AMES, Iowa (Interstat) — A surging Iowa State women’s basketball team will look to continue its climb in the Big 12 standings when it hosts a struggling UCF squad on Saturday at Hilton Coliseum.

The Cyclones (17-5, 5-5 Big 12) have won three consecutive games, most recently an 84-70 road victory at Texas Tech on Wednesday. That win streak followed a challenging five-game conference losing skid. Iowa State’s offense has reignited, averaging 89 points during the three wins.

UCF (10-10, 2-7) arrives in Ames seeking to halt a two-game slide after a 50-67 home loss to TCU last Saturday. The Knights have found consistent wins hard to secure in league play, with their last victory coming on Jan. 18 against Colorado.

The matchup features a compelling duel in the post. Iowa State is powered by standout center Audi Crooks, who is coming off a dominant 33-point performance against Texas Tech. Over her last five games, Crooks is averaging 22.2 points, showcasing her as one of the conference’s most formidable interior scorers.

UCF will counter with forward Mahogany Chandler-Roberts, the Knights’ most consistent threat. She scored 17 points with six rebounds in the loss to TCU and has reached double figures in scoring in four of her last seven outings. Containing Crooks will likely be a primary focus for Chandler-Roberts and the UCF defense.

Iowa State won the first meeting this season, 77-56, in Orlando on Jan. 2. The Cyclones have historically protected their home court, while UCF has yet to win a Big 12 road game this season (0-4).

Tipoff is set for Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026. For Iowa State, the game represents a chance to solidify its NCAA tournament résumé. For UCF, it is an opportunity to pull a significant road upset and gain momentum for the final month of the regular season.