AMES, Iowa (Interstat) — Grambling and Iowa State will meet Monday in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa. Both programs enter with 0-0 records. The Lady Tigers are the visiting team, and the Cyclones are the home team. The game will open the season for both sides and provide an early chance to establish rhythm before deeper nonconference play.

Grambling’s most recent game was a 56-50 loss at Alabama State. The Lady Tigers will look to generate offense against a power-conference opponent and open their schedule on the road. Grambling’s upcoming slate includes matchups with McNeese State, Wisconsin, Southeastern Louisiana, Rice, San Diego, Southern California, Fresno State, Minnesota, Southern and Alabama A&M. The Lady Tigers will play a mix of home and road contests, with McNeese State and Southeastern Louisiana set for home and Wisconsin, Rice, San Diego, Southern California, Fresno State, Minnesota, Southern and Alabama A&M on the road.

Iowa State’s most recent result was a 72-63 home loss to Syracuse. The Cyclones will begin the new campaign at Hilton Coliseum, where they will look to set the tone for a demanding nonconference run. Iowa State’s next stretch includes games against Nicholls State, Eastern Illinois, Howard, Illinois-Chicago, Northern Iowa, Drake, Belmont, Southern California, Norfolk State and Loyola Chicago. The Cyclones will have home games against Nicholls State, Eastern Illinois, Howard, Illinois-Chicago, Drake, Norfolk State and Loyola Chicago, plus road games at Northern Iowa, Belmont and Southern California.

The matchup features two teams with different recent paths but the same 0-0 starting point. Grambling will be tasked with handling a road environment and an Iowa State team playing in front of its home crowd. Iowa State will aim to control the pace and take advantage of its first home appearance of the season. Both teams will be working to establish early-season consistency and build toward the remainder of their schedules. The game will serve as an early test for both rosters as they begin the season. Grambling will aim to manage the road setting and stay competitive through the full 40 minutes. Iowa State will seek to use its home court and establish an early advantage. The contest will give both teams a chance to measure their early form against an unfamiliar opponent. Each side will look to limit mistakes and execute in key stretches.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a final score of Iowa State 73, Grambling 60. Interstat’s ELO system projects Iowa State with a 96.8 percent probability to win.