Head coach Bill Fennelly and his Iowa State Cyclones are poised to return to Hilton Coliseum on Tuesday night, aiming to break a five-game losing streak as they face the Cincinnati Bearcats. The game is set to tip off at 6:30 p.m., marking the team’s first home appearance since January 11.
Junior forward Lilly Taulelei acknowledged the team’s current struggles but reiterated the importance of growth through adversity. “It’s just a rough patch, every team has them,” said Taulelei. “With every game, there are things that are exposed to us, and we just develop them as best we can.”
This matchup against Cincinnati (7-12, 2-5 Big 12) will be the second meeting between the two teams this month. The Cyclones lost to the Bearcats earlier on January 7 with a score of 71-63. Junior guard Evangelia Paulk emphasized the lessons learned from each defeat, stating, “Every single loss has taught us something new, which has been a big thing for us.”
The Cyclones have had to adjust their lineup frequently due to the absence of key players such as junior forward Addy Brown and junior guard Arianna Jackson. In the last game against Oklahoma State, several players stepped up, including redshirt junior forward Alisa Williams and senior forward Sydney Harris, who both contributed significantly alongside established players like junior center Audi Crooks and junior guard Jada Williams.
Fennelly described the ongoing adjustments as “tinkering,” explaining that the coaching staff continues to explore various lineups in search of a winning combination. With Crooks and Williams each contributing 15 points in the recent loss, Crooks also maintains a remarkable streak of scoring in double figures for 85 straight games, the longest by a Cyclone women’s player and the active leader in NCAA women’s basketball.
Despite the challenges, players like Paulk are stepping up. “I’m just trying to fill a role that I know our team needs, because obviously we’ve been struggling with that,” Paulk said after leading bench players with nine points and four rebounds in the last matchup.
Cincinnati also enters this game looking for redemption following a defeat against No. 22 West Virginia, where they lost 84-76. With a record of 2-5 during the winter break, the Bearcats have faced a tough stretch and currently sit just one spot above Iowa State in the standings. Senior guard Mya Perry has been a standout for Cincinnati, averaging 18.2 points while shooting 37% from beyond the three-point line. Freshman guard Caliyah DeVillasee has also made an impact, posting averages of 15.5 points and 3.7 rebounds per game.
The Cyclones are focusing on an effective strategy: understanding their opponent’s scouting report. “Honing in on the scout every single game is essential,” Paulk noted, recognizing the unique challenges presented by different teams.
As students return to campus and the team seeks to harness the energy of Hilton Coliseum, fans and players alike are hopeful that the home atmosphere will provide the spark necessary to turn the tide in favor of the Cyclones. The game can be streamed live on ESPN+.