Alabama State traveled to Iowa to participate in its first ever Cyclone Challenge in Ames, Iowa Friday.  The two day event will feature the University of Pennsylvania, Air Force, Alabama State and host team Iowa State.  The Lady Hornets will face Penn Saturday at 1 p.m. and the Cyclones at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday to round out the trip at the Hilton Coliseum. Both games are central times.
 
Fans can view play-by play action at http://www.cyclones.com by clicking onto the live stats link or going to the Lady Hornets Basketball game day central story page. 
 
These two games for the Lady Hornets will feature a first time appearance against the Penn Quakers and the Cyclones of Iowa State, and will close out the preseason before beginning Southwestern Athletic play.
 
Currently ASU is 2-7 overall after coming off of a 72-55 win over the University of Mobile last Saturday before their Christmas break.  The Lady Hornets were led by Nakiya Smith with 23 points, her second game scoring over 20 points this season.  Smith presently owns the lead role in scoring for the Lady Hornets averaging 12.6 points per contest.
 
Quentori Alford takes the charge of owning the boards after missing the first three games of the season.  She is averaging 11.6 rebounds per game and is second on the team in scoring averaging 12.2 points per contest.
 
“I have faith in my team,” said Head Coach Freda Freeman-Jackson.  “I think that we have some playmakers in “Q” (Quentori) and Kiya (Nakiya) we just have to get everybody on the team to be balanced and focused.  We shouldn't always depend on a few people and I know that I have a whole team that are contributors or can contribute.”
 
“After traveling all day the girls are were a little tired, but this is what we usually do travel all day and then have practice at night.    We were able to get some things accomplished at practice, but I just need us to execute and get a win.  We have not been doing too well thus far this season, but I am continuing to make the necessary changes to get the team back where we need to be or should be.”
 
“Since this is our first time playing these two teams I won't say that they are any different than the other teams that we have played thus far this season, but I do know that we are going to compete and compete we will do.”