With only nine regular season games left on the schedule, Iowa State’s players know the most important stretch of the season has arrived.

“I think everyone has to buy in and it starts in practice,” guard Seanna Johnson said. “I think the last nine games of the Big 12 season everyone has to just come together and no matter what it takes, we just gotta play hard for 40 minutes.”

Playing a complete game will be the task for Iowa State (11-9, 2-7 Big 12) Saturday at 5 p.m. when it takes on TCU at Hilton Coliseum.

This will be Iowa State’s second look at TCU (10-10, 2-7 Big 12) this season.

“I think the urgency creeps in when you start looking at, okay, now you’re playing teams for the second time,” coach Bill Fennelly said.

Winning against TCU will be huge for Iowa State, as the Cyclones can move into a tie for seventh in the conference with a win and a loss by either Oklahoma State or Texas Tech.

With the top six teams in the league getting a bye at the Big 12 Tournament, every win from here on out is a big bonus.

Iowa State’s first game against TCU was a five point loss on the road in which the Cyclones led by as many as 13 points. In that game, Iowa State won the rebounding battle 43-31, including a nine rebound advantage on the offensive glass.

“It’s extremely important [to win the rebounding battle],” Johnson said. “I think everyone has to go to the boards, especially on the defensive end. We can’t give up offensive rebounds.”

Rebounding hasn’t always been a strength for Iowa State, which is relatively undersized in relation to the rest of the Big 12.

Fennelly said winning the rebounding battle against TCU once again will be a key for Iowa State.

“That’s huge for us for a lot of reasons,” Fennelly said. “Obviously when you’re rebounding you can score in transition hopefully before the defense gets set, they’re not getting second chance shots, you’re not fouling — teams that give up a lot of offensive rebounds usually have to foul at some point.

“It would be nice to replicate that for sure.”

TCU’s Toughest Matchup

Iowa State’s most important player on Saturday might be Bridget Carleton. Carleton, who is leading Iowa State with 15.8 points per game in Big 12 play, scored 30 points against TCU earlier this season.

In three career games against TCU, Carleton is averaging 22.3 points and 13 rebounds per game.

“I don’t think it’s anything specific about the team or whatever,” Carleton said. “I’ve had some success against them in the past and I think that’s just built my confidence going into this game.”

Fennelly joked that “it’d be nice” if Carleton had another 30-point outing against TCU, but the more important thing is getting other players involved.

“For some reason up to this point in her career she’s played well against them,” Fennelly said. “You see that a lot, and I never could figure out how to explain how some players play really well against some teams and some players don’t play so well against others.

“The three [Carleton, Johnson and Jadda Buckley] are gonna score hopefully, but getting other people involved and — it doesn’t have to be crazy, but when the shot’s available, whether it’s a free throw, whether it’s a layup, whether it’s an end of the shot clock play, those are the things that you gotta have in a team concept.”