The ISU women’s basketball team returned home Friday for only the second time this season and hosted the ninth annual Cyclone Classic. Iowa State met with Texas Southern in the first game of the tournament and pounded the Tigers 83-52.

“It’s good to see the team smile,” ISU head coach Bill Fennelly said. “It’s been a tough week.”

In Iowa State’s previous game against Drake, the Cyclones were marred with a dismal offensive output, scoring just one basket in the final 14 minutes of the game.

Friday’s game began differently for the Cyclones, as Erica Junod and Anne O’Neil both connected on a pair of quick 3-point baskets. Iowa State jumped out to a 22-2 lead midway through the first half and led 39-24 at halftime.

The Cyclones were led by a balanced scoring attack. O’Neil, Mary Fox and Lisa Kriener tallied 13 points apiece, and Junod added 12 points and 11 rebounds. Iowa State shot 49.2 percent from the floor and hit 13 3-pointers.

Tracy Paustian came off the Cyclone bench, scoring eight points and chipping in 10 rebounds.

“We did a lot of good things, and it was great to see everyone contribute,” Fennelly said. “We talk about a team game and we had a lot of people play well.

After being outrebounded for the first time this season against Drake, the Cyclones owned the boards with a 57-34 rebounding advantage.

“The biggest thing Coach Fennelly stresses is a rebound in a free ball, and whoever wants it the most is going to get it,” Kriener said. “So that’s the main thing we worked on, because we knew [Texas Southern was] an excellent offensive rebounding team from their previous games.

“I’m really proud of our girls, it’s all about effort and hopefully we’ll continue to build on that,” Kriener said.