The ISU women’s basketball team played its first five games with drive and focus, but wins will be harder earned in its next five games before Christmas.

The Cyclones (4-1) start this tough stretch with their Cy-Hawk series rival at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Hilton Coliseum. The Iowa game begins a stretch when Iowa State will play its other two in-state rivals, Drake and Northern Iowa, and two other regional opponents, Minnesota and Creighton.

Coach Bill Fennelly said the team can look at this stretch one of two ways.

“I told the players the other day, ‘We could be 9 and 1 and celebrating at Christmas, or we could be 4 and 6 and have a piece of coal in the stocking,'” Fennelly said. “Some players coast into Christmas and some find another gear. We have to find another gear.”

In this matchup, Iowa State will have to combat a considerable size disadvantage against the Hawkeyes (5-2). At 5 feet 9 inches, point guard Kristi Smith is the only Iowa starter under 6 feet 2 inches, while the Cyclones only have one starter over that height: junior Nicky Wieben at 6 feet 4 inches.

Junior forward Amanda Nisleit said Iowa State will be practicing techniques to control the boards against the taller Hawkeyes.

“We will be working on boxing out and rebounding,” Nisleit said. “They are very strong and a little bit bigger team than us, so it will be very important to match their effort and hustle.”

“We’re not going to get a lot taller by Wednesday,” Fennelly said. “It is all about positioning and fundamentals, so if you’re 5-9, you better box out the 6-6 kid.”

The Cyclones have won the last two against Iowa, including an 80-74 victory last year in Iowa City, where they trailed 11-0 early in the game. The Cyclones have won the last two coveted state championships but will have to beat the Hawkeyes to keep their title.

The Hawks defeated Drake and Northern Iowa, however, they lost their leading rebounder Jenee Graham to a broken hand suffered in practice.

Sophomore point guard Alison Lacey, of Canberra, Australia, said her roommate last season, fellow sophomore Shellie Mosman, of Carroll, helped her understand the rivalry.

“The moment you step on campus everyone makes it known about the Iowa rivalry,” Lacey said. “It is pretty important to everyone at Iowa State.”

For the Cyclones to start this stretch with a victory, Fennelly said they will have to take better care of the ball offensively while keeping up their defensive intensity.

“If you look at the five games we have coming up, all of them will be competitive close games,” Fennelly said. “Giving away possessions is not going to help.

“When you start playing rivalry games, there are a lot of little things that are going to make a difference.”

Scouting the Hawkeyes

Record: 5-2

Wins: Drake, UNI, Dartmouth, Mississippi St., Detroit

Losses: Georgia Tech, Arizona St.

Player to watch: G Kristi Smith 12.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.4 spg

Notes: The Hawkeyes lead the all-time series 20-17. Iowa State has won nine straight home games and 11 in a row versus nonconference opponents.