AMES – The Iowa State women’s basketball team checks in at No. 15 in the AP preseason women’s basketball poll. The Cyclones’ ranking marks their first preseason ranking since the 2013-14 season when ISU was ranked 23rd in the AP Poll.
Iowa State’s ranking is also its highest preseason ranking since the 2001-02 season, when they debuted at No. 8 nationally.
Iowa State returns its four leading scorers from last season with Ashley Joens (20.5), Kristin Scott (14.2), Rae Johnson (8.9) and Maggie Espenmiller-McGraw (8.6). Joens capped off a banner sophomore season as a consensus honorable mention All-American, averaging 20.5 points and 10.9 rebounds, as the only player to average over 20.0 points and 10.0 rebounds. Joens was also named a Cheryl Miller Award Top-5 finalist.
Scott closed out last season with honorable mention All-Big 12 honors after averaging 14.2 points and 6.9 boards per game. She also earned a spot on the Lisa Leslie Award Top 10 last season.
The Cyclones concluded last season with an upset of No. 2 Baylor at home, 57-56, ending the Lady Bears 58-game Big 12 regular season win streak. Iowa State will open the 2020-21 season on Nov. 25 at noon against Omaha.