Iowa State Cyclones forward Tjasa Turnsek (46) attempts to shoot against a Granbling State defender during a NCAA women’s basketball game Monday, Nov. 2, 2026, in Ames Iowa. (Photo/Zoe Castle, Iowa State Daily)

Dom Tornabane, Reporter | Iowa State Daily

AMES — The Iowa State women’s basketball bench unit gave a nice spark in a 90-61 win over Grambling State Monday. The bench unit accounted for 49 points, 32 rebounds and five of the Cyclones’ six made three-pointers.

Iowa State’s bench outscored and outrebounded the starters, and outscored the Tigers’ bench 49-34 in the dominant win.

The 49 points were a big boost to the overall scoring for the Cyclones. While Iowa State’s frontcourt had 32 combined points, the starting guards finished with a combined nine points, shooting 2-for-19 from the field.

Senior guard Mya Babbitt got the scoring going early for the Cyclones, with 11 points on 3-for-5 shooting from the field by halftime.

The Kent State transfer concluded with 17 points, shooting 6-for-10 from the field and 5-for-8 from downtown. If Babbitt did not see an opposing defender’s hand in the air, she would shoot it immediately, both off the dribble and off the catch.

“My teammates and my coaches fueled that confidence in me,” Babbitt said.

Babbitt was responsible for 83% of Iowa State’s three-pointers for the game. The Cyclones shot 6-21 from three for the game.

“Mya can really shoot it,” Iowa State head coach Bill Fennelly said. “When your starting guards go 2-for-19 from the field, you gotta find someone else to score.”

The guard was also active on the glass, grabbing seven rebounds despite being one of the shortest players on the court.

The rebounding was not just applicable to Babbitt, as Florida transfer Emilija Dakic had six rebounds in the dominant win.

“They stick their nose in there and go get it,” Fennelly said. “When that happens, it makes our team that much better.”

Iowa State’s backup forward Gift Ezekiel had the second most points off the bench for the Cyclones. Ezekiel went a perfect 5-for-5 from the field, scoring 13 points in 17:32 of action.

“Following Coach Fennelly’s orders, if he says post up, you post up,” Ezekiel said. “I trust him, and that’s it.”

The high-percentage shooting from the field is not foreign to Ezekiel. When she was at Florida, she was one of the most efficient scorers from the field in the SEC, shooting 59.6% from the field last season.

Babbitt and Ezekiel were only two of the four players to score in double figures for Iowa State.

Sophomore forward Alex-Anne Bessette added eight points to the Cyclone’s bench totals.

Bessette finished the game shooting 4-for-4 from the free-throw line. The perfect free-throw percentage was a bright spot in the Cyclone’s lower percentage shooting at the charity stripe.

Iowa State shot 22-for-36 from the foul line (61.1%). The Cyclones also struggled to find consistency from the free-throw line in their exhibition win against Upper Iowa.

Bessette relentlessly attacked the glass on the defensive side of the ball. She ripped down 8 rebounds for the Cyclones, which was tied for the highest on the team.

Iowa State’s top three rebounders for the game, aside from Arianna Jackson, were all off the bench.