Iowa State basketball player Ashley Joens goes out in style in final regular-season game

AMES – Five seasons of emotions finally came pouring out of Iowa State women’s basketball player Ashley Joens on Saturday night.

As Joens sat at a Hilton Coliseum table meeting with reporters following her final regular-season game as a Cyclone, tears started falling down the face of the usually stoic star.

“Its just been a long ride,” Joens said. “Things aren’t always easy and we’ve been through a lot of ups and downs together. It seems like it’s the end to a lot.”

One big chapter on Joens’ Iowa State career came to an end Saturday. Joens poured in a game-high 22 points and grabbed 10 rebounds during No. 23 Iowa State’s 76-52 victory over Texas Tech. It was possibly the last game in Joens’ career at Hilton Coliseum.

“This has been home for so long,” Joens said. “I’ve been surrounded with very special people — the team and coaches — they’re so caring.”

Joens, an Iowa City native, has called Ames home ever since her first season with the Cyclones during the 2018-19 campaign. Joens, a starter from the day she stepped on campus, had an illustrious career and rewrote the record books.

Among her records: career points, rebounds, field goals made, field goals made, field goals attempted, and games played. Joens had already solidified herself as one of the best players in Iowa State history last year by taking over the top spot for career points.

But she’s since added to the record books and her legacy by taking advantage of the extra season of eligibility awarded by the NCAA due to the COVID-19 pandemic and coming back for another season. It’s brought mixed results.

Iowa State was picked to win the Big 12 Conference before the season started. Joens was named the league’s preseason player of the year. But Iowa State’s roster took a major hit when post player Beatriz Jordao retired due to injuries and Stephanie Soares suffered a season-ending torn ACL.

Iowa State, which finished the regular season with a 19-9 record and 11-7 mark in Big 12 play, didn’t win the league. But Joens led the Big 12 in scoring and probably helped her WNBA Draft stock by coming back another year and showing she could shoot the 3 so well.

She also got a memorable sendoff, checking out of Saturday’s game with 3 minutes and 34 seconds remaining to a standing ovation. Reflecting on the moment is what got Joens − known for being cool, calm, collected and usually stoic − so emotional after the game.

“It was a pretty amazing moment because I got the opportunity to come back for another year and play with this team,” Joens said. “And they mean so much. It’s sad to think it’s over but we’ve got more to do here in the postseason.”

Iowa State point guard Emily Ryan, who scored 12 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and handed out five assists, consoled Joens as she began crying following the game.

“It just goes to show how much the program means to her and she means just as much to the program,” Ryan said.

But the journey is far from over for Joens. Iowa State will play in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Tournament on Thursday. A successful run there could help Iowa State secure home-court advantage in the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament. That’s awarded to the top four seeds in each of the four regionals.

If the Cyclones do lock it up, Joens will get another shot to play at Hilton Coliseum. If not, Saturday marked her final time on the court Joens has called home. If it was, she made the most of the opportunity.

What it means for the Big 12 and NCAA Tournament

We know what’s next for Iowa State: the Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City. With Iowa State and Oklahoma both winning Saturday, the Cyclones locked up the No. 3 seed in the conference tournament. That means Iowa State will play Baylor in Friday’s quarterfinals at 7:30 p.m. in Kansas City, Mo.

As for the NCAA Tournament? Iowa State likely has more work to do to earn a top-four seed needed to host the first two rounds.

The Cyclones were listed as a six seed in ESPN bracketologist Charlie Creme’s latest projections. Iowa State might need to win the Big 12 Tournament to move up to a four seed.

"This wasn't the last ride," Ryan said.

Former Iowa State great Dan McCarney provides words of wisdom before win

The Cyclones got a big boost on senior day from a Cyclone icon. Former Iowa State football coach Dan McCarney spoke to the team and was at Saturday’s game in Ames.

McCarney, a close friend of Fennelly's, was in Iowa for the Iowa Football Coaches Association’s clinic and made a special stop in Ames.

He was shown on the Hilton Coliseum videoboard in the first half of Saturday’s game and received a standing ovation.

"He's done more for Iowa State athletics than any person, ever," Fennelly said. "Ever."

Tommy Birch, the Register's sports enterprise and features reporter, has been working at the newspaper since 2008. He's the 2018 and 2020 Iowa Sportswriter of the Year. Reach him at tbirch@dmreg.com or 515-284-8468. Follow him on Twitter @TommyBirch.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa State's Ashley Joens has double-double in regular-season finale