Road, sweet road?

After dropping two consecutive home games, the ISU women’s basketball team travels to Lincoln to face Nebraska. Coincidentally, Nebraska is the last team Iowa State beat in Hilton, and the Cyclones are trying for a season-sweep Wednesday night.

The Cyclones (12-6, 3-4 Big 12) have lost their last two games by a combined 24 points, but ISU coach Bill Fennelly said the team shouldn’t be completely discouraged just yet.

“It’s not a lack of effort, it’s a lack of execution – there’s no doubt about that,” he said. “They want to do it, they try to do it, it’s just a matter of following through on the little things.”

Iowa State has dropped two straight games in Lincoln, but the Cyclones beat Nebraska (11-7, 3-4) 79-57 on Jan. 14. The Cyclones have not swept the Huskers since 2003.

Still, junior Megan Ronhovde said it’s always easier for the Cyclones to prepare when they’ve already seen the opposition.

“I think putting together a game plan is a little easier because we’ve already seen what type of things they run,” she said.

Seeing a team for the second time – especially on the road – isn’t always a positive, however.

“Last year when we played at Nebraska they ran a little bit different offense,” Fennelly said. “Kiera Hardy is dramatically better at home, and when she’s better at home, it ignites her defense.”

Hardy leads the Huskers, averaging 18 points per game. She is the only Husker who averages in double figures. The Cyclones have two who average in double figures, with junior Lyndsey Medders and senior Brittany Wilkins averaging 17.6 and 14.6 points, respectively.

Wilkins is almost averaging a double-double, pulling down 9.4 rebounds per game.

Rebounding has been a problem for the Cyclones, as they have only outrebounded one Big 12 opponent this year -ÿColorado.

“We have to be a better rebounding team,” Fennelly said. “That’s something that has been an Achilles heel.”

Ronhovde said the Cyclones need to find an answer, even if it’s just getting back to basics.

“Nebraska’s a really good team, they play well at home,” she said. “We have to find ways to get some energy, really crisp on offense, and limit our turnovers.”

The Cyclones may have to find that energy without their leading scorer, as Fennelly said Medders is questionable for Wednesday’s game, suffering from a sprained foot.

She suffered the injury in Sunday’s loss against Kansas State.

“She thinks she can go, but I don’t know,” Fennelly said. “She’ll go through shoot around tomorrow and we’ll make a decision.”

Still, Fennelly said the Cyclones need to have a short-term memory for Wednesday’s game.

“We can’t lose to Nebraska Wednesday because we lost to K-State on Sunday,” he said.

Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. in Lincoln. The game will be broadcast on channel 22 in Ames.