AMES – Earlier this fall, Iowa State women’s basketball player Kenzie Hare welcomed a few of her former Marquette teammates to town. Marquette’s Lee Volker, Bridget Utberg and Halle Vice all made the trip to Iowa, taking in an Iowa State football game and hanging out with Hare.
“They liked Ames,” Hare said with a smile.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAnother reunion is in store for Hare and her former teammates when the Cyclones take on Marquette in the Coconut Hoops event at 10 a.m. CT on Nov. 28 in Fort Myers, Fla. It’s another chance for Hare to catch up with her friends and former teammates from the place she called home for two seasons.
“It’s exciting,” Hare said. “I’m just excited to see them and I have a few other people within the staff, people that I know. So, more just excited to see them and then obviously when it comes to gametime, time to compete ... but it’ll be good. It’ll be fun.”
Iowa State Cyclones' guard Kenzie Hare (12) looks for a drive around Valparaiso Beacons guard Mikayla Huffine (20) during the first quarter on Nov. 12, 2025, at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa.Hare spent two seasons with the Golden Eagles and was a steady contributor, averaging 7.2 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 31 games as a freshman. She led the team with 49 made 3-pointers that first season. Hare followed that up by averaging 14 points, 2.4 assists and 2.1 rebounds per game while starting 31 games a sophomore.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe following season, Hare transferred to Iowa State and appeared in just 10 games before being shut down with a preexisting hip injury that required surgery and forced her to miss the remainder of the season. While the Marquette coaching staff has undergone a change since Hare left, she said she’s kept tabs on how her former teammates are doing.
“I’m still friends with a lot of them,” Hare said.
She’s been looking forward to the matchup ever since Iowa State’s schedule came out. It’ll be a chance to not only catch up with her friends but show what she is doing now as a steady starter for the Cyclones. She said she’s still a fan of what Marquette players have been doing.
“A lot of love there,” she said.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHere are three things to follow in the Iowa State-Marquette game.
Iowa State Cyclones' women's basketball head coach Bill Fennelly calls a play against Mercyhurst during the fourth quarter in the regular season NCAA women’s basketball on Nov. 23, 2025 in Ames, IowaThis will be the first major test for the Cyclones
Iowa State is 7-0 with an average margin of victory of 44 points. The biggest game to this point was Iowa State’s in-state rivalry with Drake in Des Moines. But the Cyclones quickly disposed of the Bulldogs and rolled to an easy win.
Marquette may be a different story. The power-conference program arrives in Florida with a 4-1 mark, including a 65-62 win over Wisconsin on Nov. 8.
Iowa State Cyclones' guard Arianna Jackson (2) and Mercyhurst Lakers forward Erica Hall (32) battle for a loose ball during the first quarter in the regular season NCAA women’s basketball on Nov. 23, 2025 in Ames, IowaIowa State’s defense will find out how good it really is
The Cyclones have been markedly better on the defensive side of the ball this season, allowing just 50.3 points per game through the first seven games. But that was against a less-than-stellar non-conference schedule.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMarquette will certainly offer a different challenge with a balanced scoring attack that includes four players averaging double figures. Volker averages 13.8 points per game while Vice puts up 12.6 a game.
Iowa State Cyclones' guard Reese Beaty (1) looks for a drive around Mercyhurst Lakers guard Jenna Van Schaik (5) in the regular season NCAA women’s basketball on Nov. 23, 2025 in Ames, IowaWhat will Iowa State's rotations look like?
The Cyclones have used the first seven games to play almost everyone on the roster and tinker with a few different rotations. But those days are likely over with two tough matchups in Florida (Marquette, then either Indiana or Gonzaga on Nov. 30) and then Iowa and Northern Iowa to close out the non-conference season.
Iowa State's starting lineup is set with Hare, Audi Crooks, Addy Brown, Arianna Jackson and Jada Williams. But what about the rest of the lineup? Coach Bill Fennelly has leaned on his bench heavily, with freshman Reese Beaty getting important playing time. Sydney Harris has provided a big boost off the bench. Evangelia Paulk has given the Cyclones some defense. Alisa Williams has given the center spot some depth. Sophomore guard Reagan Wilson has come on strong lately and vying for more playing time.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementTommy 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 [email protected] or 515-284-8468.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa State's showdown with Marquette a reunion for guard Kenzie Hare
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