Coming off a 2011 NCAA tournament appearance in March, the ISU women’s basketball team is ready to take the floor in the 2012-13 season.

ISU coach Bill Fennelly wants to get down to business and not waste any time.

“It’s time to play somebody,” Fennelly said. “Most coaches want another week or another day, but it’s time to play; put the uniforms on and give them something to look forward to.”

Fennelly talked about a slippage factor that could come into play when the Cyclones step on the court of Hilton Coliseum for the first time. 

“It’s not a long way from Sukup to Hilton, but it seems to be a bigger separation from when the lights go on,” Fennelly said.

Freshman Emiah Bingley will get her first taste of Hilton magic Thursday night, when the Cyclones take the floor against Northwest Missouri State.

Bingley said there have been a few things she’s been looking forward to, but one thing stands out in particular: game experience.

“This is something totally different for me,” Bingley said. “Of course, it’s just playing the game, but it’s a totally different level.”

Bingley said she’s hoping to look to her veteran teammates for help getting through her first games as a newcomer.

“I’ll lean on them a good amount just to show me the way and get me through these first couple of games,” Bingley said. “But I think I’ll get the hang of it pretty soon.”

Junior Hallie Christofferson is one of those veterans. Christofferson said she still remembers her first time running out on the court.

“I still get jitters when I run out there,” Christofferson said. “Seeing everybody in the stands, it’s crazy.”

Getting out on the court at Hilton will be a breath of fresh air for the Cyclones.

“It will give us a good time to get together and just get out of practice,” Christofferson said. “It will give us a little look on how the rest of the season will turn out.”

The Cyclones are looking healthy for the most part as they head into a set of exhibition games. Only one player will not dress Thursday night: freshman Madison Baier. 

Baier rolled her ankle in practice and will not play in either exhibition game so she can recover. Baier is one of three freshmen on the roster this year. 

Fennelly is hoping to learn one thing in particular from the first exhibition game. 

“Anyone can handle success. I want to see how they handle mistakes,” Fennelly said. “The game doesn’t stop… basketball is a game of mistakes. It’s about putting a new group of people on the court to play the way Iowa State plays.”