The ISU women’s basketball team did something Wednesday for the first time this season — it lost. After starting the season 3-0, the Cyclones lost at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, falling to Iowa 89-80.

The Cyclones will try to get back on track Sunday, when they host Wisconsin at 2 p.m. The Badgers have lost three straight games after a season-opening win against Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis and Southern Illinois-Carbondale.

ISU head coach Bill Fennelly said the Cyclones mentally need to push the loss to Iowa out of their heads.

“We lost to Iowa [on Wednesday], and we can’t lose to Iowa again on Sunday,” Fennelly said. “I think that’s the challenge — that’s what basketball’s about. We have to come back and prepare whether we win or lose.”

Iowa State will face a similarly styled team, also from the Big Ten, that has a coach with some experience against Iowa State. Lisa Stone is in her second year at Wisconsin after three years at Drake University, where she led the Bulldogs to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 in 2002.

Stone played college basketball at Iowa from 1980-84.

“With Lisa Stone from Drake, they play hard and play with great enthusiasm,” Fennelly said. “It’s another Big Ten school, and they’ll play us physical. Hopefully we’ll match up.”

Anne O’Neil is leading the Cyclones in scoring with 15.3 points per game; she has pulled down 29 rebounds, second only to Katie Robinette’s 32. She is also shooting .556 from the three-point arc. Robinette is second to O’Neil in points, with 14 per game.

Freshman guard Jolene Anderson leads the Wisconsin team, with an average of 18.2 points, four assists and 6.6 rebounds in five games. Stephanie Rich, a senior guard, has also played well for the Badgers; she is averaging 10.2 points and almost six assists per game

“Rich, she’s from Iowa, so I’m sure coming back to Iowa she’ll be ready to go,” Fennelly said. “Anderson has gotten off to a great start.”

Despite the 2-3 record they bring to Hilton Coliseum, Wisconsin can be a dangerous team. Iowa State was on the losing end of a 76-73 decision at Wisconsin last year.

“We got beat, but I think we showed signs we could be a good team,” Fennelly said of Wednesday’s game against Iowa. “Which team is going to be there on Sunday — the first-half or the second-half team? I don’t know, but we’ll be prepared.”