Three weeks ago, the Iowa State Cyclones looked like they were on their way to finishing in the top four in the Big 12 and looked like they would be in the NCAA tournament field.

Now, after a three-game losing streak, neither of those are certain, as Iowa State has lost three games in a row. It looks to avoid losing its fourth game in a row as it hosts the West Virginia Mountaineers at noon on Saturday in Ames, Iowa.

Iowa State is now 15-11 (7-8 Big 12) and are in fifth out of ten teams in the Big 12, one game out of fourth place in the Big 12, behind the Kansas State Wildcats (14-12, 8-7 Big 12) whom they just lost to on Wednesday 60-51. 

In Tuesday’s bracketology report by ESPNW, Iowa State was listed as a 10 seed, but that could change in the next report with its loss to Kansas State and it also depends on Saturday’s result vs West Virginia. 

West Virginia is another team that is fighting for a spot in the NCAA tournament as they are one of the teams under ESPNW’s “first four out” list.

The Mountaineers (16-10, 6-9 Big 12) are tied for sixth in the Big 12 along with the Oklahoma State Cowgirls. They beat the Cyclones in the first meeting of the season 79-71, despite a big comeback effort by the Cyclones.

With both teams right on the fringe of potentially making the NCAA tournament and with them being so close in conference record, this makes Saturday as close to a must-win game for both sides.

In these types of games, there are two things that can make the difference more than anything else: turnovers and star players.

The Cyclones have been one of the worst teams in the country in turnover margin. They have a negative 3.46 turnover margin, which last in the Big 12 and 308th out of 348 in the NCAA.

Meanwhile, the Mountaineers turnover margin is 1.15, which is fourth-best in the Big 12 and tied for 136th in the NCAA.

While turnovers can make a huge difference in a game, so can having a stellar performance by a star player.

Sophomore Iowa State forward Ashley Joens has been one of the best players in the country as she leads the Big 12 in scoring and is seventh in the NCAA in scoring, averaging 20.8 points per game.

Joens also fourth in the Big 12 in rebounding with 10.6 rebounds per game and has earned 15 double-doubles this season.

In the first matchup this season against the Mountaineers, Joens dealt with foul trouble and only scored 11 points in 24 minutes.

Redshirt junior guard Kyrse Gondrezick leads West Virginia’s offense with 16 points per game, which is ninth in the Big 12.

She scored a team-high 21 points against Iowa State in the first meeting this season.