SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – Iowa State (19-5, 7-5 Big 12) won its fifth straight as it took down Utah (15-8, 6-5 Big 12) on the road by a final of 79-72.
Iowa State took the lead for good at the end of the first quarter and had four in double figures led by Audi Crooks with 26. Jada Williams (14), Arianna Jackson (12) and Sydney Harris (12) joined Crooks. Jackson and Harris each put in four 3-pointers as Iowa State made 10, it’s 10th game this season shooting 10-plus.
Crooks had game No. 90 in a row with double-figure points, and had her 17th game this season with 20-plus.
Jada Williams and Jackson put in two early 3-pointers, while Alisa Williams made it a four-point game with a layup as the clock hit five minutes. That score held until a Utah bucket with 3:18 remaining in the first, and the Utes hit back-to-back 3s soon after to retake the lead at 14-12. Iowa State responded making the final points of the frame as Crooks had a layup and Jackson delivered her second triple, ending the first up 17-14.
Jackson, remaining with the hot hand, drained her third 3-pointer as the second began and two Jada Williams free throws stretched ISU’s run to 10 making it 22-14. Another Jackson 3 came at the 7:15 mark, causing a Utah timeout as Iowa State went up nine. Jada Williams made the lead double digits with a deep shot one minute of play later, while Utah went on to cut the lead down to six at halftime (33-27).
Crooks had an early 8-0 run in the third, and Harris made two beyond-the-arc shots moments later as ISU’s advantage grew to 16 (49-33). Utah followed with a timeout at 6:05, but the break in play did not halt the Cyclones. Another Harris triple brought the scoreboard to 54-35 midway through the quarter, but she was not done there as she totaled her fourth of the frame as the third came to a close.
Iowa State entered the fourth quarter ahead 63-45, and Utah would trim its deficit down to 12 at the final media timeout (70-58). The Cyclones kept with the lead, sealing it 79-72.
Up Next
Iowa State remains in Utah, facing BYU Tuesday, Feb. 10. The game tips at 8 p.m. CT and will be streamed on ESPN+.
Notes
Iowa State women’s basketball’s all-time record moves to 890-683 (.566) and 352-363 (.492) in conference play.
Fennelly’s career record moves to 819-383 (.681) in his 38-year career and 653-330 (.664) at Iowa State.
ISU picked up its first win against Utah in the all-time series (1-5).
With 26 points today, Audi Crooks extended her double-figure scoring streak to 90 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.
Her point total marked her 58th 20-point performance of her career and her 17th this season.
Crooks’ seventh made free throw of the night moved her into eighth all-time among Iowa State made free throws leaders, passing Chelsea Poppens’ 384 makes at the line. Crooks has made 386 free throws in 91 career games.
Arianna Jackson finished with 12 points tonight. It is the fourth time in the last five games and sixth time this season that she has totaled double-figure scoring.
Scoring the first basket of the night, Evangelia Paulk recorded her 50th point as a Cyclone.
Jada Williams recorded her 20th game at ISU with five-plus assists, finishing with a team-high seven assists.
