AMES (ISU) — Senior Chelsea Poppens had a 23-point, 15-rebound double-double on Sunday at Hilton Coliseum in Iowa State’s (1-0, 0-0 Big 12) season-opening win, an 84-65 victory over Western Illinois (0-1, 0-0 Summit League). Along with registering her 23rd career double-double, Poppens’ basket at the 18:37 mark of the first half made her the 23rd player in school history to eclipse the 1,000 career point mark.

Iowa State also got 11-assists, along with 6 points and 4 rebounds, from freshman guard Emiah Bingley, who was making her first career start. Bingley’s 11 assists were the most ever by a Cyclone in a career debut. 

The Cyclones overcame a slow start, including a 16-5 Leatherneck run late in the first half that helped put WIU up 40-38 at the break. A cold shooting performance in the first half was a major factor in the Cyclone’s early struggles, at they started 0-of-10 from the three point line. The Cyclones went 11-for-19 the rest of the game from behind the arc.