AMES – Iowa State (17-9, 8-5 Big 12) closed the final 5:14 of the first quarter on a 17-0 run and never looked back, as the Cyclones beat Colorado (16-7, 7-5 Big 12) 86-56. The meeting was the first since 2011 for the old Big 8/12 rivals, as Iowa State beat Colorado in Hilton Coliseum for the eighth-straight time.
During the game, Iowa State honored the 1999-00 and 2000-01 teams on the 25th anniversary of their back-to-back Big 12 Championships.
The Cyclones held a 12-9 lead with 5:45 to play in the opening quarter before the onslaught began. A layup by Emily Ryan with 5:14 left in the quarter sparked the 17-0 run to close the quarter. Audi Crooks hit back-to-back baskets following Ryan’s layup, but it was back-to-back 3-pointers by Arianna Jackson, and a third-straight 3-pointer from Sydney Harris that put the game out of reach with the Cyclones up 29-9. It was the second time this season Iowa State had held a Big 12 opponent to single digits in the opening frame, as Iowa State led Arizona 15-6 after the first quarter on Jan. 11. With three assists in the first quarter, Ryan moved into the top 10 in NCAA Division I women’s basketball history. She now has 942 for her career.
Neither team put together any momentum in the second quarter, a jumper by Crooks and a 3-pointer by Jackson were the only back-to-back baskets by either team in the quarter. Those baskets came within the first four minutes of the quarter. The Cyclones held a 43-23 lead at the half, as Crooks turned in 16 points on 8-of-11 shooting. Crooks has now scored in double figures in 58-straight games.
Colorado scored the first six points of the third quarter, cutting the lead to 14 with 8:00 remaining, but the Cyclones answered in a big way. Five-straight points from Crooks sparked a 12-2 run, as Iowa State pushed the lead to 24 with 5:26 remaining in the quarter. Colorado went on an 11-1 run late in the quarter, cutting the lead to 56-42 with 1:23 left in the quarter, but the Cyclones answered with the final five points to take a 61-42 lead into the final frame.
The fourth quarter was just more of the Cyclones. Crooks and Kelsey Joens combined to score the first eight points of the quarter, as the lead increased to 69-42 with 7:52 to play. Iowa State took its largest lead of the day with :40 to go at 86-54 on a 3-pointer by Reagan Wilson.
Key Performers
Crooks turned in her ninth double-double of the season with 33 points and 12 rebounds. With 597 points this season, she broke Ashley Joens’ sophomore scoring record of 594 points. Ryan moved into second on Iowa State’s all-time steals list with 215.
Next Up
Iowa State will have a bye this week before returning to action next Saturday at Kansas. Tipoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. in Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
Notes
Iowa State’s women’s basketball all-time record moves to 884-675 (.567) and 341-357 (.488) all-time in conference play.
Head coach Bill Fennelly’s Iowa State record moves to 628-322 (.661) and his career record moves to 794-375 (.679). He is 293-209 (.583) in conference games at ISU.
Iowa State held Colorado to 56 points, the 14th time this season holding an opponent to under 60 points.
The Cyclones passed out their 500th assist of the season in tonight’s game. It is the 10th time in program history that ISU has totaled 500 or more assists in a season with all 10 seasons occurring under Fennelly.
Audi Crooks’ 18 points marked the 58th straight game of her career scoring in double figures and fifth with 30-plus points.
Crooks has totaled 242 made field goals this season, the fourth best mark by a Cyclone in a single season. She also made her 500th career field goal with 15 makes on the night.
She set a new Iowa State sophomore season scoring record with 597 points, besting Ashely Joens’ 594 points in 2020-21.
Crooks also totaled her 1,200th career point on her first basket of the night. Her career total sits at 1,232 points through 59 games.
With her third assist tonight, Emily Ryan moved into the all-time NCAA Division I women’s basketball Top 10 assists leaders. Ryan ranks 10th with 942 career assists.
Ryan has played in 144 career games, the second-best all-time mark by a Cyclone behind Ashley Joens’ best 158 games.
With her steal tonight, Emily Ryan matched the second-best career total by a Cyclone.
Arianna Jackson scored her 300th career point with her 11th point of the night.
