Iowa State Cyclones women's basketball, Basketball, Bill Fennelly, Hilton Coliseum, Central College

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Iowa State women's basketball embarks on 2023-24 after disappointing NCAA Tournament Exit

Cyclones look to return to NCAA Tournament under new head coach

The Iowa State women's basketball team will look to bounce back from a disappointing NCAA Tournament exit in 2023 under new head coach Bill Fennelly.

Fennelly, who was hired in April, is a two-time national champion at Old Dominion and has a career record of 789-273.

He takes over an Iowa State program that went 19-12 last season and lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to Central College.

The Cyclones will be led by a pair of returning starters in senior guard Ashley Joens and junior forward Emily Ryan.

Joens is a two-time All-American and the Big 12 Player of the Year in 2022.

Ryan is a rising star who averaged 11.9 points and 6.5 rebounds per game last season.

Iowa State will also welcome a talented recruiting class that includes five-star forward Aaliyah Stanley.

Stanley is the No. 1 recruit in the country in the 2023 ESPN HoopGurlz rankings.

The Cyclones will open the 2023-24 season on Nov. 7 at home against Drake.

They will play their first Big 12 game on Dec. 31 at home against Oklahoma.

Iowa State is looking to make a run in the NCAA Tournament this season after missing out in 2023.

The Cyclones have made the NCAA Tournament every year since 2009.

They have reached the Sweet 16 six times in that span and the Elite Eight twice.

Fennelly will look to guide Iowa State back to the NCAA Tournament and make a deep run in March.

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