IRVING, Texas – Iowa State junior Chelsea Poppens was a unanimous selection to the All-Big 12 first-team, while rookie Nikki Moody was selected to the All-Freshman Team.
Poppens, an Aplington, Iowa native, has had a breakout season for the Cyclones. The 6-2 forward averaged 14.5 points and 10.9 rebounds and finished the regular season as the only player in the league to average a double-double. Her 14 double-doubles tie with Baylor’s Brittney Griner for the most in the league. She ranks in the top-10 in the league in scoring (seventh), rebounding (first), field goal percentage (fifth-50.2), offensive rebounding (first-4.5) and defensive rebounding (second-6.4).
Poppens is the second Cyclone to grab 300 rebounds in a season, joining former great Angie Welle (2001 and 2002). She has posted seven 20-point games, five of which came against Big 12 competition, and has recorded double-digit rebounds in 16 games. Poppens earned three conference player of the week honors from the league.
Moody, a guard from Euless, Texas, joins Poppens as the team leader with 27 starts this season. She averaged 9.6 points, 4.4 assists and 3.3 rebounds in her first season in Ames. She was named Phillips 66 Big 12 Freshman of the Week three times during the season.
Moody broke Iowa State’s freshman record with 127 assists this season, including 14 games with five or more assists. She dished out a career-high 11 assists in the Cyclones’ win over Oklahoma. She tallied double-digit scoring 12 times, including a career-best 16 points in a road win at Drake during the nonconference season. Moody hit five threes in the Cyclones’ win at Butler in the Nugget Classic.
The Cyclones open Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship play Thursday at 11 a.m. against Kansas State.
