KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Beating a team three times is always tough task to accomplish. Doing that in the Big 12 is even harder.

The ISU women’s basketball team will face Kansas State for the third time this season when the Cyclones square off against the Wildcats on Thursday in Kansas City, Mo. When asked why he thinks it is difficult to beat a team three times in a season, ISU coach Bill Fennelly said he does not think that way.

“Because probably a long time ago someone had beaten somebody twice and then lost and needed an excuse,” Fennelly said. “It’s hard to beat someone once in this league and that three-time thing, I’ve never bought into it. 

“You’re in a 4-5 game, our kids should know, they’ve beat Kansas State twice. If you play well, why can’t you beat them a third time?”

The last time the two teams faced, the Cyclones held the Wildcats to a Big 12 school-record 33 points and only 29 percent shooting on senior night at Hilton Coliseum. 

Kansas State’s leading scorer, Brittany Chambers, was held to a mere four points on 1-7 shooting. Senior Chassidy Cole was given credit “chasing Chambers all over the floor” and is expected to do the same this time around.

The Cyclones held the Wildcats to no 3-point shots in the second half and only six made baskets. Iowa State also outscored them 22-4 off of turnovers. 

Chelsea Poppens and Iowa State plan on keeping a similar game plan to the one that has worked the past two times against the Wildcats — make buckets.

“We were just making shots,” Poppens said. “I feel like we were playing pretty good defense, and we were just shutting down their main players like Chambers and [Jalana] Childs.”

According to ESPN.com, Iowa State is one of the last four teams into the NCAA Tournament. Whether the team is in or out at this point, there is no questioning the fact that performing well in the Big 12 tournament would help its cause.

Fennelly has said he does not like to discuss two things: referees and whether or not the team deserves to be in the NCAA tournament. He did say, however, he believes if the committee looks at the stats, which he also said he crunched on the long bus ride to Kansas City, and that there should be no question that they deserve to be in the NCAA tournament.

“I don’t really talk much about it,” Fennelly said. “I think if you look at our numbers, there should be no doubt that we’re in the tournament. … I don’t know that you’ll ever be comfortable until Monday night when you see your name, but certainly winning tomorrow would help. But it’s like I’ve been telling everybody: Most people don’t care what I think at home, and I don’t think the committee cares what I think either.” 

Prior to the Big 12 tournament, the Big 12 conference released its All-Big 12 teams. Poppens received a unanimous selection to the All-Big 12 First Team and Nikki Moody was selected to the All-Big 12 Freshman Team.

Poppens, who did not have any preseason hype coming into the year, seemingly came out of nowhere. 

“I think that’s one of the neatest stories of the season,” Fennelly said. “A kid that no one knew about. There was no preseason hype, and she is a unanimous All-Big 12 player. That’s a pretty big statement for a kid coming out of nowhere.”

Iowa State plays in the 4-5 game tipping off at 11 a.m. at the Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo.