Women lose for first time this season

Nick Paulson

Win No. 500 for the women’s basketball program will have to wait a little longer.

The ISU women’s basketball team lost for the first time this season, falling to Vanderbilt 62-53 Sunday in the championship of the Vanderbilt Thanksgiving Tournament.

The Cyclones were smothered by the Vanderbilt defense, giving away 18 turnovers while dishing out just five assists and shooting just 38.3 percent from the floor.

Junior Nicky Wieben led the Cyclones with 15 points and nine rebounds, and junior Heather Ezell chipped in 10 points.

Down 29-23 at the half, Iowa State got within two, 35-33, but after that the Commodores slowly extended the lead before hitting late free throws to clinch the game and the tournament.

Iowa State took an early 11-7 lead after a Kelsey Bolte 3-pointer, but Vanderbilt responded with an 11-0 run to take the lead for good.

Wieben and sophomore Alison Lacey were named to the All-Tournament team. Lacey hit nine 3-pointers and scored 35 points in the Cyclones opening-round victory over Michigan.