Cyclones look for second win in Nebraska rematch

Guard+Lauren+Mansfield+lays+the+ball+up+in+th+esecond+half+against+the+Aggies.+Despite+their+best+efforts+and+some+controversial+officiating%2C+the+Cyclones+lost+51-60.+

Photo: Bryan Langfeldt/Iowa State Daily

Guard Lauren Mansfield lays the ball up in th esecond half against the Aggies. Despite their best efforts and some controversial officiating, the Cyclones lost 51-60.

Kelsey Jacobs

The only Big 12 win No. 23 Iowa State has had this season came against Nebraska. The Cyclones will face the Cornhuskers again on the road Wednesday.

Iowa State (13-5, 1-3) faced Nebraska (11-7, 1-3) just two short weeks ago at Hilton Coliseum, beating the Huskers 64-43. Although the Cyclones emerged victorious from the match-up, it wasn’t a consistent game.

“It was an odd game,” said ISU coach Bill Fennelly. “The first eight minutes we couldn’t have played any worse and the last 20 we played like the Lakers.”

Iowa State outscored Nebraska 43-17 in the second half after overcoming a five-point halftime deficit.

Even though the Cyclones seem to have cured the slow-start syndrome that plagued them at the start of their Big 12 season, they are still heading into Wednesday’s game coming off a 60-51 loss to No. 6 Texas A&M and with a 1-3 Big 12 record.

“No one is happy when you’re 1-3,” Fennelly said, “But I have no qualms at all with the effort of our team. I think we’re trying and we’re competing. The focus and the effort are good.”

Despite being on the road, the fact that the Cyclones played the Huskers so recently eases the pressure on scouting.

Point guard Lauren Mansfield, who had nine points, seven rebounds and seven assists against the Huskers last time, said she still remembers the player she’ll guard.

“We kind of know their game already,” Mansfield said. “I know this game is going to be a lot different, but we know what they like to do and know their best players so it’ll be easier.”

Although the Huskers boast players like 6-foot-2-inch freshman Jordan Hooper, who is averaging 14.8 points and 6.9 rebounds a game, they will compete Wednesday without one of their strongest team members, Dominique Kelley.

Kelley, who has missed six games this season due to leg injuries, was a preseason All-Big 12 honorable mention pick.

The rest of the Huskers will vie for a series split with the Cyclones, especially as this is the last time the two teams will meet as members of the Big 12 Conference.

Tip-off is set for 7:05 p.m. at the Devaney Center in Lincoln, Neb.