The ISU women’s basketball team proved it was prepared for the Big 12 Tournament next week by dismantling Kansas 79-57 Thursday at Hilton Coliseum.

“I told the kids before the game [that] 10 teams are sitting at home, getting ready to start the Big 12 Tournament,” ISU head coach Bill Fennelly said. “Our Big 12 Tournament starts tonight.”

The Cyclones (14-13, 7-9 Big 12) came out hot, hitting 10 of 19 shots during the first 10:05 of the game to jump to a 27-9 lead.

The game started with back-to-back jumpers by freshmen Lyndsey Medders and Megan Ronhovde.

The run included the first 3-pointer of the season for Katie Robinette, the only Cyclone in the rotation without a 3-pointer all season.

“I think it was key [for us to get out to a fast start],” senior guard Erica Junod said after her last home contest. “When you look back at the Kansas State game and Missouri game, we were down early. Coming into this game that was a goal to get out to a fast start right away.”

Junod finished the game as the team’s leading scorer with 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting, including a 3-pointer to beat the shot clock to cap the opening run.

Junior Lisa Kriener came off the bench to score 12 points, including a 6-for-6 performance from the free throw line. Medders contributed 13 points.

Iowa State dominated the boards, outrebounding the Jayhawks 51-38. Kansas fell to 9-18, 2-14 in conference play.

With two minutes left to go, Fennelly began pulling his starters, sitting Junod to a standing ovation.

The win gives Iowa State its first winning season since 2001-02. The Cyclones will face Nebraska in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament at noon Tuesday in Dallas.