Cyclones open NCAAs with Lehigh; UConn looms

AMES – The good news for Iowa State's women's basketball team Monday?

The Cyclones (23-7) received a No. 4 seed will play No. 13 Lehigh Sunday night at Hilton Coliseum in a first-round NCAA Tournament game – with star point guard Alison Lacey.

The not-so good news out of the bracket announcement?

If ISU gets past the opening round and can defeat the winner of No. 5 Virginia-No. 12 Green Bay, it sets up a likely Sweet 16 match-up with mighty Connecticut, winners of its last 72 games and the odds-on favorite to defend its national title as the No. 1 overall seed.

“It's hard not to notice that,” said Lacey, who has had to sit out ISU's last three games while recovering from pneumonia. “There's no point in worrying about them when you have other teams to beat.”

Coach Bill Fennelly echoed those sentiments a few minutes after seeing the pairings unveiled along with his players and coaches at the Sukup Basketball Complex.

“I'm not answering any UConn questions,” Fennelly said. “I'm not going to talk about it. If we are lucky enough to win two games I'll sit up all night and talk about anything you want UConn.”

Lacey last played Feb. 27 in a victory over Kansas State.

The all-Big 12 senior professed herself ready to go for ISU's 8:30 p.m. game.

Two at-large selections -- Virginia (21-9) out of the ACC and Green Bay (27-4) from the Horizon League – will play the early game at Hilton at 6 p.m.

“You couldn't keep me off the floor if you wanted to,” Lacey said. “I feel really good. Each day I'm getting better.”

Lacey did some shooting and light running over the last week, but went through her first full-length practice on Monday.

“She pushed it pretty hard,” Fennelly said. “We practiced better today than we have in two weeks. I wonder why that is.”

Lehigh went 29-3 overall and won the Patriot League championship at 13-1 in conference play.

The Cyclones, runners-up to Nebraska in the Big 12, will show them proper respect. Three Mountain Hawks average in double figures in scoring.

“They won 29 games for a reason,” Fennelly said. “Anyone who has been through this before knows you can't look past anyone, and no one is going to do that.”

Especially Lacey, who will have gone 22 days between games by Sunday.

Playing in their home building should be a huge advantage for the Cyclones, who are playing in their fourth straight NCAA Tournament.

“The fans help us but in the end it's the five people on the court who are going to win the game,” said Lacey, who averages 17.1 points and 6.5 assists a game.

This will Fennelly's 11

The Cyclones have been a No. 4 seed or better seven times.

^th

trip to the NCAAs in 14 seasons as head coach.