HOUSTON, Texas – No. 10 Iowa State (14-0, 2-0 Big 12) took the 80-62 win at Houston (6-7, 0-2 Big 12) to remain unbeaten and match the best start in school history, where the 2013-14 Cyclones also began 14-0.

The Cougars took a 14-7 lead in the first quarter, but the Cyclones hit a 12-0 run and did not give up the lead from there. Audi Crooks was classic Audi Crooks making her first seven shots and going on to notch her fifth-straight 30-plus point game with 35. Crooks shot 17-of-21 from the field and had her fourth double-double this season adding 13 rebounds.

Jada Williams also performed to a double-double with hers in points and assists, scoring 16 points while leading the game with 14 assists.

How it Happened

Williams put the Cyclones back in front 5-3 with a shot beyond the arc three minutes into play. The Cougars hit a 6-0 run as the lead flipped again and the first quarter hit the midway point. After falling behind 14-7, the Cyclone scored the next 10 points as Sydney Harris ended the quarter with a 3.

Crooks made her fourth shot on as many attempts to cap the run at 12-0 and put the scoreboard at 19-14. With Houston within one at the 8:18 mark, Kenzie Hare sent in a triple and ISU went on its way to stretch a nine-point advantage (29-20) causing a timeout by the host with 6:13 to play in the second. UH came out of the timeout bringing it back within two, but Addy Brown and Arianna Jackson responded with back-to-back 3s. The deep shots continued to fall as Harris and Jackson put in another two straight, and ISU entered halftime ahead 45-31.

Houston cut its deficit down to single digits briefly at 49-40 with 6:27 on the clock, and at the media timeout Iowa State would lead 52-40. Crooks tallied her eighth point of the third with just over two minutes in the frame, putting the score at 58-46. Crooks kept it going, ending the quarter with an and-one to enter the fourth up 61-46.

Jackson drained her third 3-pointer one minute into the final quarter, the eighth by ISU. Crooks ascended over 30 points as the game drew to a close, and the Cyclones continued on to win it by 18.

Top Performers

Audi Crooks had game No. 80 in a row scoring 10-plus as the streak continues to be the longest by a Cyclone and longest active in NCAA women’s basketball. Crooks now owns 11 20-plus point games this season and 52 on her career. Jada Williams went out to her ninth double-figure scoring game and sixth double-double this season.

Up Next

Iowa State returns home for a top 25 matchup this Sunday, Jan. 4 hosting No. 22 Baylor. The game begins at 2 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN.

Notes


Iowa State women’s basketball’s all-time record moves to 885-678 (.566) and 347-358 (.492) in conference play.
Fennelly’s career record moves to 814-378 (.683) in his 38-year career and 648-325 (.666) at Iowa State.
Iowa State is 14-0 for the second time in program history. It matches the best start to a season in program history (2013-14).
The Cyclones’ all-time series record against the Cougars is 3-0.
With 35 points, Audi Crooks extended her double-figure scoring streak to 80 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.
Crooks has posted 30-plus points in each of her last five games.
With her ninth rebound of the day, Crooks tallied her 600th career board.
Finishing with 13 rebounds, Crooks posted her fourth double-double of the season.
Jada Williams finished with her sixth double-double of the season and fifth points-assists double-double with 16 points and a career-high 14 dimes.