Georgia Tech-Iowa St. Preview

3/18/2008 11:18 AM

By MATT BECKER
STATS Writer

Iowa State didn't look like it was on its way to the NCAA tournament two months ago. The Cyclones managed to overcome a couple of costly injuries to not only earn a berth, but a spot in a favorable region, too.

Seventh-seeded Iowa State looks to take advantage of playing in nearby Des Moines for the first two rounds when it takes on No. 10 seed Georgia Tech in the Greensboro Regional on Saturday.

Despite losing two starters to ACL injuries this season, the Cyclones (20-12) are making the school's ninth trip to the NCAA tournament - all since 1997. This one, however, may have been the toughest.

Sophomore guard Toccara Ross suffered a tear in her right ACL in a defeat at Minnesota on Dec. 21, and an even bigger loss came Jan. 16, when junior forward Nicky Wieben tore the ACL in her left knee as Iowa State fell to then-No. 24 Texas. Wieben averaged 12.7 points and 5.6 rebounds in 16 games, while Ross averaged 6.4 points in nine contests.

Iowa State struggled to a 1-4 start in Big 12 play, but rebounded to finish the regular season tied for seventh in the conference. The Cyclones received an at-large bid to the NCAAs despite a 65-53 loss to Texas A&M in the Big 12 tournament semifinals March 13.

"You talk all the time about teams earning a bid to the NCAA tournament, and I don't think there is a team in the country that earned it more than this team did," Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly told the school's official Web site. "For this team to be in this position is truly something special for them and our staff. I'm really excited for everybody and hopefully we have a little left in us."

The Cyclones should enjoy a very friendly atmosphere as they play at Des Moines' Wells Fargo Arena, just 35 miles south of the Iowa State campus. They're 2-0 all-time at the venue.

The pro-Iowa State crowd will be cheering for sophomore Alison Lacey, who led the conference in 3-point shooting at 41.4 percent (84-of-203). In three conference tournament games, she averaged 15.0 points and shot 9-of-20 from 3-point range. Lacey averaged a team-best 14.5 points on the season.

Georgia Tech (22-9) is one win shy of matching the school record set by the 1977-78 team that went 23-4. The Lady Jackets are making their fourth trip to the NCAA tournament and have earned a second straight bid to the NCAAs for the first time in school history.

"It's an amazing accomplishment for our program and our kids," Georgia Tech coach MaChelle Joseph said. "Our players deserve to be in the field. They've worked very hard, and so has our entire staff."

The Lady Jackets had a disappointing end to the ACC tournament, however, shooting 32.2 percent in a 52-43 quarterfinal loss to Virginia on March 7. Georgia Tech's three leading scorers - Janie Mitchell, Chioma Nnamaka and Alex Montgomery - combined for 14 points and went 6-of-33 from the floor.

Mitchell, who leads the Lady Jackets with 16.7 points per game, totaled 30 points in two NCAA tournament games last season. Georgia Tech beat DePaul 55-54 in the first round and lost 76-63 to Purdue in the second round. It's 1-3 all-time in the tournament.

This will be the first meeting between Iowa State and Georgia Tech. The winner plays second-seeded Rutgers or No. 15 seed Robert Morris on Monday.