AMES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa State senior guard Alison Lacey carried the Cyclones all year. But a late-season bout with pneumonia raised doubts about her NCAA tournament availability.
Iowa State can breathe a little easier now, because she is coming back.
Lacey will start Sunday’s tourney opener between fourth-seeded Iowa State (23-7) and 13th-seeded Lehigh (29-3) after missing three games because of pneumonia. Lacey is Iowa State leading scorer. She won’t be 100 percent, but the Cyclones are thrilled to have her back for what they hope will be another lengthy tournament run.
Fifth-seeded Virginia takes on 12th-seeded Wisconsin-Green Bay in Sunday’s other opening-round matchup in Ames.
