AMES — The Iowa State Cyclone women’s basketball team remained unbeaten Thursday night, November 5, 2026, defeating Nicholls 68-44 at Hilton Coliseum behind a breakthrough performance from freshman Tjaša Turnšek, who recorded her first collegiate double-double.
Iowa State improved to 2-0 on the season, while Nicholls fell to 1-1. Turnšek led the Cyclones with 18 points on 6-of-13 shooting and 13 rebounds, while Sienna Harvey scored 15 points with five rebounds and four assists. Mya Babbitt connected on three 3-pointers and added 11 points.
The win followed Iowa State’s 90-61 season-opening victory over Grambling State, giving the Cyclones two wins to begin the 2026-27 campaign.
Turnšek sets the tone inside
Iowa State went to its frontcourt early, and Turnšek opened the scoring with a conventional three-point play after finishing a floater inside and converting the free throw.
Turnšek and fellow frontcourt player Xiao Zhang created pressure around the basket, helping Iowa State reach the bonus within the opening two minutes of the first quarter. Babbitt connected on the Cyclones’ first 3-pointer with 1:22 remaining, and Iowa State led 18-13 after one quarter.
Harvey sparks second-quarter surge
Two quick fast-break layups to open the second period forced Nicholls to call timeout with 8:14 remaining. Harvey then scored seven consecutive points, including her first 3-pointer of the season following an offensive rebound by Ashleigh Connor, as Iowa State extended its advantage to 31-18.
Iowa State took a 36-23 lead into halftime. Harvey led the Cyclones with 11 points at the break.
Cyclones withstand third-quarter challenge
Nicholls narrowed the margin to eight early in the third quarter while keeping Iowa State off the scoreboard until Connor sank a 3-pointer with 6:46 remaining in the period.
Turnšek continued to produce in the lane and on the glass, securing her first career points-and-rebounds double-double during the quarter. The Cyclones built their lead to 50-32 entering the fourth.
Babbitt knocked down two quick 3-pointers in the final period, pushing Iowa State’s advantage to 21 points with approximately seven minutes remaining. The Cyclones closed out the 68-44 victory.
Iowa State women’s basketball hosts Eastern Illinois next
Iowa State returns to Hilton Coliseum on Sunday, November 8, to host Eastern Illinois at 2 p.m. Central. The game will be available on ESPN+.
Eastern Illinois lost 80-39 to No. 10 Iowa in Iowa City on Thursday. Iowa State, meanwhile, has opened the season with wins over Grambling State and Nicholls, scoring 158 points and allowing 105 through two games.
More details are available in Iowa State Athletics’ game report.