After a rough two weeks, the No. 21 ISU women’s basketball team will get what it needs most: some breathing room.

Iowa State’s final three opponents —ÿMissouri, Texas A&M and Kansas — have a combined conference record of 11-28.

The Cyclones (19-5, 9-4 Big 12) have lost three of their last four games, with all three of those losses coming on the road. Iowa State’s final road contest of the season is against the 9-15 (3-10 Big 12) Missouri Tigers on Wednesday night.

In its last game on Saturday, Iowa State battled the No. 7 Baylor Bears to an 82-77 decision.

“I think when you play the team that’s going to win our league and a team’s that in the top 10 and you play them to the bitter end, that’s a good thing,” said ISU coach Bill Fennelly. “I think our effort was great and I thought there was a number of times when they could have knocked us out and didn’t.

“I think that speaks to the character of our team more than anything.”

Four Cyclones scored in double digits, led by guard Lyndsey Medders who scored a career-high 24 points.

Medders said the loss was a double-edged sword.

“You played really hard against one of the top teams in the country and you lose,” Medders said. “Part of us is happy, but we have to realize the Baylor game is over and we have a tough test on the road.”

Wednesday is the last of two meetings for Iowa State and Missouri. On Jan. 15, the Cyclones trailed by as many as 14 points in the first half but grabbed a come-from-behind victory over the Tigers, winning 65-59.

“Missouri’s always been a tough team for us,” Fennelly said. “They’re very good sized and very long defensively. That creates some problems for us.”

Christelle N’Garsanet had 17 points for the Tigers, who were outrebounded 52-33 by the Cyclones. Iowa State had 22 offensive boards.

The Cyclones got double-digit point production from their three senior starters — Mary Fox, Anne O’Neil and Katie Robinette — who scored 17, 15, and 12 points, respectively.

Iowa State is still jockeying for an NCAA tournament berth and seeding in the Big 12 tournament; rattling off three straight wins would be a boost heading into the postseason.

“I think momentum is huge going into any tournament, whether it’s the NCAA or a tournament like the Big 12, with as talented as all 12 of the Big 12 teams are,” Medders said. “No matter who you get paired up against, it’s going to be a tough matchup. Momentum is going to be key.”

With less than a week remaining in the Cyclones’ regular season schedule, Fennelly said it’s important that Iowa State doesn’t limp into the end of its season.