This time, it’s for real.

The ISU women’s basketball team opens its regular season against Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis on Sunday, in the Cyclones’ 33rd year of women’s basketball.

Iowa State is 10-0 in season openers under coach Bill Fennelly, and won both of its exhibition games this season.

Senior Brittany Wilkins, who averaged 15 points and nine rebounds per game in the Cyclones’ exhibition season, said the young team needs to adjust to its opponent and be as opportunistic as possible.

“Ranging from IUPUI to Baylor, we have to be ready to go,” she said. “We’re working through just rising to the challenge, just wanting to prove everybody wrong, and having that mental attitude going into the games.”

The Jaguars split their exhibition season, losing to the Ohio Legends and topping St. Francis of Indiana. Senior Brooke McAfee notched 11 points, seven rebounds and 18 blocked shots against St. Francis.

Kia Hayes leads IUPUI through the exhibition season, averaging 13 points and five rebounds per game.

Fennelly said the Jaguars bring an interesting scheme to Hilton.

“They’re very athletic; they seem very organized and they run a lot of good things,” he said. “They’re going to show some different looks. It looks like they’re going to do some zone pressing, changing defenses and a lot of things that we haven’t seen yet.”

Priorities, though, still lie within the relatively unknown Cyclones, who are literally experiencing some growing pains, as two freshmen are questionable for Sunday’s game, in addition to sophomore Sierra Dawson who has already been sidelined indefinitely with an arm injury.

Rachel Pierson, who was slated as a probable starter for Sunday, will most likely not play because of back problems, and Gilian Bjerke sprained her ankle Wednesday and is questionable.

“I’m a little more worried about us, and who’s going to be healthy to play,” Fennelly said.

“It’s time to start the season, and if we get two days of work in then we’ll see what happens Sunday.”

Sophomore Megan Ronhovde said the Cyclones still have a lot to learn, and must continue to strive for improvement.

“Obviously there’s a lot of growing to do when you look at all the new faces that we have,” Ronhovde said. “It’s a little different than last year, but what we saw in these last two exhibition games was great.”

While Iowa State continues to develop, it may consistently find itself playing the role of the hunter. That’s something Wilkins said is not necessarily a bad thing.

“As the underdog, we obviously don’t have that much pressure on us,” she said. “I think it’s a good role for us, we’re working through some things as far as practice and the effort that needs to be brought every day.”

The Cyclones are led by Ronhovde, Wilkins and junior Lyndsey Medders. Through exhibition, Medders averaged a double-double, with 11 points, 3.5 rebounds and 10.5 assists per game.

As the veterans lead and the youth continue to figure out their exact role on the team, the Cyclones hope to stay committed, buckle down, and just take care of business, Wilins said.