(Kansas City, MO) – Iowa State (22-9, 10-8 Big 12) fell 77-68 to Arizona State (24-9, 9-9 Big 12) in the Big 12 Tournament Second Round Thursday night.
Iowa State had four score in double figures led by Audi Crook’s 21 points, her 22nd 20-plus point game this season. Crooks moves into the top five in Iowa State Big 12 Tournament history for career points now holding 145.
Addy Brown had 13 points and 11 rebounds, her sixth double-double this season and 24th of No. 24’s career. Kenzie Hare (12) and Jada Williams (11) also scored in double digits.
Iowa St. will now hope they have a strong enough resume to get into the NCAA Tournament — currently ESPN is projecting the Cyclones in the field as a #9 seed. The women’s selection show is a week from this Sunday.
ASU got off to an 11-2 start after five early Iowa State turnovers halfway through the first. The Cyclones continued to be held scoreless as Arizona State went up 17-2 at the 3:13 mark, forcing an ISU timeout. Iowa State ended the quarter on a run of seven, capped with a Hare 3.
After the Sun Devils ran ahead 26-13, Brown made a three-point play with 5:01 to go in the half and soon after followed with a 3-pointer to put the scoreboard at 28-19. Another 3, this one by Arianna Jackson, came with two minutes remaining to cut ISU’s deficit to five (28-23). At the end of the second quarter, Arizona State remained in front 33-25.
Six combined shots from deep opened the second half including two by Hare, but ASU extended a double-digit lead on the Cyclones at 47-35 at the 5:56 mark. The 10-plus point lead held up as Iowa State entered the final quarter down 14 at 60-46.
With 1:41 remaining, Brown sent in her second triple to come within six of ASU’s advantage (68-62), and moments later Hare had a tough steal and quick layup to again bring it within six at 70-64. Iowa State was unable to cut more into the lead as the Cyclones fell by nine.
Notes
- Iowa State women’s basketball’s all-time record moves to 893-687 (.565) and 355-367 (.492) in conference play.
- Fennelly’s career record moves to 822-387 (.680) in his 38-year career and 656-334 (.663) at Iowa State.
- With a steal in the third quarter, Reese Beaty recorded her 25th swipe of the season.
- Addy Brown’s 3-pointer in the second quarter pushed her past 1,200 career points. She is the 25th all-time leading scorer at Iowa State.
- With 21 points today, Audi Crooks extended her double-figure scoring streak to 97 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.
- It also marked her 63rd career 20-point game.
- Making a free throw in the fourth quarter, Crooks set a new second-best all-time single-season scoring record (761). She holds the record with 820 points (2024-25) and passed Bridget Carleton’s 760 points (2018-19).
- Crooks made four free throws in the first quarter, allowing her to pass Ashley Joens’ eighth-best single season mark of makes at the charity stripe (150).
- Kenzie Hare hit a 3-pointer late in the first quarter, ISU’s first of the day and her 50th this season.
- Jada Williams notched her 400th career assist with her first assist of the night.
- With six assists on the night, she matched the second all-time best single season mark of 238, set by Nikki Moody.
