Iowa State women look to recent history against Texas for upcoming trip

AMES - Iowa State women's basketball coach Bill Fennelly isn't looking for tricks to get his team ready to face a top-five opponent, but he is taking advantage of different tactics to help his players know what they'll be up against.

Calling back to two wins over No. 4 Texas last season will certainly be one of his points of emphasis.

'We've had some success against them over the years so I think they believe they can play with Texas,” Fennelly said. 'I think the challenge of playing a great team always excites people.

'The first thing you've got to do is you've got to get on the plane tomorrow afternoon believing you can win.”

Iowa State is riding a hot streak with eight consecutive wins, the longest stretch since the Cyclones (10-3, 2-0) won their first 14 games in 2013-14. Then there's the history against the Longhorns (13-0, 2-0) that has favored Iowa State.

Nine wins in the last 11 tries - including three straight - against the Longhorns is something Iowa State has on its side. But players are trying to tiptoe the line of using history to their advantage without losing focus. Scoring a one-point win against then-No. 8 Texas last season in Austin was a high point, but not something that has taken the edge off the Cyclones.

'It's a motivator going back down there and doing a repeat of what we did last year,” said point guard Jadda Buckley. 'But at the same time it's a new year and new team and new season so I think we need to go in there and focus on what we need to do to get it done.”

Imani Boyette and Kelsey Lang are the primary threats in the UT offensive attack, but the Longhorns also put in the work on the glass that cause teams trouble. Texas owns a rebounding margin of +13.5 and averages 44.5 rebounds per game.

Iowa State will have its lack of size exposed against the Longhorns, lifting Fennelly's emphasis on rebounding to another level. Seanna Johnson averages 10.6 boards per game, but Fennelly said all of his guards must make a concerted effort to track down rebounds if the Cyclones are to be competitive.

'We're not going to get a lot taller by Wednesday night, but rebounding is about focus and effort and desire and all those things,” Fennelly said. 'Find a way to rebound, try to stay out of foul trouble and be as efficient as we can at the end of the shot clock.”

In their first two conference games, the Cyclones have used contrasting styles to earn wins. An offensive display gave Iowa State an opening win on the road at Kansas State while a defensive struggle at home against Oklahoma State gave Fennelly's squad the edge.

Putting an offensive and defensive performance together in one game becomes the next goal, but players and coaches - at the very least - are encouraged they have found multiple ways to close out games.

'I think it's huge,” said guard Bridget Carleton. 'I think it's important to know that we can score the ball and also play the defense we need to play. I think it just gives us some confidence, especially playing on the road.”

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