Iowa State Dominates Upper Iowa in Exhibition
The Cyclones secured a commanding 90-32 victory at Hilton Coliseum to open their exhibition schedule.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Basketball
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Iowa State women's basketball defeated Upper Iowa 90-32 in an exhibition game on October 28. The Cyclones started the contest with a decisive 15-0 run to establish an early lead.
Why it matters
This exhibition provided Iowa State an opportunity to integrate their full roster of 13 players before the start of the regular season. The game allowed coaching staff to test multiple lineup combinations, including deploying four different point guards.
Iowa State's Tjasa Turksek led all scorers with 16 points on 6-of-12 shooting. Upper Iowa struggled to find offensive rhythm, connecting on only 2-of-11 field goal attempts during the first quarter.
The players
Tjasa Turksek
She is a 6-foot-3 player who led Iowa State with 16 points during the exhibition victory.
Iowa State
This university's women's basketball program is based in Ames and utilizes Hilton Coliseum for its home contests.
Upper Iowa
This institution fielded its women's basketball team against the Cyclones in a preseason exhibition match.
Grambling State
This university is the opponent for the upcoming regular season opener for the Iowa State women's basketball team.
The details
Tjasa Turksek, a 6-foot-3 standout, paced the Cyclones as all 13 rostered players saw game action at Hilton Coliseum. Iowa State point guards combined for seven total assists while managing the team's floor spacing throughout the exhibition.
Timeline
The exhibition game against Upper Iowa took place on October 28.
Iowa State is scheduled to play its regular season opener against Grambling State on November 2.
Season Trajectory
This dominant performance serves as a tune-up for Iowa State as they finalize their rotation before the NCAA women's basketball regular season opener. The game provides the staff with data on depth and guard play as they prepare for the competitive challenges ahead.
The game demonstrated the team's current depth with all 13 players contributing minutes on the floor. Rotational adjustments, specifically the testing of four distinct point guards, indicate where the coaching staff is prioritizing flexibility for the upcoming season.
The takeaway
Iowa State utilized the exhibition to evaluate roster depth and solidify their guard rotation. Players and coaches will carry these tactical insights into official game preparations starting in November.
What happens next
Iowa State will host Grambling State for its official season opener on November 2.
Further reading
For more on local collegiate sports, visit the Basketball section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Des Moines Register.
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