After four losses during the non-conference portion of the schedule, Iowa State has found its way to the top of the Big 12 Conference standings with a 5-0 record that included come-from-behind wins by the Cyclones over West Virginia and Baylor this week to earn NCAA.com Team of the Week honors.
Big 12 tournament champions in 2023, Iowa State lost three starters from last season and has had to slowly find its way back to prominence behind a strong freshman class and veterans asked to elevate their games. At 5-0, Iowa State is currently tied with Kansas State atop the conference standings.
The Cyclones opened the week on Jan. 10 by rallying from a 19-point deficit at home to stun No. 24 West Virginia, 74-64. It was Iowa State’s first ranked victory of the season.
Freshman center Audi Crooks led the way for Iowa State with a 22-point and 11-rebound double-double. Senior guard Emily Ryan had a pivotal fourth quarter to seal the victory, scoring double figure points in the frame alone, bringing her final stat line to 13 points, seven rebounds, two assists, a block and a steal in 26 minutes.
On Saturday and for the second time in the last four days, Iowa State took down a Top 25 opponent, as the Cyclones beat No. 4 Baylor 66-63 at Hilton Coliseum. It was the team’s highest win over a ranked opponent since knocking off second-ranked Baylor in 2020. It is also the first time Iowa State has had back-to-back ranked wins since 2009-2010. Iowa State led Baylor for just six minutes in the game, both starting the game and finishing the game strong.
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Crooks again led the way with a game-high 23 points to go along with six rebounds. The freshman from Algona, Iowa, extended her double-figure scoring streak to 15 and posted her sixth 20-plus point game of the season and second straight. Crooks was a major reason the Cyclones won the points in the paint battle, as Iowa State outscored Baylor 36-24.
Senior Hannah Belanger also had a solid afternoon for the Cyclones, scoring 15 points, while freshman Addy Brown finished with nine points and 11 rebounds to go along with a career-high six…
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