The ISU women’s basketball team was handed its first loss of last season at Pepperdine.

Nicky Wieben and the Cyclones (1-0) did not let that happen Sunday in Iowa State’s season opener and rematch with the Waves (1-1), who returned all five starters from last year. Iowa State used a suffocating defense to stifle the Pepperdine offense to 17 percent shooting in the first half and 35.1 percent for the game, while Wieben scored early and often to lead the Cyclones to a 70-59 win.

Alison Lacey, who ended up with a career-high 10 assists, worked the ball inside right away and Wieben was the beneficiary of that, scoring 21 of her career-high 24 points in the first half. Iowa State, who had a distinct height disadvantage to Pepperdine, beat the Waves at their own game, outscoring them 36-16 in the paint with Wieben, who also had six rebounds and four blocks, Toccara Ross and Jocelyn Anderson leading the way.

The Cyclones also got off to a white-hot start and did not allow a field goal until the 12:53 mark of the first half. Iowa State used two 12-0 runs to build a 28-5 lead midway through the first half and the Cyclones took a 38-12 lead into the break.

The Cyclones started the second half fast as well, building their lead to 37 and surpassing the 46 points they scored a year ago in a 52-46 loss to the Waves in the first five minutes of the second half. A frantic late run by the Waves made the game closer, but Iowa State was able to hold them off.

Denae Stuckey joined Wieben in double figures with 12 points and also tied for the team lead with seven rebounds, while Daphanie Kennedy led the Waves with 18 points.