STORRS, Conn. – Iowa State (22-10, 10-8 Big 12) fell to Syracuse (24-8, 12-6 ACC) by a score of 72-63 Saturday night in the NCAA Tournament First Round.
Audi Crooks led all players totaling 37 points. Crooks scored in double figures for her 98th-straight game and had the 17th 30-plus point game of her career, with nine happening this season. Jada Williams was the second Cyclone in double figures with 14. Williams also led the game with eight assists.
Syracuse took the lead to start the game and would hold it up until the closing minutes of the first, but with two minutes remaining the Cyclones hit a 6-0 run to end the frame with the lead of 14-11.
Syracuse matched ISU’s point total three times before flipping the lead at 21-20 with 6:53 on the clock. Moments later, Syracuse went on a run of 10 to take a 28-20 advantage into the second quarter media timeout. Syracuse remained hot from the 3-point line, draining three out of the break to total seven on the game (37-24). At halftime, the score stood at 41-26.
Williams put in her second shot from deep with six minutes remaining in the third, while Syracuse continued to lead by double digits at 46-33. Crooks passed over 20 points on the night with a layup with 3:24 to play, and Arianna Jackson sent in a 3 on ISU’s next possession making it 52-40. Syracuse remained with the momentum though, closing the third up 54-42.
The Cyclones brought it back within single digits in the fourth, and after a 3-point play by Crooks and a jumper by Reese Beaty the deficit was brought to six (60-54) with 4:55 left to play. Syracuse would answer with a 3-pointer after the final media timeout, while ISU followed calling a timeout. A tough layup by Williams sparked a 6-0 run with 2:20 to go (68-63) but the comeback would fall short.
Notes
- Iowa State women’s basketball’s all-time record moves to 893-688 (.565).
- Fennelly’s career record moves to 822-388 (.679) in his 38-year career and 656-335 (.662) at Iowa State.
- The Cyclones passed out 18 assists tonight, moving their season total to 639. It marks the second-most assists in a season by an Iowa State team in program history.
- With 37 points today, Audi Crooks extended her double-figure scoring streak to 98 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.
- The point total marked her 64th career game with 20-plus and 17th with 30-plus points.
- Crooks tallied her 900th career field goal with her 10th make of the night. She ranks second all-time at Iowa State behind Ashley Joens’ 988 makes.
- Arianna Jackson pulled down her 250th career board with her first rebound of the night.
