Iowa State ladies’s basketball star Audi Crooks has but to seek out an opponent that may shut her down this season.
On Wednesday night time, Colorado will develop into the most recent crew to tangle with Crooks and the Nineteenth-ranked Cyclones, however shutting down the large and highly effective 6-foot-3 junior middle isn’t the highest precedence.
“You understand Audi’s going to get her factors,” CU senior Jade Masogayo stated. “However, we’re simply ensuring that the guards don’t have the chance to attain, as a result of Audi’s going to get hers for certain.”
Not that CU received’t attempt to restrict Crooks, the nation’s main scorer at 28.3 factors per recreation – 3.2 greater than Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo, who’s second (25.1). Crooks can be remarkably environment friendly, with the second-best area purpose share (.698) within the nation.
“I feel the largest factor for us, we determine who we can assist off of – who might be an additional defender (in opposition to Crooks),” stated CU assistant coach Jordynn Hernandez, who helped to develop the Buffs’ scouting report on Iowa State scouting.
That’s been tough for Iowa State opponents as a result of it has expertise round Crooks. Nonetheless, the Cyclones are lacking two of their finest gamers.
Addy Brown, a 6-foot-2 ahead who averages 13.1 factors, 9.0 rebounds and 5.8 assists is out “indefinitely,” in line with coach Invoice Fennelly. And junior guard Arianna Jackson, who posts 5.6 factors per recreation, is out “for some time.”
Brown and Jackson are each two-year starters and two of the perfect 3-point shooters within the Large 12, with Jackson hitting at a .475 clip and Brown at .422.
ISU nonetheless has level guard Jada Williams and sharpshooter Kenzie Hare (.444 from 3-point vary), however is available in on a three-game dropping streak because it has struggled with out a few its stars.
“Crooks goes to get hers and clearly Jada has her moments, too,” Hernandez stated. “You need to shut down everyone else and make any person else rating.”
Crooks and Williams mixed for 54 factors in a loss to Baylor, however the remainder of the crew – together with Brown and Jackson – mixed for simply 16. The Crooks/Williams duo mixed for 36 at Cincinnati, however no person else had greater than eight.
On Sunday, West Virginia received differently, placing strain on the Iowa State guards and limiting Crooks’ touches. She scored 22 factors, however tried simply 9 photographs (she averages 16.8) in an 83-70 loss.
Crooks has been a constant risk, scoring a minimum of 18 factors in each recreation, whereas hitting the 40-point mark thrice (with a excessive of 47). The banged-up Cyclones are nonetheless adjusting to a brand new lineup, although, and CU hopes it will possibly take benefit.
“I simply assume the extra we are able to form of throw them off their rhythm, the higher we might be,” Hernandez stated.
Crooks scored 33 factors (on 15-of-20 taking pictures) and pulled down 12 rebounds in opposition to the Buffs in an 86-56 blowout win in Ames on Feb. 8, 2025, so Masogayo is aware of all about how harmful she might be. That recreation was a catastrophe from the beginning, although, and Crooks had three teammates rating in double figures. That’s what the Buffs hope to forestall Wednesday.
CU comes into the sport with some confidence, nonetheless, regardless of going 0-2 final week. The Buffs battled two of the Large 12’s finest groups – Baylor and Oklahoma State – on the highway and took confidence from that journey.
“I don’t assume their morale is down by any means,” Hernandez stated. “I feel it’s form of uplifting as a result of it’s like, we’re proper there. … We’re beginning to form of put 4 quarters collectively.”
Masogayo agreed, including that movie examine confirmed how shut the Buffs had been to profitable each video games final week.
“It’s given us motivation and I do know that we’re heading in the right direction to achieve success on that finish for certain,” Masogayo stated. “It’s simply little issues that we bought to scrub up and that’ll win us ball video games.”
CU Buffs ladies’s basketball vs. No. 19 Iowa State
TIPOFF: Wednesday, 7 p.m., CU Occasions Heart
TV/RADIO: ESPN+/KHOW 630 AM
RECORDS: Colorado 11-6, 2-3 Large 12; Iowa State 14-3, 2-3 Large 12
COACHES: Colorado — JR Payne, tenth season (175-122; 276-235 profession). Iowa State — Invoice Fennelly, thirty first season (648-328; 814-381 profession)
KEY PLAYERS: Colorado — C Jade Criminal, 6-4, Fr. (4.5 ppg, 2.6 rpg, .524 fg%); F Anaelle Dutat, 6-0, Sr. (9.9 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 2.1 spg, .556 fg%); F Logyn Greer, 6-4, Fr. (10.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg); F Jade Masogayo, 6-3, Sr. (9.9 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 2.2 apg, .500 fg%); G Zyanna Walker, 5-11, Jr. (10.4 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2.7 apg, 2.2 spg); G Desiree Wooten, 5-8, Jr. (10.9 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.6 spg). Iowa State — G Reese Beaty, 5-8, Fr. (5.2 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 3.6 apg); C Audi Crooks, 6-3, Jr. (28.3 ppg, 7.1 rpg, .698 fg%); G Kenzie Hare, 5-9, Jr. (6.2 ppg, 2.5 rpg, .444 3pt%); G/F Sydney Harris, 6-1, Sr. (6.8 ppg, 1.9 rpg); F Alisa Williams, 6-2, Jr. (5.5 ppg, 3.6 rpg, .642 fg%); G Jada Williams, 5-8, Jr. (12.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 7.9 apg).
NOTES: CU returns residence after a two-game highway journey. … CU is 9-1 at residence this 12 months, whereas Iowa State is 2-1 on the highway. … The Buffs lead the all-time sequence with the Cyclones, 37-31, however ISU is 15-2 within the final 17 conferences, relationship again to 2004. The Cyclones received the lone assembly final 12 months, 86-56 in Ames on Feb. 8, 2025. … This can be Iowa State’s first journey to Boulder since Jan. 15, 2011. … Masogayo has scored in double figures in six of the final seven video games, averaging 12.9 factors in that stretch. … In Large 12 video games, Dutat is averaging 10.6 factors and 9.8 rebounds. … Whereas Crooks leads the nation in scoring, Jada Williams is third in assists (7.9 per recreation). … Jada Williams performed the earlier two years at Arizona, main the Wildcats in scoring (12.7 ppg) and assists (2.9 per recreation) final 12 months. In three profession video games in opposition to CU, she has averaged 12.7 factors and three.7 assists.