AMES, Iowa – After a 16-day layoff, the Air Force women’s basketball team returned to action on Saturday, dropping an 83-35 decision to host Iowa State on the first day of the Cyclone Challenge.

Freshman Madeleine Philpot (Mobile, Ala.) was the lone Falcon to score in double figures, registering a career-best 10 points, while senior Alicia Leipprandt (Ubly, Mich.) added nine points.

Iowa State, receiving votes in both the AP and coaches polls, overcame a slow start by putting together a 16-0 first-half run as the Falcons went on a seven-minute scoring drought. The Cyclones, who knocked down 13-of-15 free throws in the opening period, went into the locker room with a 37-10 advantage.

After the break, Iowa State (8-1) continued to pull away, knocking down three shots from beyond the arc in its first three possessions of the second half. The Cyclones went on to score 10 three-pointers in the second half alone, led by Nicole Blaskowsky, who scored 24 of her game-high 26 points from long range.

While the Falcons (1-10) registered a season-low 16 turnovers, they were dominated on the boards by the Cyclones, who had a 57-29 rebounding edge. Iowa State was also 17-of-19 from the charity stripe, while Air Force attempted just four free throws in the game.

Air Force concludes competition at the Cyclone Challenge tomorrow, when it faces Penn (5-4) in a 1:00 p.m. (CT) contest.