Prior to the start of last season, the Iowa State-Kansas series could hardly be called a rivalry.

The Cyclones were 8-34 lifetime against the mighty Jayhawks and, prior to a 1998 home win, had lost 14 straight.

But after getting knocked out of the ’98 Big 12 tournament, 70-65, by Kansas, a fire seemed to be lit under the rapidly improving ISU women’s basketball team.

In 1999, the Cyclones butted heads with the Jayhawks three times and came away victorious every game. In fact, the average margin of victory for last season’s matchups was a full 10 points.

This year, the series will certainly not lack for intensity.

“They’re a team that’s very good, but I think the thing is, they’re a cocky team,” Cyclone forward Desiree Francis said. “Everybody gets excited about playing a cocky team and beating them.”

With Kansas sitting at 4-2 and Iowa State just two games ahead at 6-0, the game could be a crucial one in the Big 12 standings.

“This is such a big game because it’s such a big rivalry and the standings are so close,” forward Megan Taylor said. “With four teams at 4-2, the next two games are really important. They’re both on the road, they’re both against tough teams and, if we lose them, we could drop all the way to sixth place.”

The 2000 Jayhawks will miss the physical presence of Nakia Sanford, who graduated, but have a solid corps of players around which to build another contender.

“They have some real good role players,” Taylor said. “They just have a bunch of good players who know their roles and then one superstar.”

That one superstar, 6-foot-2 senior Lynn Pride, provides a huge emotional spark to her team, in addition to leading them both in points per game, with 18.2, and rebounds per game, with 8.6.

“I think she just brings athleticism to the team,” Taylor said. “She can just take over a game at any moment if she gets it in her head that she wants to.”

Pride’s greatest strength is her diversity. Combining size and speed, she can be dominant under the basket.

“She’s a 6-2 guard,” Taylor said. “She can shoot it from outside or she can post you up. She can do anything — that’s what’s so scary about her.”

Francis, for one, wasn’t nearly as impressed with Kansas’ go-to player.

“Last year, when we played them [in Ames], I had a great game, so [in Lawrence] she was trying to get in my head, and she ended up getting a technical,” Francis said. “It didn’t phase me at all, because I’m the type of player that won’t let people get to me.”

Pride’s weakness may be a mediocre jumpshot, but even Francis realizes what a force she can be in the post.

“We have to stop her from driving,” Francis said. “Obviously, she’s not a very good shooter, so to save the team, they’ll have to go inside. She can’t shoot to save her life, so we’ll have to stop her right away from getting into the game — driving, scoring, drawing fouls or doing any of her moves.”

In addition to her scoring and rebounding, Pride leads the Jayhawks with 42 steals and 15 blocks and is second in assists with 52.

Senior guard Suzi Raymant, the only true three-point threat, with a .368 average, is second on the team in scoring with 14.4 points per contest.

A trio of juniors complete the Kansas starting lineup.

Guard Jennifer Jackson brings an 8.4 point per game average to the court, and forwards Brooke Reves and Jaclyn Johnson both average double-digits.

In addition to her consistent scoring, Johnson also pulls down over eight rebounds per game for the Jayhawks, who are out-rebounding opponents by nearly eight caroms a night.

“Jaclyn Johnson, who plays inside, wants to bully everyone when she gets the ball,” Francis said. “We, as post players, are going to have to be very calm and just play the game and not let her get in our heads.”

Last season, after dominating Kansas in Ames, the Cyclones crashed KU head coach Marian Washington’s 500th win party, stealing a three-point victory in Lawrence.

“We always look forward to challenges like this,” Taylor said. “Last year, we went down there and beat them on their home court on what was supposed to be Washington’s 500th win. If we can do it in circumstances like that, we can do it any time.”

“Last year, we beat them at home when they had their cake all prepared for the big victory,” Francis added, “and that shows a lot about our team. I think we’re ready.”

To top it all off, the Cyclones knocked KU out of the Big 12 tournament in a game barely as close as the final 79-64 margin.

“It’s not going to be easy,” Francis said. “I think we should all be excited to play Kansas, though, coming off of two big wins. It should be a game of high intensity.”

In what has become an intense rivalry of high intensity, the Cyclones feel the key to victory may be in controlling emotions.

“We have to try to stop them from getting on a run and getting excited,” Francis said. “We have to keep them cool and calm during the game and not allow them to be too emotional.”

However they choose to play, both teams undoubtedly have a lot to play for. With no love lost and much of the conference standing on the line, it will certainly not be a game that lacks for motivation.

“Personally, I don’t like cocky teams, so I’ll be well-prepared and up-tempo,” Francis said. “They’re a good team, but we’ll just show them that we’re a better team.”

“If we just go down there and believe we can win,” Taylor said, “I think we’ll be able to do it.”