Peterson: Emily Ryan’s heartfelt return to a standing ovation of adoring Iowa State fans

AMES – Emily Ryan was going through one-on-one drills with assistant coach Jodi Steyer 90 minutes or so before Iowa State’s basketball game against Troy on Sunday at Hilton Coliseum.

Her shots swished. Ball-handling was impeccable. There was no let-up. She didn’t want to stop, even for a quick breather.

Then with 3 minutes 29 seconds left in the first quarter of what became Iowa State’s 105-68 victory, up from the bench she sprang, and into the game she went.

Finally, for the first time since playing all 40 minutes in last season’s NCAA Tournament loss against Toledo, Ryan was seeing action in a game.

Em, as they call her, was back – and running onto the floor to a loud standing ovation.

Good news for Bill Fennelly’s program? Sure, but better news for the senior, who hadn’t played while recovering from what the team called a “health-related issue.”

That statement, announced before the season, said Ryan was receiving care from the Iowa State medical staff, while “working hard to get back on the court with her teammates.”

Sunday, that happened.

Addy Brown had an 13-point, 14-rebound double-double. Audi Crooks had 21 points and nine boards. Nyamer Diew scored 20, as the Cyclones’ record improved to 6-4.

Ryan, however, was the story, even while cheerleading on the bench as her teammates roared to a 9-0 lead – as Crooks, Hannah Belanger and Diew sank long three-pointers. She was the first to congratulate players as they returned to the bench. She mentored players individually.

What she means to this program from a leadership standpoint is off the charts.

Ryan, a program loyalist after an off-season of multiple transfer portal defections, came into this season having started 93 of the 95 games she played since entering college.

Her resume includes All-Big 12 selections since her sophomore season and 1,000 career points. Ryan entered the season third in career assists at ISU, and she owns the school single-game record with 17 assists at TCU (Feb. 12, 2022).

During nine first-half minutes, Ryan scored five points, grabbed four rebounds and had two assists. The plan was for 10 or so minutes, so she spent the second half leading from the bench.

Yes, Emily Ryan was back.

I revisited a story colleague Tommy Birch wrote last June. The following quotes tell what a healthy Ryan means to what just might be Fennelly’s youngest team:

• “At the end of the day, when the story is written about Iowa State women’s basketball and the people that impacted it … her name will be one of the first that you think of,” Fennelly said.
• “I would say if she didn’t come back, I wouldn’t be here,” Fennelly continued.
• “There was never a thought to leave,” Ryan said. “I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else. There’s no better place than Cyclone Nation.”

She said that months before her Sunday standing ovation echoed throughout Hilton’s rafters.

Iowa State columnist Randy Peterson is in his 51st year writing sports for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at rpeterson@dmreg.com, on X @RandyPete, and at DesMoinesRegister.com/CyclonesTexts