The last time the ISU women’s basketball team lost an exhibition game was on Nov. 12, 1997, a 102-98 overtime defeat to Athletes in Action.

The Houston Jaguars came to Hilton Coliseum hoping to end the No. 8 Cyclones’ exhibition success, but solid play from newcomers and 10 assists from Erica Junod were enough to lead Iowa State to a 84-72 win Sunday.

“Overall, I thought it was good,” ISU head coach Bill Fennelly said. “Obviously there’s a lot of things to work on, but we got a lot of people in the game.”

Getting people to contribute will be a major key for the Cyclones. Last season, Iowa State played only six players regularly. When All-American center Angie Welle left the game, the Cyclones often struggled.

This season Iowa State has players who can help with Welle on the bench. Players like Lisa Kriener and Melanie Bremer, who combined for 18 points and 10 rebounds for Iowa State.

“We came out and played pretty well as a team,” Junod said. “Everyone’s a little nervous, but we played hard.”

Bremer showed what made her a junior college All-American at Northeast Community College in Norfolk, Neb. She scored 12 points and grabbed five boards while playing 17 minutes.

She also sent a message about her physical play. In a brutal game that saw more than a few elbows from Houston’s Vanessa Nygaard, the Cyclones were more than willing to elbow back.

“I figure if someone throws an elbow, I’ll give it back to you twice as hard,” Bremer said.

Fennelly also took notice of Bremer’s physical play.

“The first time she took the ball to the basket, it looked like bowling pins with bodies flying everywhere,” Fennelly said.

Leading the way for the Cyclones were the returning starters from last year.

Junior Lindsey Wilson had a team-high 17 points. Welle scored 11 points and grabbed seven rebounds, and senior Tracy Gahan scored 15 points and had five boards.

The biggest problem Iowa State faced was finding a backup at guard. Mary Fox, Ada Anderson and Holly Bordewyk all saw action, but Fennelly said it is not yet clear who will be the first guard off the bench.

“The guard thing is probably the biggest thing we’ve gotta chore up,” Fennelly said. “But if we can’t, the flexibility of playing [Gahan] there helps.”

Still, Fennelly knows that finding a solid reserve will be key to keeping Wilson, Junod and Gahan fresh.

“We can’t wear Tracy, Lindsey and June out too much,” he said.

Iowa State will have a week to fix its problems. Its next exhibition game is Sunday against Johnson Financial.