AMES, Iowa — Iowa State center Audi Crooks, the leading scorer in Division I women’s basketball, had another huge game Wednesday night as the No. 10 Cyclones remained undefeated by beating cross-state rival Iowa 74-69 at Hilton Coliseum.
Crooks had 30 points and 10 rebounds and is now averaging 27.8 points and shooting 72.2 percent from the field, which ranks second in Division I.
But she was more focused on what the victory said about her team, which won its first game against a ranked opponent while handing the No. 11 Hawkeyes (9-1) their first loss. Crooks teammates Addy Brown (20 points, 12 rebounds) and Jada Williams (11 points, 12 assists) also had double-doubles.
“I feel like now we’re officially battle tested,” Crooks said. “You know, people were commenting on our schedule and now there’s not much to say. When you have three players with double-doubles, you can’t say we’re a one-trick pony. You can’t say our schedule is soft.
“But, honestly, we don’t worry about the noise and what everyone has to say online. We worry about the mentality in our locker room. [and] that we have in practice. I think that comes with maturity. It’s very easy to get caught up in social media and public opinion. … On this team, we’re all a little older and a little wiser.”
That said, coach Bill Fennelly acknowledged that the Cyclones (11-0) definitely knew their strength of schedule — at No. 308 on Wednesday — was in question. Last season, Iowa State lost non-conference games to UConn and South Carolina – the teams that made it to the national championship – as well as to Iowa and Northern Iowa.
Fennelly said he thought those losses cost the Cyclones dearly in the public eye. This season the schedule hasn’t been as difficult.
That’s part of why Wednesday was so important: It was Iowa State’s first win of 2025-26.
“[They] “Some of our players have had to read things that aren’t exactly complimentary, and they’re not really happy about it.”
The other important thing is that the win came in the Cy-Hawk Series, which includes multiple sports at both schools. The No. 4 and undefeated Iowa State men’s basketball team, after posting an upset victory over former No. 1 Purdue on Saturday, hosts Iowa in Ames on Thursday.
“I mean, it’s no coincidence that I’ve already gotten 203 text messages,” Fennelly said of his win over Iowa, adding that after Sunday’s 105-52 win over Northern Illinois, “I got one from my wife that said, ‘Bring something home for supper.'”
“[They] were wired today a little more than usual. Some of our players have had to read things that aren’t exactly complimentary, and they’re not really happy about it. »
Bill Fennelly, Iowa State coach
The Iowa women have dominated the previous 10 years in this game, going 8-2. That included a 67-58 victory two years ago in Ames when then-senior Caitlin Clark fueled the Hawkeyes with 35 points and crossed the 3,000-point threshold to become the all-time Division I career scoring leader.
Fennelly said after that December 2023 game that players such as Crooks and Brown, freshmen at the time, would come out of it stronger.
After losing to Iowa 75-69 last season, Crooks and Brown led the way to victory in front of 14,009 fans at home on Wednesday.
“It was a great showcase for two great programs in our state,” Fennelly said. “I’m really proud of our team. This is a win we hope we can build on.”
