STILLWATER, Oklahoma – Iowa State (8-4, 1-0 Big 12) took the conference-opening victory over Oklahoma State (7-5, 0-1 Big 12) Saturday afternoon on the road by a score of 76-68. ISU moves to 18-10 in Big 12 openers under Bill Fennelly and won its seventh-straight.
After the home team led by as much as seven, ISU powered back to hold the lead after the first and second quarters. The Cyclones took the momentum to the third quarter, outscoring OSU 19-9 to take a 12-point lead to the fourth. ISU never relinquished the lead to hand OSU their first loss at home this season.
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Audi Crooks led with 21 points shooting at 9-of-14 from the field, while Addy Brown made for two Cyclones with 20-plus points, totaling 20 on 7-of-12 shooting. Arianna Jackson had her first-career double-figure performance with 14 points, including four 3-pointers on just five shots. Isnelle Natabou totaled the fourth with 10-plus points, tallying 10 shooting at an efficiency of 83 percent.
Crooks opened the game scoring on a putback to get the Cyclones on the board first. With the Cyclones up 6-5, Oklahoma State flipped the lead to go up by seven (13-6), but Brown halted the run with a triple. Out of the media timeout, Kelsey Joens brought ISU within three at 15-12 with a 3-pointer at the 4:23 mark. The battle continued, as a trio of Cyclones made three-straight layups to tie things at 18, while a Crooks free throw then gave the lead back to ISU. Emily Ryan closed the quarter with a buzzer-beating layup as Iowa State ended the first on a 9-0 run to lead 21-18.
A Jackson shot from deep kept the advantage with the Cyclones at 26-22, while Oklahoma State followed to knot the score back up with 6:38 on the clock. With just over five minutes remaining in the half, OSU knocked down its sixth 3-pointer to go back in front narrowly at 29-28. Lead flipping continued while Crooks became the first in the game to enter double figures with a layup to make it 32-31, ISU, with 3:10 left. Brown kept ISU going, converting from the charity stripe and sending in a triple to make it a five-point lead (36-31). With 30 seconds to play, the contest was brought to a tie at 38s, but another Crooks layup sent the Cyclones into the intermission with the lead at 40-38.
The second half began with a 40-40 tie, while ISU took the next seven. With the scoreboard at 47-42, the visitors hit another run as the Cyclones went on their way to to create a double-digit lead at 55-45. Brown controlled the frame, tallying her eighth point of the third quarter to add to the advantage as OSU called a timeout. Heading into the final quarter, Iowa State led at 59-47.
Oklahoma State trimmed down its deficit to eight at 59-51 as ISU called a timeout at 8:34. Jackson would put up her third 3-pointer to make it 62-53, halting the 8-0 OSU run. The game would then come within five (62-57), but the Cyclones would again built the advantage to double digits (67-57) as Brown sent in her fourth shot from beyond the arc. Jackson continued to net 3s, notching her fourth to put the scoreboard at 74-65 with 1:42 left. ISU never let up, sealing the road win up by eight at 76-68.
Top Performances
Audi Crooks performed to her 11th-straight 10-plus point game and fourth total game this season with 20 or more. The freshman totaled 21 points and seven rebounds in just 27 minutes of play. Crooks had 13 first half points, missing only two shots.
Addy Brown totaled 20 points and nine rebounds, the second 20-plus point game of her young career. Brown came one rebound shy of her sixth-straight double-double. Brown had eight points in the third quarter alone, aiding the Cyclones in building a lead OSU could not overcome.
Notes
Iowa State has recorded a made 3-pointer in an NCAA women’s basketball record 906-straight games. The streak spans the entirety of the Bill Fennelly era.
The Cyclones picked up their 37th all-time win over the Cowgirls and 27th of the Fennelly era. The all-time series record sits at 38-37 in favor of OSU but 27-20 in the Fennelly era. The win also marks the 15th ever for ISU in Stillwater.
Iowa State won its seventh-straight Big 12 opener and fourth on the road in the last seven seasons. The last time Iowa State lost its Big 12 opener was on Dec. 29, 2016 in Stillwater, a 71-59 loss to the Cowgirls.
The conference road win snapped a two-game conference road losing streak and was the fifth-straight conference win for Iowa State.
Arianna Jackson doubled her previous career high with 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the floor, including two clutch 3-pointers in the fourth quarter.
With 20 points, Addy Brown recorded the second 20-point game of her career.
Audi Crooks also recorded her third career 20-point game with 21 points on 9-of-14 shooting from the floor.
With 41 combined points from Crooks and Brown, it marks the first time this season two Cyclones have finished with 20 or more points in the same game.
Brown just missed her seventh career double-double and sixth consecutive, recording 20 points and nine rebounds.
Four Cyclones scored in double figures, marking the fourth-straight game with that total. Crooks led the way with 21, Brown followed with 20, Jackson added 14 and Isnelle Natabou chipped in 10 on 5-of-6 shooting.
Up Next
Iowa State hosts Kansas for the Cyclone’s Big 12 home opener Wednesday, Jan. 3 at 6:30 p.m.
