AMES – When Reese Beaty showed up in Ames over the summer as one of the newest members of the Iowa State women’s basketball team, the young guard still couldn’t comprehend who she’d be playing with.
Just a few months earlier, Beaty was at her house in Tennessee, intently watching as many Iowa State games as she could.
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“Who doesn’t watch Audi Crooks and Addy Brown?” Beaty asked with a smile.
Working out with her new teammates, Beaty realized that she wouldn’t just be a spectator during her first season. As she got acclimated, she realized she could not only play with the rest of the Cyclones, but also be a big-time contributor as a freshman.
“Coming in, you have all these high-level players that you only see watching on your TV and stuff,” Beaty said. “Knowing that I can play with them, that was huge.”
Beaty made a huge impact for the Cyclones during her first game. She hopes to have another big impact during Iowa State’s second game when the 17th-ranked Cyclones (1-0) host Southern on Nov. 5 at Hilton Coliseum at 6:30 p.m.
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More: Iowa State women’s basketball takeaways, Audi Crooks’ work at the free-throw line pays off
“Coming (in) as a freshman on a team that (is) talked about so highly and a place that is so highly touted when it comes to women’s basketball, I had no expectations,” Beaty said.
Beaty is quickly exceeding expectations, though. The 5-foot-8 guard turned in an impressive summer that went so well that she has already worked her way into Iowa State’s rotation off the bench, backing up starting point guard Jada Williams.
Iowa State guard Reese Beaty (1) shoots the ball around St. Thomas defenders during the Cyclones’ season-opening victory at Hilton Coliseum on Nov. 3.
Even though Iowa State has played two games, one exhibition and a victory over St. Thomas on Nov. 3, it’s easy to see why she’s earned playing time. Beaty brings energy, toughness and plenty of tenacity on the floor. She’s already solidified herself as an intense on-ball defender who can do a little bit of everything.
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“She’s a fun one,” Crooks said. “I don’t know how to really describe her. But, she’s athletic. She’s got a goal mindset. The last play doesn’t really affect the next one for her and that’s really rare to see within a freshman. She’s got a unique skillset. She can pass the ball. She can knock it down. Her mid-range is on point. Her post entry passes are on point.”
During the Cyclones’ season-opening win over St. Thomas, Beaty scored five points, grabbed four rebounds and handed out four assists in 15 minutes of action. She also tallied one steal and a block.
“Just being able to contribute in many categories is huge,” Beaty said. “If scoring’s not my game that night, like assists, throwing it up to Audi, throwing it to AB, whoever and then just relying on my teammates to knock down shots and making me look good.”
Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly has praised Beaty’s toughness and even said he believes the freshman could play special teams for Cyclones football coach Matt Campbell. Her toughness, even coming back from an injury to finish off her high school basketball season, will make her a fan-favorite, Fennelly said.
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More: Why incoming Iowa State women’s basketball freshman Reese Beaty could make instant impact
“Tough kid,” Fennelly said. “Very skilled.”
Beaty said she knows she has to do all the little things to succeed. So, she plays with a chip on her shoulder.
“I’ve never been the tallest or the quickest or the strongest, but just playing hard and having that mindset has got me through a lot of things,” Beaty said.
Because Beaty brings so much to both sides of the floor, playing time will continue to come for her. Fennelly said she’ll not only back up Williams, but play alongside her this season. It’s crazy for Beaty to believe after watching the Cyclones for so long.
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“Just getting to play was super exciting,” she said.
Here are three things to watch in Iowa State’s game against Southern on Nov. 5 at 6:30 p.m.
Can Iowa State women’s basketball defense keep dominating?
Fennelly has emphasized getting better on defense. During Iowa State’s exhibition game and first contest of the season, it looked noticeably better than last season. The Cyclones scored 29 points off turnovers during their win over St. Thomas and limited the Tommies’ shooting from the field. Iowa State’s major issue last season defensively stemmed from the team’s inability to guard the perimeter. Can the Cyclones keep it up?
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Jada Williams has lived up to the hype
There were high hopes when Williams, a transfer from Arizona, arrived on campus. Still, there were big shoes for her to fill as star point guard Emily Ryan’s replacement. Williams has quickly erased any concerns with strong showings in Iowa State’s wins in both the exhibition and season opener. During her official debut on Nov. 3, Williams scored nine points, grabbed four rebounds and tallied four assists. More importantly, she had zero turnovers.
Keep an eye on the rotations
Fennelly appears settled on a starting lineup and maybe even his bench. Crooks, Brown and Williams have locked down starting spots along with Arianna Jackson and Kenzie Hare. Off the bench, the Cyclones coach has turned to Beaty, Sydney Harris and Evangelia Paulk as important role players. Alisa Williams also gives the Cyclones some depth in the post, along with Lilly Taulelei. But will anyone else emerge as contributors, or will this be the lineup Fennelly leans on for substantial time?
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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.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Freshman Reese Beaty earns minutes for Iowa State women’s basketball
