Young Iowa State women’s basketball team takes on seasoned Drake on Sunday

AMES — Eight Iowa State women’s basketball players played between 17 and 34 minutes apiece in Monday’s 82-55 season-opening win over Butler.

Only one of those Cyclones — senior forward Nyamer Diew — had ever suited up for Bill Fennelly’s team in a regular-season game before, and ISU’s youth movement will remain in full effect until for the foreseeable future.

“They’ve embraced it,” said Fennelly, whose team (1-0) plays fast-paced and experienced Drake (2-0) at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Knapp Center in Des Moines. “They understand the importance that they have on our team. They understand the minutes they’re gonna play.”

Diew narrowly missed recording her second career double-double (19 points, nine rebounds) in ISU’s season-opening win. Transfer post player Isnelle Natabou added 14 points and freshman Addy Brown — the Cyclones’ most highly-rated incoming recruit — showcased her diverse skills by posting an 11-point, seven-rebound, five-assist stat line in her debut. Fellow freshmen Kelsey Joens and Jalynn Bristow led ISU in 3-point baskets (three) and steals (two), respectively, so Fennelly enjoys plenty of skilled, but largely unproven, options across all positions.

The seasoned Bulldogs, meanwhile, are coming off an impressive 78-66 road win at Saint Louis. Drake’s won 20 or more games in eight of the past nine seasons and has been tabbed to finish second to Northern Iowa in the Missouri Valley Conference standings this season.

“I think you worry about the pace,” said Fennelly, whose team seeks its third straight win in the series with the Bulldogs. “You’re in a different gym. The fans — I mean, they’re gonna have a huge crowd. It’s probably their biggest home game of their season. The officiating is usually a little different on the road and even though it’s a very short trip, it seems like it’s a long way away because of all the things you’re gonna have to deal with. But that’s part of it.”

So is fielding one of the youngest teams in the Big 12, if not the entire country — and ISU’s freshmen accounted for well above 50 percent of the team’s points, rebounds, made 3-pointers, rebounds and assists in the win over Butler. That’s just a fact of life for Fennelly’s team as it continues to play without All-Big 12 point guard Emily Ryan because of “a health-related issue.” It’s a grow-up-fast-or-else situation for the Cyclones, and as Fennelly noted, his youngest players have welcomed the challenge.

“When we get on the bus to come home, we’ll have another level of knowledge about our kids, individually and collectively,” Fennelly said.

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