Iowa State dismantles Central Michigan as Audi Crooks shines with 19 points

On December 8, 2024, the Iowa State women’s basketball team, ranked No. 20 nationally, delivered a resounding performance against Central Michigan in a match held in Ames, Iowa. The Cyclones, showing dominance right from the start, took a significant lead early in the game. They managed to establish a 15-3 advantage within the first five minutes, followed by an impressive 12-0 scoring run that propelled them to a 27-9 lead at the end of the first quarter. This strong offensive effort set the tone for the remainder of the game. In the second quarter, Iowa State continued to extend their lead, pushing it to 47-20 after a layup by Addy Brown. Although Central Michigan managed to score eight of the next ten points to halve the deficit by halftime, they were still trailing significantly at 49-28. The Cyclones maintained their offensive momentum, with both Audi Crooks and Addy Brown contributing significantly in the third quarter, scoring eight points each and helping increase the lead to 70-41 by the end of the third. Despite a slight decline in shooting efficiency during the fourth quarter, dropping to 36%, the Cyclones concluded the game with an overall shooting percentage of 53%. The performance was characterized by strong contributions across the roster, including a robust defensive showing with six steals from Emily Ryan, while Crooks also tallied a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds, showing her value as a key player. Central Michigan struggled to keep pace with the Cyclones, with Jayda Mosley leading their efforts with 11 points. Madi Morson and Ayanna-Sarai Darrington also contributed 10 points each, but their efforts were not enough to change the course of the game. The commanding victory improved Iowa State's record to 8-2, highlighting their ability to dominate opponents at home and showcasing their team strength in both offense and defense.