For the first time this season, Iowa State will be traveling to the University of South Dakota for its first true home game of the season.

The game is set to tip-off at 7 p.m. on Wednesday.

So far this season, the only game Iowa State has traveled for was a neutral site game in Chatham, Ontario, Canada versus Eastern Michigan, which Iowa State won 85-59.

The game was an unofficial homecoming for senior Bridget Carleton, who is a native of Chatham. Carleton finished the game with 17 points, nine rebounds, three assists and four blocks.

This season, South Dakota is 5-1 with its only loss coming against Drake, who is currently No. 24 in the AP poll, on the road. Drake won the game 76-64.

Currently, Iowa State is ranked No. 23 in the AP poll which is the first time since 2014. For Carleton, it is the first time an Iowa State team she has been apart of has been ranked in the AP top 25.

Carleton said being ranked is exciting and a testament of the team’s hard work so far this season, but Carleton is taking the ranking with a grain of salt.

“It’s the third week of the season, so I don’t think it’s that important [being ranked] right now,” Carleton said. “Obviously, we’d like to be in that spot come March, come late February.”

Iowa State is 6-4 all-time versus South Dakota, but 0-2 when visiting the Coyotes, and coach Bill Fennelly doesn’t expect doesn’t expect South Dakota to be a pushover.

“It’s one of those game the average fan will look at and kinda [be] like ‘whatever,’” Fennelly said. “They’re very, very good. I think they’ve lost one game in two and a half, three years in their new building.”

Fennelly said South Dakota are balanced on both offense and defense.

Carleton said she knows her team has the ability to win on the road due to a majority of the teams experience in Big 12 play last season.

For freshman Ashley Joens, she said she is confident in her teammates helping her through the first road test of her college career.

Fennelly said the biggest obstacle for Iowa State is being able to match the enthusiasm and effort of South Dakota.

This Wednesday, Carleton could further cement herself amongst Iowa State’s best players of all-time. With three points, Carleton will move to 11th in all-time scoring and three blocks will move Carleton to fifth all-time in blocks.

Against South Dakota, Iowa State is expected to roll out its usual starting five consisting of Carleton, Joens, Alexa Middleton, Madi Wise and Meredith Burkhall.

On the offensive side of the ball, Joens has found a role early in the season as a spot-up shooter and complimentary scoring piece.

Joens has been averaging 11.8 points per game while shooting 40.4 percent from the floor and 32.4 percent from three.

Joens said she has just been taking what the defense gives her on the offensive end and not hesitating to shoot even when her shot isn’t falling.

In the second game of the season of the season against Northern Illinois, Joens shot 0-4 from three. The next game versus Auburn, Joens shot 5-of-12 from three and set her career high with 18 total points.

Even if Iowa State isn’t hitting shots, its defense, which ranks 16th in the nation in opponent field goal percentage, will limit offensive opportunities for the Coyotes.