The eighth ranked Iowa State women play the first of three instate games on Wednesday night when they visit Northern Iowa. ISU coach Bill Fennelly says games matching Big Four teams always create added interest.

Fennelly says a school like Iowa State has more to lose.

Fennelly says as a native Iowan the instate games mean a great deal to him.

The Cyclones are 4-0. The Panthers are 2-1 and coming off a 76-70 home loss to Ball State.

That’s UNI coach Tanya Warren who says they will need a much better effort against the Cyclones.

Warren considers Fennelly a good friend.