Starting 0-5 in Big 12 Conference play can destroy a team’s confidence. Losing one of those games in double overtime and the other on a buzzer-beater can be demoralizing.

Sunday against No. 17 Texas Tech, the ISU women’s basketball team will try and prove that neither of those is the case. 

“Everyone’s very frustrated, coaches included,” said senior captain Lauren Mansfield. “Losing five games in a row is frustrating, but I think we’re very determined as well, we’re ready to get out and get a win.”

Iowa State (9-7, 0-5 Big 12) is coming off a loss on a last-second shot at Texas on Wednesday night. The Cyclones came back from being down 58-53 with a 7-2 run to tie the game at 60-60. Then Texas’ Yvonne Anderson’s last-second floater in the lane put Texas ahead permanently with 0.7 seconds left. 

Now, the Cyclones prepare for a talented Texas Tech (14-3, 2-3) team that comes in as the No. 17 team in the land. 

The Red Raiders only have one player that averages double-digit points in a game in Kierra Mallard with 13.7, but at the same time, they have seven players that average more than seven points per game. 

One area Texas Tech is dangerous from is behind the arc. The Red Raiders are second in the Big 12 in 3-point percentage and 3-pointers made. 

Mansfield said as tough as these losses are, the team knows it can’t afford to break down now. She said the Cycones know they can’t make excuses about losing close games. 

“We’re so close and it’s just frustrating,” Mansfield said. “We know we’re right there. We just have to concentrate on the next game and getting a win.”

One area forward Chelsea Poppens said the Cyclones have to specifically turn around is being able to transition the shooting in practice into games. 

“It definitely is frustrating,” Poppens said. “When we’re in practice hitting the shots that we need to but when it comes down to game time, it’s all mental. We just need to start making them and start having that confidence.”

Poppens said after losing a game on the road, sometimes there’s nothing better than playing a game at home. The Cyclones have Hilton Coliseum to rely on, which last year had the nation’s fourth most fans per game. 

“It’s definitley a place where it needs to start,” Poppens said. “Just having our fans there to support us is major and it’ll help push us to get a win. We’re just tired of losing and coming so close to winning and not finishing.”

The game is set to tip off at 1:30 p.m. Sunday. Fans are encouraged to wear white for a “white out.”