On Jan. 15, the Cyclones sealed a victory at home against No. 16 Oklahoma with a full force crowd backing them up every minute. 

When Iowa State (13-2, 4-1 Big 12) arrives in Stillwater, Okla., to face No. 17 Oklahoma State, it won’t have the “cyclone” of a crowd to push them to another victory.

“When you go on the road, the people that get on that plane or get on that bus are going to dictate what happens,” said ISU Coach Bill Fennelly. “You can’t rely on the best fans in the country anymore.”

Fennelly said what travels are objects the players can provide, such as defense and enthusiasm. Coaches stress to players things like a rough hotel room or bad food can’t get in the way of road games.

Senior Chelsea Poppens said beating a ranked opponent at home is one thing, but knocking off a ranked Oklahoma State (13-2, 2-2 Big 12) at their house is another story.

A lot of the energy the crowd distributed in the win against Oklahoma, Poppens said, will have to come from within the team.

“[We have] to bring our own energy and motivation, and when we get there … just come into it like we did this last game,” Poppens said. “Create it when someone scores [or] get excited and pick everybody up.”

The Cowgirls, who are 9-1 at home this season, will be led by one of the more dominant players in the Big 12, Liz Donohoe.

Donohoe is nearly leading the Cowgirls in every department, just behind teammate Toni Young. Donohoe will most likely be matched up against Brynn Williamson.

Williamson is one of the more versatile 3-point shooters on the Cyclones’ team, the same as Donohoe and her team. 

“She’s always looking for a shot; [she’s] the team’s go-to player and one of those players that can get them out of a bad play,” Williamson said. “It’s going to be a really good matchup, and it’ll be a test to me to see if I can stay with her.”