AMES - Bill Fennelly has a habit of saving the moments that matter, and Monday night gave him another one worth putting behind glass.
Iowa State opened Fennelly’s 32nd and final season with a 90-61 win over Grambling State at Hilton Coliseum, but the night started with something he didn’t see coming. Before tipoff, Grambling State coach Courtney Simmons handed him a folded, handwritten note and told him, “Don’t read it until after the game,” Fennelly said.
He kept the contents private, calling them “personal,” but the message clearly hit home.
“Basically, thanks for what I’ve done to help promote the (women’s) game and (having an) impact some young people,” said Fennelly, whose new-look Cyclones grabbed an astounding 61 rebounds - eight shy of the single-game team record. “I’m kind of stunned by it.
I don’t know if I’ve ever gotten that before. Not from anyone, so it was really amazing.”
The game itself had plenty to frame, too. Backup guard Mya Babbitt caught fire from deep, knocking down five of her eight 3-point tries while the rest of the Cyclones went 1-for-13 from long range. She finished with 17 points and was one of four Iowa State players to pull down at least six rebounds.
Tjasa Turnsek led the team in scoring with 19 points on 7-for-9 shooting, while Xiao Zhang and Gift Ezekiel each added 13 points on a combined 10-for-11 from the field.
“I was really excited to get out on the court today and feel the Hilton magic and be with my teammates,” said Babbitt, who was also one of four Cyclones to record six-plus rebounds. “So I think that really gave me the confidence to let it fly.”
Iowa State used that efficiency to blow the game open early, ripping off 19-0 and 11-0 runs in the first half and taking a 53-23 lead into the break. Turnsek, Zhang and Ezekiel did most of their damage around the basket, and Fennelly pointed to the way they handled their chances.
“They did a great job of getting into their positions,” Fennelly said of Turnsek, Zhang and Ezekiel. “They didn’t get rushed and sometimes in practice we get going, a little rushed.
But they made the shots that they’re gonna get and when that happens, we get fouled, you go inside out a little bit more. It’s a collective thing.”
The rebounding effort matched the mood. Arianna Jackson and transfer forward Alex-Anne Bessette tied for the team lead with eight boards apiece, while Ezekiel said the work was shared from top to bottom.
“The bigs go get it,” Ezekiel said. “The small guys go get it. Everybody just hunts the ball.”
For Fennelly, the opener delivered more than a win. It gave him another memory to tuck away with the rest.
“I don’t know that I’ve ever received anything that means more from another coach (or) anyone,” Fennelly said.
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