When the Cyclones faced off against Iowa a year ago, senior forward Toccara Ross used a season-high 15 points and 10 rebounds to carry her team to a 58-44 win over the Hawkeyes.

Four games later, however, Ross’ season took a turn for the worse after she tore her right ACL — promptly ending her season.

After returning to full-time practice only two weeks ago, Ross finds herself in a much different situation this year as the Cyclones prepare for Sunday’s matchup against Iowa.

“I’m in a position where I’m trying to fit in with 15 players I haven’t played with for a while,” Ross said. “The bottom line is that I need to stay healthy and adjust to finding my role on the team.”

Ross, a junior transfer from Kirkwood Community College, compiled 376 points and a team-leading 256 rebounds in her debut season with the Cyclones. However, in her absence last season, senior forwards Amanda Nisleit and Jocelyn Anderson emerged as more-than-adequate replacements for the injured Ross.

With a plethora of players — senior Nicky Wieben, freshman Ashley Arlen, Nisleit and Anderson — who have established themselves as reliable options in the post, Ross’ amount of playing time has become more of a question mark.

“There’s only so many minutes to go around,” said coach Bill Fennelly. “I don’t think there is any question she can still help our team, but she is definitely in a tough spot.”

Throughout the preseason, Ross worked to be ready to go for the season, but continued discomfort in her knee forced her to have her knee scoped in late October. When she finally returned to practice three weeks ago, Ross said she’s had to force herself to catch up to the fitness level of the rest of the team.

“Her conditioning level is not very good,” Fennelly said. “T. needs timing, and when she’s not in there practicing, she can’t get that.”

Since returning to the court on Nov. 20 against Northern Iowa, Ross has struggled to regain her form. In five games, she has only played 39 minutes and scored 13 points.

Ross, who said the knee feels great, remains optimistic about her current position.

“I think my conditioning level could have been a lot worse than it is now. I think I’m in a good spot,” Ross said. “Hopefully I can find my role quick enough and soon enough that I can help this team.”

Her next chance to adapt to her new role comes against a Hawkeye team she has had her way with, scoring 15 points in both games she has played against Iowa.

“She had a great game in Iowa last year, so hopefully that is still fresh in her mind,” Fennelly said. “She grew up in Davenport, so this is a big game for her. Hopefully this week in practice she will be energized enough where we can put her in the game and help.”

Cy-Hawk showdown

Despite trailing the Hawkeyes 20-18 in the overall series record, the Cyclones have won the last three matchups. With all three of Iowa’s top scorers from last year’s game returning this year, Iowa State have an idea of what to expect on Sunday.

“You expect a close game,” Fennelly said. “They know us. We know them. There’s a little greater sense of familiarity than in the past.”

The Hawkeyes, who won a share of the Big 10 regular season title last year, have stumbled to a 4-4 start, including a 71-47 trouncing by Duke on Thursday. Because of their early struggles, Iowa may have a slight sense of desperation entering Sunday’s game.

“They don’t want to lose to Iowa State four times in a row,” Fennelly said. “They have a lot of motivation. I don’t think they need extra, but there will probably more than there usually is.”

Iowa State has had the entire week to regroup after playing three games in three days at the Waikiki Marriott Beach Classic last weekend. After a day off Monday, Fennelly spent Tuesday and Wednesday working on several areas of concern before they started to prepare for Sunday.

“When we were in Hawaii it was all about preparing for the next game,” Ross said. “Now we’ve had a couple of days to work on the things we need to work on, so hopefully we’ll show a lot of improvement going into the Iowa game.”