Iowa State Cyclones’ guard Kelsey Joens (23) and Iowa State Cyclones’ center Audi Crooks (55) react after a offensive play against Houston during the fourth quarter in the Big-12 women’s basketball at Hilton Coliseum on Wednesday, Feb19, 2025, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State (19-9, 10-5 Big 12) sealed its 10th conference victory against Houston (5-21, 1-14 Big 12) Wednesday night by a score of 64-53.
Iowa State made 10-plus 3-pointers for the fourth-straight game and 12th time of the season with 10 on the night. Kelsey Joens made her first five field goals, with three of them being 3-pointers, and went on to a game-leading 13 points at 5-of-6 shooting.
Addy Brown was her usual self putting up her third straight double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds, also tallying six assists.
Audi Crooks scored in double figures for the 60th time in a row scoring 12 while having eight rebounds and an assist. Emily Ryan made for four Cyclones in double figures with 11 points.
How it Happened
Iowa State started out 4-for-4 from deep, with three being delivered by Joens, to take a 12-8 lead. The Cyclones led by as much as five in the first, and at the end of one the score stood at 18-14.
Buckets by Crooks and Joens brought Iowa State up by eight (22-14) causing an early timeout by Houston at the 8:27 mark. Harris and Ryan then went back-to-back from beyond the arc to double up Houston at 28-14. With three seconds remaining in the half, Lily Hansford sent in ISU’s eighth 3-pointer to make it a 15-point lead with the scoreboard reading 42-27.
Iowa State hit a cold streak as Houston hit seven straight, but the Cyclones lead remained at double figures midway through the third. Joens ended UH’s run with a layup, while Ryan hit her second 3 to bring the lead back to 15 (49-34). With a minute to go, Brown sunk the Cyclones 10 3-pointer, and ISU went into the fourth with a 54-39 advantage.
Iowa State went on to win it 64-53.
Top Performers
Kelsey Joens hit three early 3-pointers and ended the night with 13 points for her fourth game this season with 10 or more points. Joens also had five rebounds, an assist and a steal. Addy Brown had her eighth double-double of the season with 12 points and 12 rebounds, also totaling six assists. It was her seventh double-double this season of the points-rebounds variety.
Up Next
Iowa State next travels to No. 19 Baylor for a Feb. 22 matchup at 1:30 p.m. The game will be televised on FOX.
Notes
- Iowa State’s women’s basketball all-time record moves to 886-675 (.568) and 343-357 (.490) all-time in conference play.
- Head coach Bill Fennelly‘s Iowa State record moves to 630-322 (.662) and his career record moves to 796-375 (.680). He is 295-209 (.585) in conference games at ISU.
- Iowa State made 10 3-pointers tonight. It is the 12th time this season ISU has totaled 10 or more triples.
- The Cyclones passed out 15 assists, pushing their season total to 550 dimes. It marks the fifth time in program history, all under Fennelly, that ISU has totaled 550 or more dimes in a season.
- Audi Crooks’ 12 points marked the 60th straight game of her career scoring in double figures.
- She has totaled 1,269 career points, the 23rd all-time best total by an Iowa State women’s basketball player.
- Crooks has totaled 256 made field goals this season, the second-best mark by a Cyclone in a single season.
- Addy Brown totaled her 100th assist of Big 12 play and 300th of her career with her second assist of the night. Brown finished with a team-high six dimes.
- Brown tallied her eighth double-double of the season and 18th of her career with 12 points and 12 rebounds.
- With her second assist tonight, Emily Ryan tallied the 950th assist of her career. Her career total sits at 953 assists after passing out five tonight.
- Ryan has played in 146 career games, the second-best all-time mark by a Cyclone behind Ashley Joens’ best 158 games.
- Kelsey Joens scored her 300th career point with her first 3-pointer of the night.
- Joens finished with a season-high 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting from the floor.
