As Iowa State prepares for its first in-state foe Drake, it will be doing so with its best player possibly out of the lineup on Tuesday night.

Forward Chelsea Poppens is doubtful for the No. 24 Cyclones (4-0) matchup with the Bulldogs (1-3) after sustaining what was later determined to be a concussion in the first half of a 55-33 ISU win against Loyola Marymount at the Junkanoo Jam last week.

ISU coach Bill Fennelly said at his news conference Monday that Poppens would be day-to-day on returning to the court.

“Concussions are very odd things,” Fennelly said. “It has certainly become the medical condition that we all talk about, think about. Our medical staff will handle it perfectly. We all know what’s at stake here.”

Iowa State had practice Sunday night, one in which Poppens did not participate. Fennelly described the All-Big 12 forward as “upbeat” and is hoping for the best.

In Poppens absence, the workload for center Anna Prins is likely to increase. In Iowa State’s 68-50 win against Illinois on Saturday, Prins played 34 minutes with six points, seven rebounds and zero turnovers.

While she didn’t put up large numbers, it was her intangibles, Fennelly said, that were why she played well. As long as the Cyclones are without Poppens, Fennelly believes Prins will have to emerge as a senior leader on and off the court.

“Pop is without question the leader of our team not just because she’s the best player, but she’s the most vocal,” Fennelly said. “That’s not [Prins’] personality but even last night in practice she was talking more. Her contribution both on and off the floor has to increase. I think she’s excited about that, and she can handle that.”

From watching at film, Prins said she has noticed Drake is a fast team and that the ISU defense will have to get back quickly. Prins also recognizes that without Poppens, teammates will be going to her for leadership.

“Just all-around leadership, I know I have to step up,” Prins said. “It doesn’t come that easily to me but it’s something that I know I need to do.”

After missing two exhibition games and the regular season opener with a viral illness, point guard Nikki Moody returned to the ISU lineup on Nov. 18 and was in full force at the Junkanoo Jam.

Moody played 31 minutes with seven points, five assists and three turnovers in the victory against Loyola Marymount. Against Illinois, the sophomore played 39 minutes with 16 points, six assists and five turnovers.

Fennelly described Moody’s contribution against Illinois as “39 hard, good minutes.” As for how Moody is feeling, she says she’s improved after being out for a couple weeks.

“I feel a lot better than I did a week ago,” Moody said. “In back-to-back games, it was a lot of minutes but I’m get back [to being fully healthy].”

Tipoff between Iowa State and Drake is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday at Hilton Coliseum.