After two weeks of testing the best competition the Big 12 has to offer, a game against conference cellar-dweller Missouri may be just what the ISU women’s basketball team needs.

The Cyclones (16-10, 5-8 Big 12) have won just one of their last four games, all of which were against teams ranked in the top 25.

But all statistics aside, a conference road game, even against a team like Missouri (9-17, 2-11 Big 12), is never a sure thing.

“Every game is going to be tough,” said sophomore guard Alison Lacey. “I don’t think it really matters if they’re ranked. We don’t expect to lose to ranked teams and we don’t expect to beat unranked teams, so every game is a challenge.”

The last time the two teams met, Iowa State had no problem downing the Tigers with a 64-46 victory at Hilton Coliseum on Feb. 9.

But there will be one glaring difference between Wednesday night’s game and the previous meeting: It’s doubtful forward Amanda Nisleit will see any playing time.

The junior rolled her ankle with 18:01 remaining in Saturday’s 59-54 loss to No. 9 Baylor and will likely trade her uniform for street clothes during Wednesday’s game in Columbia, Mo.

Nisleit’s injury has contributed to an injured list that is already longer than the Iowa State would like – one that includes season-ending knee injuries for former starters Tocarra Ross and Nicky Wieben.

The Cyclones, however, have to find a way to put their misfortune behind them with three very important games still left on the horizon.

A clean sweep to close out the regular season will make for an 8-8 conference record, ideal for the team’s hopes for an NCAA tournament bid.

“If they don’t realize what they’re playing for now, then there isn’t anything I can tell them,” said coach Bill Fennelly. “There are a lot of possibilities for this team, and you hope that you can go into the last three games with a great sense of urgency and opportunity.”

The injuries have also forced nearly all players into playing more minutes than originally expected of them, which can take its toll on first-year players that have never experienced pressure like this at the Division I stage.

“Denae [Stuckey], [Jocelyn Anderson], and Kelsey [Bolte] have never been through this at this level,” said Fennelly. “This is where Heather [Ezell] and Alison have to be the ones to get them to understand how to find that extra gear and how to find that next level one more time.”

A primary order of business for the Cyclones on Wednesday will be improving an offensive attack that has been lacking as a result of poor shooting. Iowa State has averaged just 51 points and 36 percent shooting. The last time the Cyclones shot better than 40 percent was in a 49-percent performance against Missouri five games ago.

Missouri is led offensively by guard Alyssa Hollins and forwards Jessra Johnson and Shakara Jones, who average 16.8,13.2, and 11.1 points per game, respectively. The team has most of its success when the trio gets going, but doesn’t have much to flaunt when they are stopped. Iowa State had no problem doing so in their last meeting, holding the three to just 21 total points.

“They’re a team, unlike us, that can put three people on the court that can get 20 points,” said Fennelly. “When you play someone that has that ability, if they get to 62 like they did [Sunday,] we might not be able to beat them.”

The Tigers snapped a 10-game losing streak Sunday, getting their second conference win of the season with a 62-59 home win against Kansas.