Iowa State Cyclones’ guard Kenzie Hare (12) celebrates with teammates after her game-winning shot against Kansas in the Big-12 conference home opener on Dec. 21, 2025, at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa. (Photo/Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune

ZANDER WHITE | Associated Press

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Kenzie Hare hit a winning 3-pointer as time expired, Audi Crooks scored 41 points and No. 10 Iowa State beat Kansas 79-76 on Sunday.

The Cyclones (13-0, 1-0 Big 12) fended off Kansas’ late run when Hare took a pass from Addy Brown and shot over Elle Evans from the corner in front of the Iowa State bench. The shot accounted for Hare’s only points in the game.

Crooks, who leads the nation in scoring, shot 19 of 28 from the field while going over 40 points for the third time this season. She has scored in double figures in 79 straight games. Brown had 16 points and eight rebounds and Jada Williams had 11 points, 10 assists and two steals.

S’Mya Nichols led Kansas (10-3, 0-1) with 29 points, including 12 in the fourth quarter as the Jayhawks came back from an 11-point deficit. Nicholls drove to the hoop against Arianna Jackson to tie it at 76 with 5.2 seconds left.

Williams inbounded the ball to Brown, who swung the pass to Hare for the winning shot. After the ball went through, teammates swarmed the smiling Hare.

Kansas opted to defend Crooks one-on-one, mostly with Lilly Meister, rather than double-team her. Crooks capitalized with easy basket after easy basket. The Cyclones were just 1 of 7 on 3s before Hare’s big shot at the end.

Kansas played its third straight game without Regan Williams and 10th in a row without Jaliya Davis. Both are nursing injuries.

The Jayhawks have lost three straight to the Cyclones and haven’t won in Ames since 2015.

Cyclones Notes

• Iowa State women’s basketball’s all-time record moves to 884-678 (.566) and 346-358 (.491) in conference play.
• Fennelly’s career record moves to 813-378 (.683) in his 38-year career and 647-325 (.666) at Iowa State.
• Iowa State is 13-0 for the second time in program history. It is the best start to a season since 2013-14, when the Cyclones started 14-0.
• With the win, ISU has won four of its last five Big 12 Conference openers.
• The Cyclones’ all-time series record against the Jayhawks is now 52-49.
• With a game-high 41 points, Audi Crooks extended her double-figure scoring streak to 79 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.
• With her fifth field goal of the day, Crooks passed Bridget Carleton for the fourth-best all-time mark by a Cyclone for made field goals. Crooks has made 728 baskets in her career, including 19 today.
• Arianna Jackson picked up her 50^th career steal with her second steal of the day.
• Alisa Williams pulled down her 150^th career rebound with her first board of the day.
• Jada Williams finished with her fifth double-double of the season and fourth points-assists double-double with 11 points and 10 dimes.

Up next

Kansas: Hosts West Virginia on Jan. 1.

Iowa State: Visits Houston on Dec. 31.