AMES, Iowa – The Winona State University women's basketball team opened the 2022-23 season with as tough a test as they come, competing at NCAA Division I power Iowa State University on the road in an exhibition contest on Wednesday, Nov. 2.

The Cyclones, ranked No. 9 in the country and picked to win the Big 12 this season, started hot and pulled away early from Winona State, handing the Warriors a 104-47 loss.

Iowa State raced out to a 17-0 lead before Vanessa Alexander dented the WSU side of the scoreboard with a jumper in the lane just over four minutes into the contest in front of 9,523 fans at James H. Hilton Coliseum.

Turnovers hampered the Warrior effort, with 26 committed by WSU in the game. ISU had seven turnovers and notched 11 steals.

Iowa State shot 50.0% from the floor in the game, knocking down 38 of their 76 attempts. The Cyclones were 16-of-39 from behind the arc and hit 12-of-16 free throws.  

As a team, Winona State shot 34.5% overall, hitting 19-of-55 from the floor. The fourth quarter saw WSU trend upwards, hitting at a 57.9% clip and a perfect 3-for-3 from three-point range in the final frame.

Naomi Breunig led Winona State in scoring with 10 points, while also dishing out two assists and collecting a steal. Breunig was 2-of-3 from 3-point territory and 4-of-7 overall in the game. Alex Dornfeld was the top Warrior on the boards, grabbing seven rebounds. Ava Sergio added six points for Winona State, while WSU teammates Vanessa Alexander and Shea Dechant delivered five apiece.

Winona State will return home for their second, and final, exhibition contest when the Warriors host cross-town rival Saint Mary's University on Saturday, Nov. 5.  The Cardinals and Warriors will tip off at 5:30 p.m. in McCown Gymnasium, home of WNB Financial Court.