AMES – No. 14 Iowa State took the 85-36 season-opening win over St. Thomas Monday morning. ISU built a double-digit lead in the first quarter and continued to break away to seal the victory. Audi Crooks led all with 20 points while Addy Brown joined in double figures with 11. Brown also had a game-leading six assists and led ISU with six rebounds.
After St. Thomas took a brief 5-4 lead, Jada Williams sunk a deep shot to retake the advantage at 8:19. That 3-pointer was in the midst of a 9-0 Cyclone run, bringing the score to 13-5. ISU had another scoring spree towards the end of the first, building its lead to 22-12.
Arianna Jackson and Kenzie Hare alternated 3s between Crooks buckets, causing the Tommies to call a timeout at 6:19. The Cyclones continued to score, putting 19-straight points on the board to go up 41-16. Iowa State would enter halftime ahead 43-19.
Brown sent in Iowa State’s sixth shot beyond the arc as the lead grew to 30-plus. Sydney Harris hit one right after, her second, to make it 57-21. Heading into the final frame, ISU led 65-24.
Harris had her third triple as the fourth hit the midway point and ISU’s lead went to 74-31. The Cyclones went on to win it 85-36.
Top Performer
Audi Crooks scored in double figures for her 68th straight game and had her 42nd-career 20-plus game. Crooks totaled 20 on 7-of-11 shooting and going 6-of-7 from the free throw line. Crooks also had two rebounds, two assists, a block and a steal.
Up Next
Iowa State next hosts Southern this Wednesday, Nov. 5 at 6:30 p.m. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.
Notes
Iowa State women’s basketball’s all-time record moves to 872-678 (.563) and 635-325 (.661) in the Bill Fennelly era.
Fennelly’s career record moves to 801-378 (.679) in his 38 seasons.
Bill Fennelly moves to 31-0 in season openers at Iowa State and the Cyclones own the nation’s longest active season opener win streak.
Scoring a game-high 20 points, Audi Crooks extended her double-figure scoring streak to 68 games. She has scored in double digits in every collegiate game except for her Cyclone debut in 2023.
Crooks also recorded her 42nd 20-point performance of her career.
With her first assist of the day, Addy Brown recorded her 350th career dime. She also made the 150th free throw of her career.
Brown finished with 11 points, the 52nd double-figure scoring effort of her career.
Kenzie Hare recorded her 150th career board and made her 250th career field goal with her first triple of the day.
With two made field goals, Arianna Jackson recorded her 100th career field goal.
Jada Williams, Evangelia Paulk, Reese Beaty and Freya Jensen made their Cyclone debuts on Monday with Beaty and Jensen making their collegiate debuts as well.
