Iowa State Cyclones’ forward Alisa Williams (3) shoots the ball around Northern Iowa Panthers forward Elise Jaeger (15) and Northern Iowa guard Virginia Edmondson (4) during the second quarter on December 14, 2025, at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa. (Photo/Niramalendu Majumdar, Ames Tribune)

ZANDER WHITE | Associated Press

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Addy Brown had 21 of her season-high 28 points in the first half, and No. 10 Iowa State routed in-state rival Northern Iowa 81-53 on Sunday with national scoring leader Audi Crooks sitting out with an injury.

Crooks, who averages 27.6 points per game, was injured Wednesday in the Cyclones’ win over No. 11 Iowa. She was expected to finish return-to-play protocol early this week, the school announced, without disclosing the nature of the injury.

The Cyclones (12-0) are out to their best start since the 2013-14 team was a program-best 14-0.

Alisa Williams made her first career start in Crooks’ place and scored 11 points and grabbed five boards.

Brown knocked down four 3-point shots in the first half, and the Cyclones broke open the game with a 34-6 run spanning the first and second halves. The lead grew to 33 points in the middle of the fourth quarter.

Jada Williams had eight assists to go with 10 points.

Iowa State was 12 of 29 on 3s (41.4%), scored 22 points off the Panthers’ 16 turnovers, and had assists on 20 of its 30 field goals.

Brown shot 8 of 13 from the field in the first half, including 4 of 5 on 3s, as the Cyclones wiped out an early deficit and took control in the second quarter.

The Panthers (4-6), who upset Iowa State 87-75 last season, got 13 points from Abby Tuttle. It was UNI’s second game against a Top 25 opponent. The Panthers lost to Iowa on Nov. 16.

Iowa State Notes

• Iowa State women’s basketball’s all-time record moves to 883-678 (.566) and 646-325 (.665) in the Bill Fennelly era.
• Fennelly’s career record moves to 812-378 (.682) in his 38-year career.
• Iowa State is 12-0 for the fourth time in program history. It is the best start to a season since 2013-14, when the Cyclones started 14-0, the best start in school history.
• With a win tonight, the Cyclones finished the regular season non-conference slate undefeated for the first time since 2013-14 (11-0) and fourth time in program history (1995-96, 2001-02).
• The Cyclones’ all-time series record against the Panthers is now 40-11.
• Addy Brown passed Heather Ezell (414), Tracy Horvath (415) and Tracy Gahan (415) on Iowa State’s all-time assists leaderboard, adding three dimes and moving her career total to 416 assists as ISU’s eighth all-time leading distributor.
• The Derby, Kansas native recorded a season-high 28 points on 10-of-20 shooting from the floor with four 3-pointers.
• Brown also pulled down 12 rebounds for her fifth double-double of the season and 23^rd of her career. She is tied for seventh all-time in Iowa State history with Bridget Carleton.
• Brown’s 10^th rebound of the night also marked her 650^th career board.
• Kenzie Hare recorded her 50^th rebound at Iowa State with her second board of the night.
• Arianna Jackson tallied her 400^th career point with her first triple of the night. Jackson has posted 403 points as a Cyclone.
• Alisa Williams made her first career start tonight, finishing with 11 points and five boards.
• Jada Williams pulled down her 200^th career rebound with her first board of the night.
• With a jumper in the fourth quarter, Reagan Wilson pushed her career point total past 100.

UNI Notes

Abby Tuttle finished with career-highs of 13 points, four field goals, two three-pointers, and three free throws and tied career-highs with three rebounds and one steal.

UNI falls to 4-6 on the season after the loss at Iowa State.

UNI continued an active program-record 556-game three-pointer streak with four triples against Iowa State.

Up Next

Northern Iowa travels to St. Thomas on Sunday.

Iowa State opens Big 12 play at home against Kansas on Sunday.