After back-to-back conference losses on the road, the ISU women’s basketball team is ready to get back home.

Iowa State lost its second road contest Wednesday night at Colorado, 81-67, because of a balanced Buffalo scoring attack and lacking defensive play. The loss was the team’s second straight, but this snap is one the squad intends to break Saturday.

The Cyclones (13-3, 0-2 Big 12) host Oklahoma State (13-2, 1-1) and refuse to let anyone else steal their magic at home.

“When you lose two in a row, there’s always questions and doubts about what to do next, but it’s OK to feel that,” said ISU coach Bill Fennelly. “Not that coming home solves all your problems, but you get a sense of the past successes here, and it helps.”

Senior Megan Ronhovde, who scored a season-high 20 points against Colorado, said returning to Hilton will be a welcome relief. Oklahoma State’s bevy of new players, however, will be hard to judge compared to past years.

Out of 15 total Iowa State turnovers against Colorado, nine were committed by post players.

Fennelly said that, though the posts weren’t the only reason things went sour in the game, he needs more consistent play from his newcomers.

“We have to get something from them, because it’s hard to score in this league,” he said. “Nicky (Wieben) has been playing solid for us, but this is Toccara (Ross) and Rachel (Pierson)’s first time going through the Big 12 wars.”

Along with post play, Fennelly said two other factors need to be improved to secure an ISU win.

“We’ve got to be a better defensive rebounding team,” he said. “Oklahoma State is a team that has a great ability at getting the offensive rebounds.”

He also said the minimal offensive output from guard Lyndsey Medders, who scored only five points against Colorado, has been a hindrance for the Cyclone cause.

Oklahoma State, a team without a win last year in the Big 12, brings almost a brand new roster to the court, including a senior transfer and several junior college players. Three starters and one Cowgirl off the bench come into the contest with scoring averages in double digits.

Ronhovde said that Iowa State’s defense, often the team’s saving grace, will have to resurface against Oklahoma State after suffering against the Buffaloes.

“Defense has been the key that’s kept us in games, and we’ve really been relying on it,” she said. “Last night, we just didn’t have it from both ends, and it was enough to keep us down.”

Fennelly said the losses were only a temporary setback for a team that has seen its share of ups and downs.

“There’s the saying that sports is a parallel to life, as in you’re going to get knocked down, you’re going to have disappointment,” he said. “It’s all about how do you handle it. The only way I know how is to work harder.”