ATLANTA – Iowa State women’s basketball’s Ashley Joens rounds out a historic junior campaign with one of the highest distinctions Women’s College Basketball has to offer. The Iowa City, Iowa native was named the 2021 Cheryl Miller Award winner, which honors the best small forward in NCAA Division I. Joens’ distinction also makes her a member of this season’s prestigious Naismith Starting Five.

“It is such an honor to be the recipient of this award,” Joens said. “Cheryl Miller had an amazing career that helped pave the way for women’s basketball, not only on the court, but off the court as well. To win this award and be considered the best small forward in the country this season is a great honor, especially with all the other great players that were considered for this award. This wouldn’t have been possible without my teammates and coaches. They have pushed me each and every day to continue to get better.”

She is also the second Iowa State student-athlete to earn the Cheryl Miller Award, joining Cyclone great Bridget Carleton who earned the honor in 2019. Iowa State women’s basketball program is now home to two of the last three winners of the Cheryl Miller Award.

“What a great honor for Ashley to have her name associated with one of the greatest to play the game in Cheryl Miller,” Head Coach Bill Fennelly said. “This award recognizes the amazing season Ashley had and the impact she made on our team. For the second time, an Iowa State player has won this award which is a great tribute to all involved in our program. Ashley’s effort and work to develop her game has made her one of the best players in the nation.”

Joens’ latest honor come after one of the best seasons in Iowa State women’s basketball history. Joens set a new school record of 24.2 points per game, topping Carleton’s previous mark of 21.7 points per game in 2018-19. Joens also finished the season second in points scored (678), tied for seventh in rebounding average (9.5), fourth in free-throw percentage (.883), third in free-throws made (181), sixth in free throws attempted (205), fourth in field goals made (223), third in field goals attempted (482).

Joens’ 24.2 points per game, led the Big 12 conference and ranked fifth nationally. Her 46.3 percent from the field was also a career best. Joens also finishes the season as the NCAA leader in free throws made with 18

With Jim Field.

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(Radio Iowa) – Iowa three time national champion Spencer Lee’s Olympic dream is on hold, again. Lee skipped the U-S trials over the weekend in Fort Worth, Texas after tearing an ACL prior to winning a title at last months NCAA Tournament in St. Louis. Lee says winning Olympic gold is his ultimate dream and the decision to withdraw was made with input from Hawkeye coach Tom Brands.

Lee says after having the Tokyo Olympics postponed last year due to COVID it was a difficult decision to make.

(Radio Iowa) – After winning numerous national awards Iowa’s Luka Garza is setting his sights on the NBA Draft. Garza averaged better than 24 points and nearly nine rebounds as the Hawkeyes finished 22-9 and made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Garza is taking a couple of weeks off before jumping into his workouts.

Garza says he enjoys the offseason workouts.

The NBA Draft is July 29th

(MLB.com) – A series that started with a bang — 11 of them — and continued with different-natured fireworks came to a sputtering finish on Sunday, when the Cardinals suffered a 12-1 loss to the Reds at Great American Ball Park to drop their first series of the season in unceremonious fashion.

An Opening Day victory showed much promise for the offense, but the concerns that may have been glossed over were re-exposed by the next two defeats. All told, Cardinals pitching conceded 27 runs over 25 innings in Cincinnati, receiving bursts of offense but not nearly enough to salvage the series on Easter Sunday.

Carlos Martínez looked like he was bound to buck that trend with three perfect innings, but a leak in the fourth was bludgeoned open in the fifth, kick-started by a pair of extra-base hits from Nick Castellanos, including a three-run shot in the fifth, to continue a torrid start to the year for St. Louis’ newest villain.

A pitching staff sans long-reliever Jake Woodford and flamethrower Jordan Hicks on Sunday didn’t recover from there, as Ryan Helsley continued an inauspicious start to the year with a pair of walks and four runs on his ledger before a disastrous sixth frame concluded. Three runs came off a homer conceded by Tyler Webb, who was called up for his third consecutive game to open the season.

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Underwood picked up three event wins. Brayden Wollan won the 400M and the Eagles won the Sprint Medley and 4x400M Relay.

Check out the full results here.

The Atlantic boys soccer team opened the season with a 3-1 loss to Carroll on Friday. Atlantic’s goal was scored by Beau Dickerson with an assist from Devin McKay. Tyrell Williams had 11 saves in net for Atlantic.

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State head men’s basketball coach T.J. Otzelberger has announced the signing of 6-10 post player Robert Jones, a transfer from Denver that originally hails from Prior Lake, Minnesota. Jones will have three years to play for the Cyclones.

“Robert’s motor, enthusiasm and ability to sprint the floor will elevate our program,” Otzelberger said. “He’s a physical defensive presence who understands protecting the rim. It became clear during the recruiting process that Robert’s top priority was impacting a winning culture. He will certainly have that opportunity here.”

Jones saw action in 15 games as a sophomore, averaging 9.1 points and shooting 53.8 percent from the field. He also averaged 5.0 rebounds per game, posting a defensive rebound rate of 24 percent, which ranked third among Summit League players.

His best game came in the season finale against Omaha when he finished with 13 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks.

In 2020-21, Jones reached double figures five times, scoring a season-high 23 points against Regis and 17 points against North Dakota. He made 7-of-9 field goals against the Fighting Hawks

Jones has always been efficient from the floor, shooting 57.8 percent as a freshman and 57 percent overall in his two seasons with the Pioneers. He averaged 9.0 points and pulled down 1.8 offensive rebounds in his initial collegiate campaign.

He had a 21 point and seven rebound performance as a freshman against North Dakota State in the Summit League Tournament. He also posted an 11-point, 11-rebound performance against South Dakota State. NDSU and SDSU were co-regular season champions in the league in 2019-20, with NDSU claiming the auto bid by winning the tournament before the season was canceled.

Jones was a three-star prospect out of Prior Lake High School.

CLEVELAND, OH, (April 1, 2021)—Pioneer® Athletics proudly announces that CAM Community School District has been selected as a WINNER of the 2020 Fields of Excellence® Award.

As a winner, CAM Community School District will receive a certificate of recognition and a Fields of Excellence banner that they can proudly display at their winning field. Pioneer may also use the picture of CAM Community School District’s winning field in their upcoming publications and annual calendar.

Pioneer understands that excellence in athletic field maintenance goes unrecognized and often, unappreciated. The Fields of Excellence Award Program honors outstanding athletic fields and the hardworking field crews who diligently maintain them. The Fields of Excellence Award Program was established in 1997 and has honored over 1262 athletic fields from around
the country since its creation.

Colleges, universities, high schools and parks & recreation departments from all over the United States submitted photographs, letters of recommendation and application forms describing their institutions detailed athletic field maintenance program. A rigorous judging process yielded 73 winners from a large pool of applicants, with two athletic fields randomly selected as Scholarship Winner’s.

Pioneer® — The nation’s leading manufacturer of athletic field marking paint and equipment. Designed for durability and dependability, Pioneer’s line-up of natural and synthetic field paints, antimicrobial coatings, striping machines, high-quality stencils and athletic accessories are used by over 22,000 high schools, colleges and professional athletic organizations throughout North America.