Nicky Wieben took care of the first half for the ISU women’s basketball team Sunday against Missouri Western State, and Heather Ezell took care of the second.

Wieben scored 13 of her 15 points in the first half and Ezell hit five second-half three-pointers on her way to 18 points in the Cyclones’ 80-55 win over the Griffons. Freshman Ashley Arlen was also in double figures with 10 points and Alison Lacey had a solid floor game with nine points, six rebounds and five assists.

“We were able to get the ball to [Wieben] early,” Ezell said. “They started doubling her and that gave us some good looks from the outside.”

Coach Bill Fennelly said the biggest improvement he saw from Iowa State’s win over Buena Vista last Sunday was Alison Lacey and her continually improving health.

“The main improvement was having Alison Lacey able to play extended minutes,” Fennelly said. “She is such an important part of our team.”

Missouri Western hung right with Iowa State for the first 10 minutes, trailing only 16-12 with 10:29 to go in the opening half. The Cyclones then went on a 13-0 run and stretched the lead to 37-18 when Lacey hit a jumper just before halftime. Iowa State controlled the pace in the first half but struggled offensively, shooting 14 of 35 and only seven of 24 from beyond the arc.

The Cyclones found their stroke early in the second half, hitting six threes in the first eight minutes of the second stanza to stretch their lead to 29. The defense struggled at times in the second half, allowing 37 points, but Iowa State was able to execute offensively and shoot 63 percent from the field.

Arlen had eight of her 10 points in the second half and added seven rebounds. Fennelly said she has been the most pleasant surprise.

“She is our first sub off the bench in the post and has earned that,” Fennelly said.

The Cyclones shot 50 percent on the night, while holding Missouri Western to 37 percent and had 14 threes to the Griffons’ five. Iowa State also used their visible height advantage to control the board to the tune of 42-32 and outscored the Griffons in second-chance points 16-2.

Iowa State opens its regular season next Sunday at home against the University of Missouri in Kansas City at 1 p.m.