AMES – Five Cyclones reached double figures and Iowa State cruised to a 90-65 victory over Arizona Saturday afternoon in Hilton Coliseum. ISU improves to 16-5 overall and 4-5 in Big 12 action, while Arizona falls to 10-9 overall and 1-7 in conference play.
The Cyclones led for all but 0:32 in the game and Jada Williams led the Cyclones with 19 points against her former team. Audi Crooks tallied 17 points as she and Williams combined to go 15-for-20 from the field in the winning effort.
The win was ISU head coach Bill Fennelly’s 296th Big 12 Conference victory, matching him with Kim Mulkey for the most in league history.
Iowa State shot 71 percent from the field to open up a 53-29 lead at the half. Jada Williams had 15 first-half points and Crooks added 12 points as both players were 6-for-7 from the field in the first 20 minutes.
As a team, ISU connected on 6-of-9 threes in the opening half en route to its biggest halftime lead in conference play this season at 24 points.
Arizona trimmed into the lead in the third quarter, outscoring the Cyclones by one point. But the game was never in doubt as ISU led by as many as 27 points in the fourth quarter.
The Wildcats came into the game with 10 players available. Five of those players fouled out in the fourth quarter and an injury to Tanyuel Welch with 2:40 remaining forced Arizona to play the final 2:40 of the game with four players.
The Cyclones had 20 assists on 30 field goals and shot 54.5 percent from the field as a team.
Top Performers
In addition to Williams and Crooks, Arianna Jackson poured in 15 points with four 3-pointers made. Sydney Harris (14) and Alisa Williams (12) also reached double figures as the Cyclones held a 32-11 edge in bench points.
Williams also led the Cyclones with seven rebounds.
Crooks reached double figures for the 86th-straight game.
Iowa State returns to action Wednesday at No. 19 Texas Tech. The game will tip at 6 p.m. on ESPN+.
Notes
Today’s attendance: 10,165
Iowa State women’s basketball’s all-time record moves to 887-683 (.565) and 349-363 (.490) in conference play.
Fennelly’s career record moves to 816-383 (.681) in his 38-year career and 650-330 (.663) at Iowa State.
With a win today, head coach Bill Fennelly earned his 296th victory in Big 12 play and matched the all-time wins record in the conference (Kim Mulkey, Baylor). Fennelly has won 301 conference games in his ISU career (296-214 Big 12, 5-9 Big Eight).
ISU had five players score in double figures today. The Cyclones are 5-0 this season when five or more reach double-digit scoring.
With 17 points today, Audi Crooks extended her double-figure scoring streak to 87 games, the longest active streak in NCAA women’s basketball. It is the longest streak among Big 12 players since Brittney Griner’s 116-game streak.
Crooks made her 800th career field goal, reaching the mark with her fourth made basket today.
Sydney Harris scored her 400th point as a Cyclone with her fifth point of the day. Harris finished with 14 points today and has scored 409 points at Iowa State.
Arianna Jackson scored her 450th career point with her 14th point of the day. Jackson finished with 15 points and four 3-pointers.
With her 11th point of the day, Alisa Williams scored her 250th career point. She has scored 233 points at Iowa State.
Williams reached double figures for the fifth time this season and the first time since Dec. 14 (UNI).
Jada Williams scored a game-high 19 points and has 63 in the last two games.
