Audi Crooks (55) of the Iowa State Cyclones reacts after scoring a basket against the Kansas State Wildcats in the second half at Bramlage Coliseum on March 1, 2026 in Manhattan, Kansas. (Photo: Peter Aiken/Getty Images)

Tommy Birch | Des Moines Register

Iowa State basketball star Audi Crooks’ offensive performance at Kansas State on March 1 wasn’t perfect.

But it was pretty darn close.

Crooks poured in a game-high 41 points as the 25th-ranked Cyclones beat Kansas State 93-79 at Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan, Kan., on Sunday.

It marked the fourth time this season that Crooks has tallied at least 40 points in a game.

With the victory, Iowa State closed out the regular season with a 22-8 mark including 10-8 record in Big 12 Conference play, earning a first-round bye in this week’s league’s tournament.

Crooks, a star center for the Cyclones, was a big reason why. The Algona native connected on 16-of-19 shots from the field and was a perfect 9-for-9 from the charity stripe before checking out late in the fourth quarter.

Crooks made her first 10 shots from the field and helped Iowa State overcome a six-point deficit at the half.

Crooks entered the game as the second-leading scorer in the nation, averaging 25.1 points per game. But with Iowa State in desperate need of a win, she took her game up a notch.

Crooks tallied 15 points in the third quarter alone on 7-of-9 shooting. She added 13 more in the fourth quarter as Iowa State started to pull away.

Iowa State needed a win to secure the first-round bye in the Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City, Mo.

Getting the win wasn’t easy for Iowa State, which struggled to defend the perimeter and turned it over at an alarming rate. Kansas State connected on 12 3-pointers. Iowa State turned it over 24 times.

But Crooks helped the Cyclones survive down the stretch. She finished with 13 rebounds and also got help. Iowa State point guard Jada Williams finished with 23 points, five rebounds and nine assists.

Iowa State Women’s Notes

• Iowa State women’s basketball’s all-time record moves to 893-686 (.566) and 355-366 (.492) in conference play.
• Fennelly’s career record moves to 822-386 (.680) in his 38-year career and 656-333 (.663) at Iowa State.
• Iowa State’s all-time series record with K-State moves to 52-55 (.486) as the Cyclones’ longest standing series with any opponent.
• Kenzie Hare’s 3-pointer in the second quarter marked ISU’s 250^th triple of the season.
• Addy Brown matched her career high with three blocks today.
• She also tallied her 450^th career dime with a third quarter lob to Audi Crooks. She ranks eighth all-time at Iowa State with 450 career assists.
• With 41 points today, Audi Crooks extended her double-figure scoring streak to 96 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.
• She finished with her 62^nd 20-point scoring effort of her career and 12^th double-double of the season.
• With her first board of the night, Jada Williams pulled down her 100^th rebound of the season.

Up Next

 Iowa State travels to Kansas City for the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Tournament next week. With a win today, the Cyclones earned the No. 7 seed and play the winner of No. 10 and No. 15 seeds on Thursday, March 6 at 5:30 pm on ESPN+. Additional opponent and game information will be available later tonight on Cyclones.com.