The ISU women’s basketball team is primed and ready for its first game, mainly because the players can finally play against someone other than themselves.

After a spirited three weeks of practice, the Cyclones will play their lone exhibition game against the Iowa Wesleyan Tigers at 2 p.m. Sunday in Hilton Coliseum.

Sophomore point guard Alison Lacey said it will be interesting to get back in front of the home fans again.

“It will be fun just to get out in front of the crowd again and play in front of some people,” Lacey said. “We will be able to see how far we’ve come along in a game.”

Coach Bill Fennelly said it will be good to go up against someone who does not know the system the Cyclones run.

“It’s fun that people you play don’t know all of your plays and you’re not beating up on the same people every day,” Fennelly said. “I hope it give us some idea on specific roles and who’s going to play well with whom.”

Iowa State is fresh off a trip to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, but will have some new players on the floor, in addition to some returners who will be playing in different positions.

Fennelly said the biggest thing for the coaches will be to figure out who can handle the in-game atmosphere.

“Some people are different when the lights are on and there are people in the stands watching them,” Fennelly said. “The great thing about basketball is you can play a practice game and learn some of those things.”

The Tigers reached the Sweet 16 of the NAIA Division II Tournament and will return seven players from that team. Iowa Wesleyan played a game Thursday as well.

Junior forward Nicky Wieben said Iowa State will treat this game like any other it will play this season.

“It’s an exhibition game, but you still have to take it just as seriously,” Wieben said. “As a team, I think we’re all really excited just to get that first game out of the way.”

This game gives the Cyclones an opportunity to get used to game speed before they open their regular season against a Pepperdine team at home on Nov. 11. Pepperdine was one of only eight teams to defeat the Cyclones last season.

Wieben said this will be a good game for the Cyclones to figure out what they need to correct.

“This will be really good game for us to figure out the holes that we have,” Wieben said. “Whatever it may be, this will be a good test for us to see where we’re at right now.”

What: Iowa State vs. Iowa Wesleyan Tigers

When: 2 p.m. Sunday

Where: Hilton Coliseum

Media: Cyclone Radio Network/Learfield (105.1 FM)

Series: Iowa State leads 2-0 with victories in 1974 and 1975.

Ross still out with injury

The lone senior for the ISU women’s basketball team, forward Toccara Ross, has been battling a back injury for the majority of the fall and is still not 100 percent yet, said coach Bill Fennelly.

“Toccara’s still not anywhere near ready to go,” Fennelly said. “She’s kind of been in and out.”

Ross was the Cyclones third-leading scorer and leading rebounder last season with 10.7 points and 7.3 rebounds per game.

Fennelly said Ross will play Sunday against Iowa Wesleyan, but is uncertain how much.

“If it was a regulation game, I would probably say she could go 15 minutes at a pace that she needs to play,” Fennelly said. “She’s had some really good days and she’s had some really bad days.

“I’m hoping that by the end of this month that she can get back into it.”

Fennelly said junior Amanda Nisleit and junior college transfer a Anderson will account for the minutes that Ross would normally occupy.