The Iowa State women's basketball team entered the season with one starting spot up for grabs. The Cyclones brought back starters Audi Crooks, Emily Ryan, Addy Brown and Arianna Jackson. They thought they had filled the fifth starting spot when Kenzie Hare emerged as a constant contributor. But with Hare now out for the season due to an injury, that starting spot is once again available. Finding her replacement is a top priority for No. 17 Iowa State as they take on Eastern Illinois on Sunday at 5 p.m. at Hilton Coliseum.

Coach's Perspective

Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly said, "We've got to figure that out. And obviously we didn't do a very good job of it the other night (against Iowa). So, we'll continue to probably keep doing what we've been doing in the sense of giving everyone a lot of opportunities, mix and match and hopefully something good will come of it." Hare, a 5-foot-9 junior guard, transferred from Marquette and quickly made an impact. She averaged 8.3 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 10 games, including eight starts this season. However, she had been dealing with a hip injury that occurred before she arrived in Ames. The coaching staff tried treatment options but couldn't get her to 100%. So, they decided to shut her down and medically redshirt her this season.

The Void Left by Hare

Hare's absence created a significant void on the floor. As an established star 3-point shooter, she brought experience, defense on the perimeter and grit to the team. She was always diving for loose balls and making small but important plays. Fennelly said, "It's a huge loss for our team."

Options for Replacement

Freshman Aili Tanke has started at times this season. Sophomore Kelsey Joens has also filled in during the Iowa game. Juniors Sydney Harris and Lily Hansford are other options. The problem is that no one has stepped up and taken the job. Tanke provided some valuable minutes in the Iowa game. Joens has shined at times off the bench. Harris has as well. Hansford, another strong shooter who transferred from Oregon State, has struggled to find her rhythm but is still in the mix after knocking down a big 3 against the Hawkeyes.

Coach's Decision-Making

The coach said Friday and Saturday's practices would decide who starts Sunday's game. But that person may not be the permanent answer. Fennelly said, "I'm going to actually meet with all of them and just say, 'Hey, here's where we are and it's going to be, whoever practices best the next two days will go out there first and whoever plays the best in the game on Sunday, stays in the game.'"

Other Strategies

There are other routes for the Cyclones to go as well. Fennelly said he's thought about playing two post players at once, putting Crooks and Alisa Williams on the floor at the same time. He's even thought about moving the versatile Brown to the three spot or into the post. Everything is on the table right now. Fennelly said, "I'm not afraid to try other things."Time is ticking for Iowa State to figure it out. Things get very difficult for the Cyclones after Sunday's game. They play No. 2 UConn in the Invesco QQQ Basketball Hall of Fame Women's Showcase next week. After that, they embark on Big 12 Conference play. Iowa State was picked to finish second in the league this season. If they are going to have any success this season, replacing Hare is something they have to find an answer for quickly. Fennelly said, "This is the situation we are in and it's pretty evident, especially in the two road games that we lost. So, we've got to figure that out."Tommy Birch, the Register's sports enterprise and features reporter, has been working at the newspaper since 2008. He's the 2018, 2020 and 2023 Iowa Sportswriter of the Year. Reach him at tbirch@dmreg.com or 515-284-8468.