Twister Sister Summary - Iowa hands ISU another butt whooping

[cigaretteman]

I can't think of her name write now, but is the girl from Ames High (Guard) still on the Iowa team? I thought she played some last year.

Trisha Nesbitt. She has a foot injury, and it's not clear whether she will play this year or not.

Hawks deal with injuries | Hawk Central

[Wesley]

Bill better start recruiting more athleticism. The days of nice solid team may not hold up in the Big 12.

[cyclone13]

Bill already said in this twitter
" apologize to all Cyclone fans for the way we played tonight--It is my responsibilty and I WILL CORRECT IT!Thanks for your support "

[BenEClone]

Looking for hope - We had a player and a coach ill, possibly there were others at least not at 100%. Enormous disparity in several key stats - shots taken and made 14-43 and 25-60; rebounds 40-27; assists 17-3; turnovers 18-14. And, some say the intangibles - game readiness, confidence, effort and intensity seemed to be lacking. These are things we can work on. We've got six games and close to a full month to get ready for conference play.

I might add that Bill usually signals when we get beat by a better team - I get the sense that is not the case this time and Bill will fix it.

[acoustimac]

Bill better start recruiting more athleticism. The days of nice solid team may not hold up in the Big 12.

Take a look at next year's recruiting class. It has athleticism written all over it. Our biggest problem right now is the inconsistent or total lack of solid play by our inside players. Pop hustles and plays defense but can't score if you put a ladder by the basket. Prins is just weak physically. She is slow. Zimmerman...well you never know when she will show up or when she will disappear. As with last night...she shined for 45 seconds and then the light went out.

Its a tough game and I always remind myself that these are kids (from my perspective). But I'm not afraid to call it like I see it at this level.

[SplitIdentity]

Looking for hope - We had a player and a coach ill, possibly there were others at least not at 100%. Enormous disparity in several key stats - shots taken and made 14-43 and 25-60; rebounds 40-27; assists 17-3; turnovers 18-14. And, some say the intangibles - game readiness, confidence, effort and intensity seemed to be lacking. These are things we can work on. We've got six games and close to a full month to get ready for conference play.

I might add that Bill usually signals when we get beat by a better team - I get the sense that is not the case this time and Bill will fix it.

No offense, but that was clearly the case last night.

With that said, I hope the games between the men becomes just as good/competitive in the future as the series between the women has gotten.

[Gizmo]

It is my experience that the Cyclones are never as bad as we think they are after a loss and on the flip side, the Hawkeyes are never as good at THEY think they are after a win! GO CYCLONES!!!!

[CYdTracked]

From watching the game at Hilton Sunday I think our post players need to get more physical and our perimeter players like Mansfield and Schroll need to be more agressive and take some shots. Prins could really be havoc for other teams if she's just use her size more and take it stronger to the basket then just getting her hands up and put a little body into someone when she's playing defense too. I don't know how many times she got beat by a smaller player when all she needed to do was get in front of them with hands up to deter them from driving to the basket on her.

Mansfield and Schroll are the 2 best ball handlers on the teamd too and several times I thought both were hesitant to shoot or drive by their defender Sunday. This team can't rely so heavy on Bolte shooting the 3, there are going to be nights where she is cold and someone else will have to step up and take the big shots. Looks like last night Mansfield did that while Schroll took just 3 shots, Christopherson 0 and Prins just 2 and also was in foul trouble. It's too bad Prins doesn't have the strength Zimmerman does because she's be tough to stop if she did.

[Wesley]

Prins needs to work on her strength then if she is going to get banged around in the Big 12. I mean, this is not intramurals as the Hawk (ins) said.

[NYCy]

Bill already said in this twitter
" apologize to all Cyclone fans for the way we played tonight--It is my responsibilty and I WILL CORRECT IT!Thanks for your support "

Here is the full stream from Twitter this morning including Bill's exchanges and responses from many Cyclone fans:

bizownersonline: @isucoachfen we all know you're working very hard to put the best team on the floor, but don't forget to take care of you.

mikecondon: @ISUCoachFen Hawk fan here, but also love seeing your team do well. I'm sure you will rebound from last night. I enjoy ISU women's hoops

ISUCoachFen: Good luck to Cyclone MBB at Iowa and the Gymnastics Team as the hold their intrasquad meet!Go Cyclones

ISUCoachFen: The season is OFFICIALLY here-working on LIMITED sleep and my eatings habits have gone from bad to worse!

jbgcook: @ISUCoachFen can't wait to watch you bounce back on Sunday. Loyal sons forever true

TheRiv23: RT @mattjensenisu: @ISUCoachFen tough night tonite but we (the best fans) kno u will keep working n get this team where it needs to go. #bestcoachinwbb

mattjensenisu: @ISUCoachFen tough night tonite but we (the best fans) kno u will keep working n get this team where it needs to go. #bestcoachinwbb

ISUCoachFen: Almost a perfect ending to a LONG night-missed hitting a deer by inches!!

ISUCoachFen: LATE night in the office-many things to try and get right so we can have a team that wears the uniform the way we should for the best fans!

crazyco44: I love how humble @ISUCoachFen always is, really a great leader & coach. We're so lucky to have him

misskatetx: @ISUCoachFen We are proud of your cyclones! Just a bump in the road....keep up your never-ending positive attitude.Tomorrow is another day!!

reese7: I'm definitely a WBB basketball dihard fan after two games- I LOVED seeing Cyclone nation rally behind @ISUCoachFen and the Women's team!

huddleup0722: @ISUCoachFen We're behind you, coach. Tomorrow is a new day!

joshuameyer: @ISUCoachFen prayed for Rich, the doctors and nurses, and the whole ISU WBB family.

simville02: RT @ISUCoachFen: Please say a prayer for the voice of ISU WBB Rich Fellingham as he has some medical things to deal with tomorrow

dm_shaw: @ISUCoachFen Been hearing Rich on the radio all my life. Hope all is well

CycloneWBB: RT @ISUCoachFen: Please say a prayer for the voice of ISU WBB Rich Fellingham as he has some medical things to deal with tomorrow

ISUCoachFen: Please say a prayer for the voice of ISU WBB Rich Fellingham as he has some medical things to deal with tomorrow-one of the BEST GUYS EVER

cardnlngld4evr: @ISUCoachFen We believe in you and our team! Keep your chin up and keep working hard!

cyclones100: @ISUCoachFen No need to apologize. You are an awesome ambassador for Cyclone nation. Good luck to you and the team.

Batch40oz: RT @KeyleeP: Nothin but love. RT @ISUCoachFen: I apologize to all Cyclone fans for the way we played tonight- I WILL CORRECT IT!Thanks for your support

bklarsonIA: @ISUCoachFen 2 years ago an avg iowa team beat isu by 20 at carver. We still made the sweet sixteen! I BELIEVE we will be there again!<

superdorf: RT @KeyleeP: Nothin but love. RT @ISUCoachFen: I apologize to all Cyclone fans for the way we played tonight- I WILL CORRECT IT!Thanks for your support

KeyleeP: Nothin but love. RT @ISUCoachFen: I apologize to all Cyclone fans for the way we played tonight- I WILL CORRECT IT!Thanks for your support

AndrewJSpringer: @ISUCoachFen still proud to be a Cyclone, coach! Keep goin strong!

GarmanSports: Wow. RT @isucoachfen: I apologize to all Cyclone fans for the way we played tonight--It is my responsibilty and I WILL CORRECT IT

ISUCoachFen: I apologize to all Cyclone fans for the way we played tonight--It is my responsibilty and I WILL CORRECT IT!Thanks for your support about 12 hours ago via ÜberTwitter

[vortex]

That is really in depth.

[Cyhart]

It was a nightmare to start this game. For starters, Pop was sick and missed the shoot around. She is definitely not herself and we definitely missed her presence at full speed. It seemed like an all too familiar story when the ladies play in Iowa City. It seemed that Iowa could do no wrong for the first 15 minutes as they shot lights out (over 50%) and ISU couldn't solve the Iowa defense.

Early in the game it was back and forth. The first five minutes showed each team creeping to a one point lead and then the other make a matching move. Suddenly or perhaps I should say slowly, Iowa began to pull away and the Sister's offense was on hold. No one could do anything for ISU except to foul. To make matters worse, it wasn't Iowa's outside game that was killing us. They were scoring in the paint and ISU was fouling them. When Iowa wasn't hitting they were pulling down offensive boards a la West Virginia. Do you think Bluder watched that tape closely? It was looking like a blowout when Iowa reached out to a 22-8 lead and ISU didn't score for nearly 9 minutes.

It almost seemed like a light switch was flipped in the last 5 minutes of the first half. Mansfield came alive and started a comeback for the Twister Sisters. Add to that the surprise play of Zimm. She showed up unlike anytime this year. She was grabbing boards and she hit a quick 5 points to shave the Iowa lead to 22-13. Mansfield scored the next six before Bolt got in on the fun to can a two and all of a sudden the blowout was off. It was Iowa 24-21 and the Sisters were rocking.

The rest of the half was ugly for both sides with turnovers, fouls and missed shots. The greatest blessing for ISU was that Iowa couldn't hit their free throws. They even got some offensive boards and couldn't hit the follow ups until Wahlin got another bucket in the paint to put Iowa up 26-21 at the half. Believe me folks, I felt much better at this point that at any time during this first half. It wasn't pretty. We weren't rebounding like we should and our inside defense wasn't anything to brag about. BUT our determination and resiliency showed and we were in the game. Mansfield finished the first half with 10 points and only 1 assist. After that it was Zimm with those 5 points and Bolte with 4.

The second half started just how we wanted it to. Bolte stole the inbounds pass from Iowa and while Mansfield missed, Slash grabbed the board and Prins was fouled. Two free throws later and it was 26-23. Add to that Mansfield blocked (yes folks blocked) the next Iowa shot and ISU was headed to the offensive end. What I saw at this point was a team that was hustling more than Iowa and being aggressive on the boards. Unfortunately, Prins picked up her third foul, Iowa scored and we were one big person down.

Again it seemed like ISU just went into a funk. We couldn't hit and we turned the ball over. Iowa hit a three that gave them some breathing room at 32-25, but both teams were struggling from the field. The scary part…as it was in the first half… ISU was fouling or at least getting called for it much more than Iowa was. Loz picked up her third foul and went to the bench. No sooner than Cole came in she turned the ball over leading to a fast break layup by Iowa. All of a sudden it was a 10 point lead. Shades of the first half!!.

The rest of this half was just ugliness on both sides. Iowa edged out to a 17 point lead mainly due to a rash of 3 straight turnovers, missed free throws, and lots of missed shots. 12 minutes into the half and ISU had only scored 7 points. Some of this had to be credited to Iowa's defense, but ISU couldn't hit the broad side of the barn when they had the chance. I was wondering if the Sisters had one more run in them. Harris hit a three to help get it to 13 with less that seven left. Unfortunately it didn't get any better as the ladies went on to keep missing, missing, missing. Iowa responded with a brief surge and put the lead up to 18 with some free throws and big three. We weren't getting boards - Iowa was. Ugly people. We simply were not in the game in the second half. Loz was our star for the game with 16 points followed by Bolte with 8. That should say something. What I hoped was a strength - our inside game - again wasn't there. Prins - 2 points, Zimm - 5 points, Pop - 0 points, Big C - 4 points. That, my friends is a recipe for disaster in any Iowa State game. Add to that a grand total of 11 rebounds among the four.

Final Score - Iowa 62-40

Interesting stat of the game - Iowa got off 17 more shots than we did and scored 11 more baskets.

Big stat of the game - Iowa had SIXTEEN offensive rebounds. Adds up to lots of second chance points.

Positive state for ISU - we hit 10 of 12 free throws.

I hate to say "I told you so," but Iowa is everything I feared they would be. They have a balance that our ladies don't have. They had three players in double figures and we had one. Folks this second half was just a good old fashioned butt whooping. If it weren't for what I saw in the Virgin Islands I'd start to wonder if we were a legit top 25 team. The cohesiveness just isn't there right now. I don't want to take anything away from Iowa as they appear to be a very good team. Our ladies have a lot of work to do when faced with the upcoming Big-12 schedule. If our bigs can't get their game going and going soon its going to be a very long season. We'll get our 17-18 wins, but there is potential for so much more. We also have to find another scorer to play off of Bolt and Loz. No one seems to want to grab that baton quite yet.

The upside of all of this is it gives Coach Fennelly a lot to work on during the remainder of the non-conference schedule. Confidence will be step one. Getting the aforementioned cohesiveness will be step two. Step three will be the inside game. These ladies have got to find their game versus being stuck in the sophomore slump.

See you Sunday at Hilton folks.

We should have that balance though! We have a very formidable front-line. Although they sure didnt look like it last night. My question coming into the season was guard play. But, Mansfield looked more than capable. She has some nice moves and had almost half of our points.
Our bigs played just awful last night. I hate criticizing them, but after last night they certainly deserve it. If Pop was sick, then thats one thing. And Hallie is still undersized and probably trying to adjust to this level of play. I am most disappointed with Prins. No excuse for that kind of play at this level.

[NYCy]

From watching the game at Hilton Sunday I think our post players need to get more physical and our perimeter players like Mansfield and Schroll need to be more agressive and take some shots. Prins could really be havoc for other teams if she's just use her size more and take it stronger to the basket then just getting her hands up and put a little body into someone when she's playing defense too. I don't know how many times she got beat by a smaller player when all she needed to do was get in front of them with hands up to deter them from driving to the basket on her.

Mansfield and Schroll are the 2 best ball handlers on the teamd too and several times I thought both were hesitant to shoot or drive by their defender Sunday. This team can't rely so heavy on Bolte shooting the 3, there are going to be nights where she is cold and someone else will have to step up and take the big shots. Looks like last night Mansfield did that while Schroll took just 3 shots, Christopherson 0 and Prins just 2 and also was in foul trouble. It's too bad Prins doesn't have the strength Zimmerman does because she's be tough to stop if she did.

Regarding Prins, I agree with you. It's frustrating. I think I counted three times in the game when Prins received a pass into the post, had her hands on the ball, and fumbled it out of bounds. I was like "JUST CATCH IT AND SHOOT IT!!!"

[kcdc4isu]

What has been pointed out by a number of posters is our bigs need to step up. We only had 11 points from 4 players in this game. If you go back to last year we only lost Aus & Denae from that team. Loz was our top scorer last night & had Aus been there maybe would have scored more(Aus had a size advantage Loz does not have) Jess plays alot like Denae but she needs to try to score more. She needs to take it to the basket and draw some fouls. We have to find a way to get Kelsey B some open shots. I have been to everygame except UNI and so far the other team has someone hanging on to her (and I mean hanging, holding on) every game. The bigs have to relax and quit trying so hard to score and it will come, it did last year. Agreed Anna needs to get stronger and not let so many passes go thru her hands but on defense if she even tuoches someone she is getting called for a foul while she gets pummeled. We have a long way to go and Bill will get them on track and ready fro the Big 12 season.

[ajk4st8]

Im glad Bill apologized. I tried watching a little and was quickly reminded why I never watch womens basketball.


Memo to womens hoops refs... STOP CALLING TRAVELS For people shuffling their feet. It makes the game more unwatchable than it is. They call travels every second, but never call carries?

The ISU player Prins is terrible. She is soft. She is slow. She is weak on D.


I do love the new ISU PG.