During Finals Week, it’s hard to find a student who isn’t ready for a break. The same goes for the members of the ISU women’s basketball team.

The need for some rest and relaxation is particularly necessary after the team suffered a sound beating in its 62-40 loss to Iowa on Thursday.

“This team needs a break,” said coach Bill Fennelly. “I think the thing you forget as a fan or media person is this team has been together all summer. [Thursday] morning was their 50th practice and they lift weights together three days a week, so they need a break.”

Although the Cyclones will get a break from school after finals, their game schedule barely lets up. The team will play in six different matchups during winter break, starting Dec. 20 with Cal State Northridge, who is 0-10 this season.

After the matchup with the Matadors, the team doesn’t play until the Cyclone Challenge when it takes on Florida A&M and Prairie View A&M on Dec. 29 and Dec. 30.

However, the team will only have five days off, as practicing will still be a necessity.

“After school ends we’ll practice up to that Monday game before break,” said sophomore center Anna Prins. “Then I think we have four or five days off and then we’ll come back and start practice again [Dec.] 26.”

After getting a few days off from both school and basketball, Fennelly is hoping his team will come back after the holidays and be ready to compete.

“We need to re-energize and refocus,” Fennelly said. “So we’ll get through final exams, one more game and then send them all home. Hopefully they’ll come back with a renewed spirit.”

The team will need spirit after the new year, as 2011 brings with it Big 12 competition. After the Cyclones take on Chicago State and North Dakota State on Jan. 2 and Jan. 4, the team will kick off its conference slate Jan. 8 at Baylor.

The last time the team met Baylor, the Cyclones took the game 69-45, holding the Lady Bears to 32.7 percent from the field. Baylor’s Brittney Griner was the only Lady Bear to break into double-digits with 10 points.

“For sure [we’re looking forward to] Baylor,” Prins said. “We’re opening our conference games there so that will be exciting, but I think we’re just looking forward to competing and getting some wins [during break].”

Before the Cyclones can get some rest, they’ll take on Cal State Northridge at 7 p.m. Dec. 20 at Hilton Coliseum.