The ISU women’s basketball team will have be quick and aggressive to match up with a Texas A&M team led by an all-around guard.

“Texas A&M is probably the most athletically defensive team we will face,” ISU head coach Bill Fennelly said. “Limiting our turnovers will be our No. 1 priority going into the game.”

The Aggies (7-11, 0-7 Big 12) are lead by senior guard Toccara Williams, who leads the Big 12 in steals and assists.

“She’s a kid who does so much for them,” Fennelly said. “You’ve got to make sure she doesn’t disrupt your offense totally.”

Williams, the fifth player in NCAA history to record 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 600 assists and 350 steals in a career, leads the team in points, steals, assists and field goal attempts.

Fennelly said it is important for the Cyclones (9-8, 2-4 Big 12) to keep Williams in front of them, and make sure every shot she takes is a difficult one.

The Cyclones also need to score, and early. Iowa State has been outscored in the first half of its six conference matches 182-139.

“The bottom line is you’ve just got to make plays,” Fennelly said. “We had a lot of open shots [against Oklahoma State] that we didn’t make. Ultimately, it comes down to executing what we work on in practice.”

One advantage for Iowa State against Texas A&M will be size. The Aggies boast 6-foot-3 Lynn Classen and 6-foot Tamea Scales. Only four Cyclone players stand under six feet. Fennelly said the size advantage allows for better opportunities to rebound. Iowa State is 8-3 when outrebounding its opponents.

“When you play a team that is not tall, they’re quick, they’re aggressive and they’re going to try to take you out of your offense,” Fennelly said.

He said the speed Texas A&M has allows the Aggies “to press from five different spots on the court.”

“The problem is getting the ball from one end of the court to the other with that kind of pressure,” Fennelly said.

The Cyclones will play their third game in a week when they travel south to College Station, Texas, Saturday.

“It’s been a tough week — three games in one week and two trips to South Division schools back-to-back, but that’s the schedule you play,” Fennelly said.

“The next line on the schedule is Texas A&M, and that’s where we need to focus.”