Not often does a team play its season opener against the team that handed it its first loss the previous season.

In 2007, the ISU women’s basketball team will get that opportunity when they play the Pepperdine Waves in their first game at Hilton Coliseum on Sunday.

Last season, with the Cyclones undefeated at 5-0, Pepperdine shut down Iowa State’s offense late in the game and went on a 6-0 run to end the game with a 52-46 win in the Pepperdine tournament.

Iowa State finished last season in the second round of the NCAA Tournament with a better record at 26-9, while the Waves struggled through an injury-ravaged 14-17 season, but Pepperdine still holds that victory over them.

Senior forward Toccara Ross said the team last year felt it should have beaten the Waves and that will add some motivation this time.

“It kind of motivated us the rest of the season, so I want this game to be the game that pushes us for the rest of the season,” Ross said. “You need games like this to establish where your team is going to be.”

Junior forward Nicky Wieben said the loss was especially tough on the post players who struggled inside.

“We just want to come out, play hard and show everybody what the team is all about,” Wieben said. “It will be a nice rematch and hopefully we get the win at home.”

The difference between the two teams from last season, however, is that the Waves return all five starters from last season, while the Cyclones return only three and are still trying to develop players into new roles.

Coach Bill Fennelly said this is not a normal opening game at all.

“It’s one of those situations where you would hope it would be easy to get your team’s attention,” Fennelly said. “You want your players to believe the other team can beat you, which our kids are pretty bright and we’re playing the exact same team that beat them last year.

“It’s not like they’re bringing in 12 new kids, and it should be easier to get our players’ attention as to what we need to do get ready.”

Pepperdine may also have a small advantage because the team will be playing its fourth game by the time it gets to Ames.

The Waves have played two exhibitions, defeating Westmont 68-46 and Cal State Los Angeles 90-41, and play Cal State Northridge in their home opener Friday. The Cyclones have only played an exhibition game against Iowa Wesleyan, shooting over 60 percent and winning 101-38.

Fennelly said, no matter the opponent, it’s always tough to prepare for the first game because teams have only played exhibitions.

“You can only watch so much tape from last year,” Fennelly said. “It will be a good early benchmark to see how far we have come in practice or how far have we have not come in practice.”

Both teams’ starting lineups are very similar in that they have height and prowess in the paint, but still have strong guard play. There were two matchups that were very important in last season’s game and will be again.

One is at the point guard position, where Pepperdine has the experienced Daphanie Kennedy and Iowa State has Alison Lacey, who is moving from the shooting guard position. Both players led their team in scoring in the exhibition season, and the other big matchup is how Wieben handles 6-4 Teiosha George, who had 15 points and nine rebounds last year in the middle.

The Waves did have trouble taking care of the ball in their exhibitions, averaging more than 20 turnovers a game, which could be a problem against a Cyclone defense that forced 35 turnovers against Iowa Wesleyan.

Ross said Iowa State is expecting the game to be similar to what last year’s was.

“I think we’re going to be a little bit more prepared, knowing they are bringing the same returners,” Ross said.