Cyclones gear up to take on Beacons in inaugural meeting

After a 99-34 blowout victory over Sacred Heart, Iowa State is preparing to take on Valparaiso. 

With the first meeting between the Beacons and the Cyclones on the slate, both teams look to claim the introductory victory. Iowa State comes into this game with a 3-0 record, while Valparaiso sits at 0-2 on the season.  As the Cyclones look to stay undefeated, the Beacons look to claim their first victory.

Part of this season’s opening victorious streak can be attributed to team connection.

“It’s great now we haven’t lost yet, that’s all coming, but that’s all part of it too,” Head Coach Bill Fennelly said. “This group connection is going to go on way beyond their days here, and that’s pretty cool.” 

Across the stat sheet, Iowa State looks like the favored victor. Starting with the leading scorers, junior center Audi Crooks comes into this game fresh off an appearance on the Big 12 Starting Five list.

Crooks leads the Cyclones’ scorers, averaging 23.3 points per game. The Beacons’ leading scorer is senior guard Fiona Connolly, who averages 15.5 points per game.

Another leader for Iowa State is junior forward Addy Brown, who was ranked 26th on the PostHer Hoops list of top 100 players. Crooks also claimed a spot on this list and sits at the number 14 spot. Brown leads with 28 rebounds, averaging just over nine per game. The rebound leader for Valparaiso is redshirt junior center Kamryn Winch, who has 16 and averages eight per game.

Moving to leading free-throw performances, two Cyclones shine while one Beacon stands out. 

Brown leads with a 100% on the free throw on six attempts, while redshirt junior forward Alisa Williams also stays at 100% on her five attempts. For Valparaiso, freshman guard Autumn Dibb leads the team with four. 

Another Cyclone found on a PostHer list is junior guard Jada Williams, who was named a top 30 defender along with junior guard Evangelia Paulk.

Williams leads the team with 17 assists on the season. The Beacons’ assist leader is senior guard Mikayla Huffine with six on the season. 

With collective efforts across the team, an important aspect of both teams is the presence of freshmen. Iowa State’s leading freshman guard is Reese Beaty, who averages 16 minutes, eight points, 3.3 rebounds per game and has 12 assists on the season. 

“She’s a fun one, I don’t know how to really describe her [Beaty],” Crooks said. “She’s athletic, she got a go mindset, the last play doesn’t really affect her and that’s really rare to see within a freshman.”

Valparaiso’s leading freshman is guard Allia von Schlegell, who averages 23 minutes, eight points, one rebound per game and has two assists on the season.

Iowa State will face Valparaiso for the first time in Hilton Coliseum at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.