With four regular-season games left on the regular-season slate, Iowa State looks to face its toughest stretch yet. As March Madness is on the horizon, the Cyclones aim to close out conference play with a winning margin.
Iowa State’s (20-6, 8-6 Big 12) season-concluding slate features a split of two home and away games. Next on the agenda is taking on the Arizona State Sun Devils (21-6, 8-6 Big 12) at home.
“You could finish fourth all the way down to 13th, you know, depending on how these three games go, so it’s super important to finish strong,” freshman guard Reese Beaty said.
The Big 12 Conference has proven that any team can be the victor, but Iowa State has one thing Arizona State does not: Hilton Magic.
With a four-game home win streak under their belt, the Cyclones look to profit from the home court advantage.
“Aggressive, talented, so I mean they’ve [Arizona State] been on a hot streak so far,” junior guard Arianna Jackson said. “I know that Hilton is going to have our back, so hopefully we can pull it out [a victory].
The Sun Devils come to Ames ready to seek revenge from their 96-88 Big 12 Tournament second-round loss to the Cyclones last season.
In the contest, junior forward Addy Brown showed Arizona State who the better state school was, scoring 41 points and tallying nine rebounds in 38 minutes. The absence of Brown has since shifted the Cyclones’ offense, but the team has found plenty of well-rounded offensive players to turn to.
This time around, the Sun Devils are hot off a two-game win streak in which they took down the Arizona Wildcats with a 75-69 overtime thriller. In the contest, a pair of forwards and a guard disrupted the home team in a dominating fashion.
In the victory, junior forward McKinna Brackens led the team in points with 24, alongside seven rebounds and four assists.
Similar to Brackens, graduate student Gabby Elliott went to Deuces Land, tallying 22 points, two rebounds and two assists.
Arizona’s third star of the game was sophomore forward Heloisa Carrera, who picked up a double-double with 10 points and 11 assists.
“I’m not surprised that they put a really good team together, they’re old, they know how to play very aggressive,” head coach Bill Fennelly said. “If you follow women’s basketball, her [Arizona State head coach Molly Miller] pedigree is pretty good. It’s showing off at Arizona State.”
The Sundevils are not the only team coming into the match-up on a hot streak. Iowa State picked up a 76-72 victory over Kansas State on Sunday.
All eyes led to a pair of juniors, center Audi Crooks and guard Jada Williams. Crooks tallied 20 points and nine rebounds while Williams contributed 22 points, five rebounds and nine assists.
“Just knowing that anyone can step up at any point, so you really just have to find the hot hand,” Jackson said.
With the Cyclones’ second-to-last home game ahead, the team looks to use their diverse offense to pick up a victory over the menacing Sundevils.
The game is set for a 6:30 p.m. tipoff Wednesday and can be streamed on ESPN+.
All quotes are provided by CyclonesTV
