NCAA Tournament with Friday night’s 76-68 loss to Creighton in the Sweet 16 at Greensboro Coliseum.

Joens has 2,369 career points, ranking seventh in Big 12 history.

For coach Bill Fennelly, it’s difficult to consider what next season’s team might look like.

“I can’t process next year yet,” he said. “When you have Emily Ryan and Lexi Donarski — obviously, Ash has not made her decision — that's a great way to start a team.”

Record roundup

Iowa State made eight shots from 3-point range Friday night, pushing its season total to 357. That extended the single-season program and Big 12 records.

Sophomore guard Ryan padded her single-season school record for assists by adding six. So she finishes with 249.

A matter of points

This final defeat was the Cyclones’ closest loss of the season in terms of margin, though there was an 82-73 overtime setback to Texas in the Big 12 tournament.

More for Maley

Creighton’s Morgan Maley finished with 21 points, all coming within the first three quarters. She’s a sophomore reserve, exceeding her previous career-high mark of 20 points that was achieved three times — including last week against Colorado in the opening round in Iowa City.

“She's not a bench player,” Creighton coach Jim Flanery said. “We just don't start her, but she's on the floor a lot.”

It turns out her eight points in the second-round upset at Iowa was a low mark of the season against teams from the state of Iowa.

She tallied 15 in the season opener at Drake and posted 10 in late November against Northern Iowa.

Meanwhile, there was such a good flow for the Bluejays in the second half against ISU that they played the entire fourth quarter without Emma Ronsiek, the team’s leading scorer.

“It wasn’t because I didn’t trust her,” Flanery said. “It was because I trusted some other people.”

Parting quote

“I think our fans loved watching this team play because they can tell that they’re connected and they play the game the right way." Fennelly after the conclusion of his 27th season with the Cyclones.