The Iowa State women’s basketball team won its game against the University of Missouri-Kansas City 81-54 Tuesday night and also beat the university’s three-point record.

But it didn’t look that way from the start.

Although ISU controlled the tip- off, it took nearly five minutes before the Cyclones scored their first basket.

Point guard Stacy Frese said it took a few minutes to get into the game and even the pregame shoot-around had been unusually slow.

The Kangaroos hopped onto the court ready to play. Guard Megan Taylor complimented UMKC’s preparedness and the way they started the game with solid defense.

From the get-go, UNKC put a full-court press on the Cyclones, forcing ISU to work on its dribbling and ball handling skills.

Amanda Bartz said in the past the Cyclones have not been a team known for handling presses well, but that the women handled things rather effectively on Tuesday.

After the first few minutes of dry play, center Jayme Olson put ISU on the board with a three-pointer from the left side. During the next five minutes, ISU and UMKC battled each other on both offense and defense.

After 10 minutes of game time, the Cyclones finally got into the groove. The point margin kept increasing for ISU, and when the buzzer sounded at the half, the Cyclones led by 24 points.

Bartz said the last 10 minutes of the first half was the best stretch the Cyclones have played in the young season.

Frese said at that point in the game, the team was fired up and played well together. The Cyclones also made nine three-pointers in the first stanza, which put them well on their way to breaking the school record of 12.

The second half started with ISU in possession of the ball. Once again, the Cyclone team started out slow and struggled to get the ball into the basket.

Despite lackluster play, the Cyclones managed to extend their advantage by another seven points over the game’s final 20 minutes to record the win.

Sarah Robson logged seven minutes of total playing time and had the pleasure of sinking the record-breaking 13th three-pointer.

The ISU women also broke the record for the most three-pointers attempted with 30.

UMKC played hard the entire game, and with a loaded bench they had plenty of substitutes. But everyone on the ISU team picked up some playing time.

Coach Bill Fennelly said this will help the Cyclones because with only one day off before the next game, he didn’t want anyone to have to play extended minutes.

He said the second half was a little ugly because UMKC stepped up, while ISU let up a little due to the 20-point lead.

Overall, however, he was pleased with the game.

Fennelly said this game was “a good way to start the season.”

He said his team played very hard and he was impressed with the rebounding and three-point shooting.

Forward Monica Huelman said this year’s team has more ability than last year’s. She also said “the new kids are doing great.”

Bartz said all the players are contributing with scoring.

Olson led the team by netting 18, Frese added 17 and Megan Taylor chipped in with 10 points.

On the glass, Janel Grimm and Frese led the team, recording six rebounds. Olson and Taylor contributed five apiece.

Frese also led the team with seven assists.

Still, consistent play is something the team needs to work on, Taylor and Huelman said.

The Cyclones travel to Creighton for a Thursday night match.

Fennelly said the team is going to have to work hard against Creighton.

This will be the first time this team will be playing a very dominant player; the girls are going to have to take care of the ball, he said.

The team will make an ocean- trip to Hawaii for the Rainbow Wahine Basketball Classic during the final weekend of Thanksgiving Break.