Iowa State Cyclones forward Addy Brown (24) takes a shot against UNC Wilmington Seahawks during the first quarter at Hilton Coliseum on Sunday, Dec.3. 2023, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK
AMES – Iowa State’s Addy Brown left fans in Hilton Coliseum on Sunday with no doubt as to who the better team was in an 85-58 win over UNC Wilmington.
Brown led the way for the Cyclones in what could be considered their most complete performance of the young season.
“I really do (think that),” coach Bill Fennelly said. “I think offensively, we were fine. We’re still assisting on a lot of our field goals. We’re still turning the ball over too much. Our scouting report defense was really good for the most part, and I thought our staff did a good job (preparing for a unique defense).
“If you look at all of the statistical things, the only glaring thing on there was the turnovers,” Fennelly said. “That’s something we continue to work through, and have to get better at, but the rest of it was good.”
Brown finished the game with 24 points, 10 assists and five rebounds in another encouraging performance.
The Cyclones, who were without Arianna Jackson (illness, expected to play Wednesday) ran a rotation late in the game that saw Brown play at the point guard position, too.
“Addy’s ultra-skilled,” Fennelly said. “Her basketball IQ is ridiculously high. She comes from a family that understands the college game. This her world is not new to her, and she embraces it… she doesn’t run away from responsibility. We played her at point guard at the end of the game.”
Fennelly mentioned that he wants Brown, as well as the rest of the team, to limit turnovers, but came away from the game with a glowing review.
“She’s not Bridget (Carleton) or Ashley Joens, but she could be,” Fennelly said.
Addy Crooks added 16 points and nine rebounds while Jalyn Bristow joined the pair of freshmen with a 13-point, 6-rebound game.
It won’t get any easier for Iowa State until next week, though.
The Cyclones will welcome their in-state rivals in No. 4 Iowa on Wednesday night.
“I thought it was a good week of growth, defensively,” Fennelly said. “I understand the opponents were not what we are going to see on Wednesday, but the idea of following a scouting report, understanding what you need to do, being accountable for your own personal defense, and seeing what that does to team defense… that was good.
“I get, completely, that it’s not what’s coming,” Fennelly said. “But there’s still things we’ve improved on, I think dramatically, that were real issues for us in our first four or five games.”
Iowa State and Iowa will tip off at 6:00 p.m. Wednesday at Hilton Coliseum and the game can be seen live on ESPN2.
