After a loss to Drake a few weeks ago, the ISU women’s basketball team had a chance to regain momentum nationally with a win against No. 15 Duke on Friday in Cancun, Mexico. 

Iowa State couldn’t manage to pull off the upset, though, as Duke ran away with an 86-48 victory. 

It was the second game of the Cancun Challenge for the Cyclones, who defeated Texas State on Thursday. 

But Duke came out like a top-25 team in the first half. It was a much fluid and efficient half for the Blue Devils, who took a 39-24 lead into halftime. The Cyclones’ shooting woes were just as present as they have been all season, finishing the half 10-for-30 from the field and 2-of-12 from 3-point range.

It didn’t get much better in the second half. The Cyclones never found their shooting as the Blue Devils jumped ahead. Iowa State attempted to make a late-game comeback, almost bringing Duke’s large lead to under 15, but it wasn’t enough as the Blue Devils coasted to a 86-48 victory. 

Iowa State falls to 2-2 on the season and will take on Idaho at 10 a.m. on Saturday to close out the Cancun Challenge.