Audi Crooks delivered an impressive performance as the No. 10 Iowa State Cyclones overcame their in-state rival, No. 11 Iowa, with a score of 74-69 on Wednesday night at Hilton Coliseum. This victory keeps the Cyclones undefeated at 11-0 for the season. Crooks, who leads Division I in scoring, contributed 30 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the matchup.
With her current average of 27.8 points per game and a shooting percentage of 72.2%, Crooks is second in the nation in field goal efficiency. However, following the game, her focus shifted to the significance of the win for her team rather than her individual achievements. This match marked Iowa State”s first victory against a ranked opponent this season, while it also handed the Hawkeyes their first loss, bringing their record to 9-1.
“I feel like now we”re officially battle-tested,” Crooks stated after the game. “You know, people were commenting on our schedule, and now there”s not much else to say. When you have three players with double-doubles, you can”t say we”re a one-trick pony. You can”t say our schedule is soft.”
Teammates Addy Brown and Jada Williams also shined, both achieving double-doubles with Brown scoring 20 points and collecting 12 rebounds, while Williams added 11 points and 12 assists. Crooks emphasized that the team is not focused on external opinions but rather on their internal dynamics and practice mentality, attributing their approach to their maturity as players.
Head coach Bill Fennelly acknowledged the criticism regarding the Cyclones” strength of schedule, which ranked 308 prior to the game. After last season”s nonconference losses to powerhouses like UConn and South Carolina, which played in the national championship, Fennelly noted that those defeats adversely affected Iowa State”s public perception. The current season”s schedule has been less daunting, making Wednesday”s win a crucial showcase for the Cyclones.
“They were wired up today a little bit more than normal,” Fennelly commented. “Some of our players have had to read some things that aren”t real complimentary, and they”re not real happy about it.” This game was part of the Cy-Hawk series, a rivalry that extends beyond basketball and encompasses multiple sports.
The Iowa State men”s basketball team, currently ranked No. 4 and undefeated, is also in action against Iowa on Thursday, creating additional excitement surrounding the rivalry. Fennelly humorously mentioned, “It”s not an accident that I have 203 text messages already” in reference to the importance of beating Iowa.
In recent years, Iowa has maintained an edge in this rivalry, winning eight out of the last ten matchups. The last time these two teams faced off in Ames, Iowa prevailed 67-58, propelled by standout performances from then-senior Caitlin Clark. Following the previous loss to Iowa last season, Crooks and Brown have now led their team to a significant victory in front of a home crowd of 14,009.
“It was a great showcase for two great programs in our state,” Fennelly expressed. “I”m really proud of our team. It”s a win that hopefully we can build on.”
