ISU freshman guard Nikki Moody was named the Big 12 Freshman of the Week for the second straight week for her play at the Reno Thanksgiving Tournament, where the Cyclones split a pair of games.

“It means a lot, but then again I know I need to step up and be more than just that,” Moody said of the honor.

Moody and the Cyclones (4-1) got off to a rough start in Reno, Nev., as they fell to No. 17 Penn State (5-1), 66-59, in a game where Moody was just 1-11 from the field and ended the night with seven points and four rebounds.

“It was a tough game, but I think it brought us closer as a team and helped us know exactly what we need to improve on,” Moody said.

ISU assistant coach Jodi Steyer said the Penn State game may have been a learning experience for Moody as she faced the Nittany Lions’ trio of talented guards in Maggie Lucas, Zhaque Gray and Alex Bentley, who combined to score 45 points on the night.

“It was really good for her in that Penn State game to see some real high-level guards to play against and see that is the level of guards we’re going to be playing against,” Steyer said. “For us to be able to play at the level we want to, we made it clear our guard play has to be better, so I don’t think she’s sitting back thinking ‘great I’m player of the week.'”

As the Cyclones bounced back with a 66-44 win over Butler (1-4), so did Moody, as the Euless, Texas, native scored 15 points in the game on 5-7, shooting from beyond the 3-point arc.

“Nikki has a chance to be a good player in time,” said ISU coach Bill Fennelly in an email to the Daily. “Like all young players it starts with a consistency of effort and preparation.”

The Cyclones will be back on the court this Sunday to take on Michigan (7-1) in Ann Arbor, with tip-off scheduled for 1 p.m.