Iowa State's Bill Fennelly names plays after former Cyclone greats and coaches

AMES — During the third quarter of the Iowa State women’s basketball team's Jan. 7 game at Cincinnati, coach Bill Fennelly wanted to get his players a good look for a 3-pointer. So as Fennelly gathered his team on the sideline during a break, he called the play Lake Park.

“It’s a misdirection,” Fennelly said. The play was devised by Fennelly in the 1990s and it's designed to set up a shot from beyond the arc. It’s named after Tara Gunderson, a former 3-point shooting star for the Cyclones who hails from Lake Park in northwest Iowa.

Just as Fennelly hoped it would, the Cyclones freed up a shooter with the play. “We got a 3,” Fennelly said. Survivor Pool: NCAA Tournament Survivor Pool Sweepstakes | USA TODAY Sports Bracket Challenge: Bracket Challenge Sweepstakes | USA TODAY Sports Lake Park is one of more than 100 plays that Fennelly has on his call sheet.

All of them have special names honoring people who have had a huge impact on his life. Coaches, family, friends and current and former players have plays named after them. The Cyclones will be using those plays when 8-seed Iowa State takes on 9-seed Syracuse in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at 4:30 p.