Defensive mistakes, turnovers and poor shooting in the first half proved to be the demise of the ISU women’s basketball team as they fell on the road to Wisconsin 76-73 Sunday.

Iowa State had 25 points and 14 turnovers in the first half, but came out strong to begin the second half of play. The Cyclones scored 48 points and had only four turnovers in the final 20 minutes of play.

“I think it was one of those ‘tale of two halves’ tales,” ISU head coach Bill Fennelly said. “Defensively, we made some mistakes early that really gave them some good looks at baskets.”

Creating havoc in the middle for Iowa State were Wisconsin’s 6-foot-7 and 6-foot-5 centers.

“They were obviously a lot taller than us, but we just have to adjust them to our game,” said ISU center Lisa Kriener. “That means play more physically, bend our knees a little more and use our quickness a little more to our advantage, which I don’t feel we accomplished.

“We have to use what we have to the best of our ability and do what they don’t do as well.”

ISU center Brittany Wilkins said Fennelly stressed that rebounding would be the biggest thing about the game.

“I felt personally I was in bad position and that’s why I picked up so many quick fouls,” Wilkins said. “For the next game, no matter how big or small they are, it’s all about positioning.”

Fennelly said size was definitely a factor in the loss, although he thought the ISU front line played OK against the taller front line of the Badgers.

“They kind of got a little intimidated at times,” Fennelly said. “That took them out of their games and they got in foul trouble.

“Lisa got some fouls early and Britt only played nine minutes. We’re not very deep in that spot and if we don’t get more production out of that spot, it hurts us.”

Foul trouble has plagued the Cyclone centers throughout the early season and cost them against Wisconsin.

“When you get in foul trouble it’s hard to be really aggressive,” Fennelly said. “I think they got caught trying to play hard and trying to stay out of foul trouble. That’s a very hard thing to do against bigger kids.”

Fennelly said he was proud of his teams’ effort.

“We were in the game against a good team on the road,” Fennelly said. “The thing that we talk about all the time is understanding every single possession counts, and when you play the number of close games that we may end up playing, that possession maybe the first one and not the last one of the game.

“We need to get better at that.”