Prins key to Cyclone success

AMES - Anna Prins' postseason to this point has been forgettable, to say the least.

For No. 7-seed Iowa State to beat No. 10 Marist (30-2) Saturday in Durham, N.C., and advance past the first round of the NCAA tournament for a fifth straight season, the 6-7 center will need to improve her production.

Prins made 3 of 20 shots in conference tournament games against Nebraska and Kansas State, which eliminated ISU (22-10) in the quarterfinals.

“If Anna plays like she did in the Big 12 tournament, we are one and done,” Coach Bill Fennelly said. “If Anna plays like she's capable, we have a chance to win one. She's a big part of our game.

“It's no secret she has to play better. The person who knows it best is Anna.”

Prins is the team's second-leading scorer (9.4) and rebounder (5.3). When Prins is playing well, the Cyclones are hard to beat.

“I've heard it from the coaches, so I know that's the case,” Prins said. “It's a little bit of pressure, but it's exciting.”

Her ability to score from the lane and beyond the 3-point line - and how that impacts her teammates - provides a dimension that can turn ISU from good, to really good.

“She's definitely a key,” point guard Lauren Mansfield said. “With her outside and inside game it really opens up the floor for everyone.”

In the 14 games Prins scored in double figures, the Cyclones averaged 67.1 points and were 10-4.

“She changes the game for us,” Fennelly said. “It's a trickle down. You can't double team (Kelsey) Bolte as easy, or double team Lauren. (Chelsea) Poppens becomes the post player who doesn't draw the best defender, which gives her a run to go rebound.”

Prins averaged 14.4 points in ISU's three NCAA tournament games a year ago. Playing at Hilton Coliseum for the opening rounds helped, but the sophomore played big in her first elimination experience.

“It's was just a matter of playing and enjoying the moment and environment,” Prins said. “Sometimes I think about things too much. It seems simple to just say go out and play. Basketball is a game of reacting to what the defense does and not just going through the motions. I feel like I do that sometimes rather than going out and just playing.

“That's the mentality I'm going to go in with (vs. Marist) and have a swagger.”

Prins is going to have to hold her own on the defensive end as well. Marist will have her moving all over the floor, making defensive switches.

“They are going to spread us out and she'll have to go out and guard in (open) space a little more than she's used to,” Fennelly said. “But they have to guard her, too.”