When the Cyclones march into the second round of the WNIT against Marquette University, the fact that their season could end will be the furthest thing from the players’ minds.

“Really we don’t talk about it being over, we just look game to game,” said Assistant Coach Jodi Steyer. “I really truly think they’re thinking about Marquette and it doesn’t really hit anybody that, man, this could be it.”

Although they choose not to focus on the potential end of the season, the test will come at 7 p.m Monday at Hilton Coliseum. Being in the comfort of home should bode well for the Cyclones, who have a 12-3 record at home in postseason play. Iowa State is hoping that the fans can give them the extra edge they need to defeat the Golden Eagles.

“Our fans are our sixth man and our players feed off that,” Steyer said. “Our girls love to walk on to the floor for our fans, and if we can play the way we can play and allow the fans to help us, I think that’s a perfect situation.”

Marquette (19-10) comes into the game riding high after cruising to a 64-44 win over Illinois.

“They are a very good team and they play with a tremendous amount of effort and intensity,” Steyer said. “I think as we go into the game we have to match their intensity.”

In contrast, Iowa State is coming off an emotional 79-71 first-round overtime victory against University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. Although they pulled out the win, the Cyclones don’t want to make overtime games a habit in the WNIT.

“I hope it will end up helping us, because sometimes it’s nice to learn a lesson and still win,” Steyer said. “A lot of times you learn lessons from losses. Well, when we lose we don’t play anymore.”

It looked as if the Cyclones season was about to end as the team trailed by five with less than a minute to play.

“We saw people start leaving, and you’re kind of thinking that, oh my god, we might be done.” Steyer said. “But I think the players never really sensed that.”

Brittany Wilkins then hit a three with 14 seconds remaining, and Heather Ezell tied the game at 66-66 with two free throws.

Wilkins had a career high 30 points and pulled down 16 rebounds, in what could have been her final game.

“She’s been tremendous and she is showing that – as a senior – she’s not ready for it to be over,” Steyer said. “I think it’s fitting for her to finish her career on such a high like she is.”

It was the Cyclones going 7-8 from the line in overtime that eventually put the Cyclones into the second round and gave Coach Bill Fennelly his 399th career win.

When the Cyclones go into their second-round game, Fennelly will have a chance to collect his 400th win.

“We have not spoken one word about it. He wouldn’t want us to,” Steyer said.

Although he chooses not to focus on the milestone, 400 wins is still an accomplishment for any coach.

“You look around in the coaching ranks and there’s very few people that have been able to win 400 games, especially in the time frame he did it,” she said.

The Cyclones will try and collect his 400th win and advance to the Elite Eight all at once with a win over Marquette.