Conference showdowns heat up as the Cyclones head to Morgantown to face West Virginia. After a shaky start, Iowa State seems to be finding its rhythm, gradually improving consistency. Freshman Haylee Hardin is emerging as a star on both vault and floor, earning her second consecutive Big 12 Newcomer of the Week award. Maintaining that momentum will be crucial for the Cyclones as they aim to climb higher in the conference standings.
West Virginia, on the other hand, is riding high after a season-best performance against Florida and Utah at home last weekend. The Mountaineers have faced their share of challenges, from injuries to adjusting to a coaching shuffle (with Kaylyn Millick returning for her third stint as an assistant). While vault continues to be a weak spot, the team posted season highs on beam and floor, two events that had previously been troublesome. If West Virginia hopes to notch its first conference win, it will need to repeat those strong performances. Keep an eye on Jurnee Lane, who made her all-around debut last weekend, just shy of a 39. If she competes on all four events again, expect her to improve that score.
