Cyclones To Face Northwest Missouri State

AMES, Iowa - The Iowa State women's basketball team plays its first exhibition game Thursday evening at Hilton Coliseum when it plays host to Northwest Missouri State. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Who: Iowa State vs. Northwest Missouri State

Where: Ames, Iowa - Hilton Coliseum (14,376)

When: Thursday, Nov. 1, 7 p.m.

Radio: Cyclone Radio Network/Learfield

Talent: Rich Fellingham (PxP), Molly Parrott (Color)

Webcast: Cyclones.tv

Live Stats: Live stats will be available at cyclones.com.

Live Blog: Matt Shoultz, assistant director of athletics communications, will be holding a live blog during the game at cyclones.com. Fans are encouraged to participate in the blog by asking questions.

-Iowa State plays the first of two exhibitions Thursday evening when it hosts Northwest Missouri State at 7 p.m. at Hilton Coliseum. The Cyclones will also play head coach Bill Fennelly’s alma mater, William Penn, Tuesday, Nov. 6.

-The 2012-13 season marks the 40th in the history of the program. In that time, the Cyclones have reached the NCAA Tournament 13 times, all under the direction of Fennelly.

-Fennelly is in his 18th season at Iowa State, boasting a record of 372-173 (.683). This marks his 25th season overall as a head coach (538-226).

-The Cyclones have made the last six NCAA Tournaments, one of just 16 teams nationally to do so.

-Iowa State officially begins its regular season on Nov. 11 against Western Illinois. The Cyclones are 17-0 in season openers since Fennelly’s arrival in Ames.

-ISU returns its top three scorers and rebounders from last season, as well as its top assister. In all, the Cyclones bring back 77.1 percent of their scoring and 69.3 percent of their rebounding.

-Senior forward Chelsea Poppens returns after an impressive junior campaign in which she was the only player in the Big 12 to average a double-double (14.2 ppg, 10.6 rpg). Poppens was a unanimous selection to the All-Big 12 team last year and was named to the 2012-13 preseason All-Big 12 squad.

-Poppens has been projected to go in the first round of the WNBA draft at No. 12 to Minnesota according to draftsite.com. Fellow senior Anna Prins is projected to be drafted in the third round at No. 29 to New York.

-The Cyclones also return junior Hallie Christofferson (10.2 ppg, 6.0 rpg) and sophomore Nikki Moody (10.0 ppg, 4.3 apg). Moody was named to the Big 12’s All-Freshman Team last season.

-Iowa State finished second in the Big 12 in scoring defense last season, allowing opponents to score just 57.3 points per game. The Cyclones also dominated the glass, outrebounding opponents by 6.1 boards per game.

For more notes and information throughout the season, follow us on twitter: @CycloneWBB, @Popp4ALLAMERICA, @ISUCoachFen