ORLANDO, FLORIDA – Iowa State (20-10, 11-6 Big 12) toppled UCF (10-17, 3-14 Big 12) on the Knight’s home court by a final of 98-73 Tuesday night to secure 20 wins on the season. ISU now totals 18 20-win seasons under Bill Fennelly.
Iowa State shot at nearly 60 percent through the contest and was led by two 20-plus point performances. Audi Crooks led the game with 29 points for her 62nd game in a row with 10-plus, and had eight rebounds and four assists. Addy Brown nearly had a double-double after the first half with 12 points and nine rebounds and ended her night with 20 points, nine rebounds and four assists.
Emily Ryan had 16 points and did a little bit of everything with five rebounds, four assists, two blocks and two steals. Sydney Harris netted three 3-pointers and totaled 12 points on the night as ISU had four in double figures.
How it Happened
The Cyclones took an early run of nine to start up 9-2, but following the media timeout UCF set on their way to catch ISU. With 1:51 remaining in the opening quarter the Knights made it a one-point game (17-16), but Iowa State did not let the lead slip away. From there the Cyclones went ahead seven ending the first at 23-16 after Crooks spun around the defenders to send in a layup.
A jumper by Harris and 3-pointer by Lily Hansford made it a double-digit Cyclone lead. Brown then entered double figures as she remained perfect from the charity stripe going 4-for-4, making it 34-21, Iowa State at the midway point of the second. At the end of the first half ISU led by 17 (44-27).
After two free throws by Crooks, Ryan stole the ball away and Brown proceeded to run down the court and put in the layup. UCF followed with a bucket, and Ryan answered with a 3 to put the score at 56-39 with 5:20 left. Harris sunk her second triple as the third quarter came to a close, and ISU entered the fourth up 69-52.
Crooks joined Brown in putting up a 20-point game with a three-point play as the fourth opened, putting the advantage back at 20-plus (77-56). ISU cruised to the finish line winning it 98-73.
Top Performers
Addy Brown had 20 points (7-of-10 shooting), nine rebounds, four assists, a block and a steal. The sophomore totals nine 20-plus point games on the season and 14 on her career. Audi Crooks put together her 19th 20-plus point game of the season and 36th of her career with 29 points. Crooks shot at 9-of-12 from the field and added eight rebounds, four assists and a block.
Up Next
Iowa State returns home for the regular season finale against No. 14 Kansas State at 3 p.m. The game will be televised on ESPN2.
Notes
Iowa State’s women’s basketball all-time record moves to 887-676 (.567) and 344-358 (.490) all-time in conference play.
Head coach Bill Fennelly’s Iowa State record moves to 631-323 (.661) and his career record moves to 797-376 (.679). He is 296-210 (.585) in conference games at ISU.
With Emily Ryan’s 3-pointer in the third quarter, Iowa State totaled 250 triples this season. It is the 18th time in program history ISU has posted 250 or more 3-pointers in a season, all coming under Fennelly.
Audi Crooks’ 29 points marked the 62nd straight game of her career scoring in double figures and her 36th game with 20-plus points.
She has totaled 1,312 career points, the 21st all-time best total by an Iowa State women’s basketball player.
With her second made basket of the night, Crooks bested Bridget Carleton’s single-season Iowa State record for made field goals in Big 12 play (146, 2018-19). She has totaled 154 field goals throughout the conference slate.
Crooks also claimed the third-best total by a Cyclones sophomore for made free throws with her fifth make of the night, passing Stacy Frese’s 128 makes at the line in 1997-98. Crooks has made 135 free throws this season.
She tallied a career-high 11 makes at the charity stripe tonight.
Addy Brown totaled her 500th career rebound with her eighth board of the night. Brown has totaled 501 rebounds in her career.
Emily Ryan has played in 148 career games, the second-best all-time mark by a Cyclone behind Ashley Joens’ best 158 games.
She passed out four assists tonight, matching the ninth all-time best mark by an NCAA Division I women’s basketball player (Teresa Weatherspoon) with 958 career dimes.
Arianna Jackson tallied the 150th rebound of her career with her first board of the night.
