ISU’s Fennelly searching for a new leader on the floor

AMES - Iowa State begins practice today in a situation Bill Fennelly has never found himself in.

The coach, who is entering his 16th season at ISU, can't honestly say who his starting point guard will be. Five players - four of whom are completely new to the program - are up for the job.

“I don't know who it will be,” Fennelly said. “We might not know for a long time.”

That position has rarely been a question mark for the Cyclones, and most years has featured the team's best and gutsiest player.

“We've been very lucky,” Fennelly said. “It's been an amazing run of point guards here.”

Last year's starter, Alison Lacey, was a first-round WNBA Draft pick and may have been the best of the bunch. Her scoring, presence and leadership will be missed.

Fittingly, another Australian may end up taking Lacey's place.

Junior college transfer Lauren Mansfield, an Adelaide, Australia, native has the most experience of any of the others.

Junior Chassidy Cole played the point some last year and will be given a shot when practice begins today. True freshmen Kelsey Harris and Elly Arganbright and another junior college newcomer, Darcie Dick, also are candidates.

“Whatever point guard steps in there's going to be that pressure to pick up where (Lacey) left off,” Mansfield said. “There are huge shoes to fill.”

The Cyclones went 25-8 and reached the Sweet 16 last season for the second straight year largely because of Lacey. She led the team in scoring (15.8) and assists (6.2).

Mansfield, an honorable mention All-American at Midland (Texas) College, is excited to show what she can do.

“It's going to be great,” she said. “Everyone is going to be competing and working hard in practice.”

Kelsey Bolte is the team's only senior and will be expected to lead this young team.

Bolte was ISU's second-leading scorer (12.3 ppg) a season ago, but has always been one to play off others. She's going to have to take the tough shots this year.

“I'll do it,” she said. “I'm willing to take the responsibility and I want to try doing a lot more for my team.”

Fennelly thinks the 6-foot-1 guard is ready to step out and become a leader.

“Kelsey has a unique way of interacting with her teammates,” he said. “They trust her. The coaches trust her. She's very excited about what the possibilities are for her senior year.”

The Cyclones have a difficult non-conference schedule.

In addition to the annual in-state games against Iowa, Northern Iowa and Drake, they play host to Michigan and will go against a trio of Top 25-caliber teams in Virginia, TCU and West Virginia at the Paradise Jam Tournament over Thanksgiving weekend.

Fennelly isn't worried about the point guard position just yet.

Being counted on to ease the burden will be the group of sophomores who played big minutes a year ago. That will help tremendously.

“The other kids around them have to play at a very high level,” Fennelly said. “They are all good enough. They are all on scholarship. If we find one who can do it I think we can have a pretty good team.”