(Ames) No. 8 Iowa State (4-1, 0-0 Big 12) fell to UNI (3-1, 0-0 MVC) on Wednesday night, losing by a final score of 87-75.
Audi Crooks and Addy Brown both recorded double-doubles in the loss, with Crooks scoring 22 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, while Brown tallied 21 points and 12 boards. Emily Ryan and Kenzie Hare also contributed to the scoring, each finishing in double figures. Maya McDermott led the Panthers with an impressive 37 points, shooting 66.7 percent from the field.
The game began with Brown giving the Cyclones an early lead by making a jumper within the first 10 seconds. However, the Panthers responded with a 7-2 run to take a three-point lead. Ryan then hit two consecutive three-pointers, putting Iowa State ahead 10-7. The Cyclones led 14-12 after the first media timeout. In the final four minutes of the quarter, both teams scored nine points, and Iowa State ended the quarter with a narrow 23-21 lead.
Iowa State started the second quarter strong, with Ryan and Sydney Harris each hitting a three-pointer. After the Panthers scored six consecutive points, Ryan made a layup to put the Cyclones ahead 31-27, prompting a UNI timeout. Coming out of the break, the Panthers surged back and went on a 9-4 run to reclaim the lead, 36-35, with 3:32 remaining in the half. However, Brown responded by scoring seven of her 17 first-half points in the final three minutes, leading Iowa State to a 44-41 advantage at halftime.
Crooks began the second half by making two layups, followed by a three-pointer from Kenzie Hare, which extended the Cyclones’ lead to eight early in the half. The Panthers fought back again, narrowing the gap to 53-51 at the third-quarter media timeout. UNI continued to build momentum after the timeout, taking a three-point lead with 2:15 left in the period. They made their final two three-pointers of the third quarter, leading 64-55 going into the final quarter.
In the fourth quarter, both teams scored five points in the first three minutes before a three-pointer from the Panthers pushed their lead to 12 points. UNI maintained their advantage and ultimately won the game, 87-75.
