After falling to Oklahoma at home in the Cyclones’ fourth-straight loss, coach Bill Fennelly’s post-game news conference demeanor was different than in the previous three losses.

He had no opening statement and quietly answered questions.

A coach never afraid to show emotion, Fennelly looked like a shell of himself as he answered every question with the same rhythm and inflection as the previous one. Failing to win a game in nearly three weeks after a school-record 14-0 start, the Cyclones looked like a shell of themselves, as well.

“We’ve got some soul-searching to do,” Fennelly said after the Oklahoma loss. “We’ll see who shows up. We’re going to see who’s got a little toughness in them and who doesn’t.”

In what looked to be an easy road win only weeks ago, the Cyclones traveled to Texas Tech to take on a team they had dominated by 26-points at home. But in a competitive Big 12 race, Texas Tech was looking for their first conference win against a struggling Iowa State team.

Nikki Moody and the Cyclones had other plans.

After a slow start and chasing a 12-point deficit late in the first half, the Cyclones clawed their way back before Moody took matters into her own hands in overtime, scoring nine of the Cyclones’ 13 points and assisting on another basket.

She finished 7-for-9 on the floor with 20 points, six rebounds and six assists. More importantly, for the first time all season the Cyclones (15-4, 4-4 Big 12) saw offensive production from every starter with all five starters scoring in double-figures.

However, an unusual trend is developing that is surely a welcome sight to the Cyclones: winning on the road.

The Cyclones are now 7-1 away from Hilton this season, including two overtime wins. Jadda Buckley stepped up in an overtime win over Oklahoma earlier in the season with her career high 29 points on 90 percent shooting.

To contend for a Big 12 title and to hope to advance in the NCAA tournament, winning on the road is key. The Cyclones are now only one of four teams in the Big 12 with a winning record on the road (3-1).

The difference in wins and losses this season has been teamwork when the game is on the line. Moody played with the energy needed to win the game against Oklahoma at home, but no one else stepped up when it mattered. 

Against Texas Tech, Iowa State’s cold-streak shooting came to an end and the team got better as the game went on. If the beginning of the season was any indication, the Cyclones can turn momentum into a win-streak.

With another win under their belts, the Cyclones hope to start another win streak as they play on the road again in West Virginia Jan. 29. The Mountaineers took down the Cyclones in Ames earlier this season, but the Cyclones hope to find more success on the road.