Iowa State Cyclones’ forward Addy Brown (24) celebrates after a three point shot against Northern Iowa during the second quarter on December 14, 2025, at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES — Addy Brown is billed by Iowa State as “one of the most well-rounded players in college basketball.”
The standout junior’s track record backs up that assessment — as did her command performance in the No. 10 Cyclones’ 81-53 triumph on Sunday over Northern Iowa.
Brown efficiently scored 28 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in 29 minutes as fellow star Audi Crooks sat out the game because of a head injury sustained in Wednesday’s win over No. 11 Iowa.
“I knew I had to be more aggressive,” said Brown, who helped ISU finish its non-conference slate with a 12-0 mark. “I shot 20 shots, which I don’t normally do. So that was new for me and (they) just happened to be going in for the most part.”
Cyclone head coach Bill Fennelly told Brown before the game that if she didn’t shoot 20 times, the whole team would run. So she dutifully hit that mark efficiently, but barely.
“Luckily, she got up to 20,” said Fennelly, whose team completed a sweep of Drake, Iowa and Northern Iowa to win the mythical state championship. “She was getting after it hard, and one of the things I told our players (is),’It’s like life. Things happen. You can’t control it. No one’s gonna feel sorry for us because Audi’s not playing or (backup guard Evangelia Paulk’s) not playing, and (backup point guard) Reese (Beaty’s) not playing.’ It’s your chance. And when the game is the way it is, Addy Brown needs to be that person, and she was today.”
Crooks, Fennelly said, is in the return-to-play protocol but the team is hopeful she’ll be back for the Dec. 21 Big 12 home opener against Kansas. The same holds true for Paulk, who has a soft tissue injury, but Beaty’s likely still out with a foot issue.
“Every day they have to show improvement,” Fennelly said. “We’ll probably know more by the end of the week.”
Brown — who recorded her first career triple-double in last month’s win over Norfolk State — added three assists, one steal and didn’t lose a single turnover. She’s efficiency personified, but missed a handful of shots she usually makes.
“I’d be shocked if she’s not in the gym when I get back to my office,” Fennelly said. “We kind of hinted that she should have had 40.”
Fennelly’s likely right on both counts.
“I definitely was a little upset with myself,” Brown said. “But my 3-ball was lookling good (Sunday), so that definitely helped me out. Just tried to control what I can control.”
Fennelly used a different word to describe how Brown probably felt about some of those misses.
“I promise you she’s pissed, because she missed some shots that she normally would make,” he said. “All great players are wired different and she’s wired different in a good way.”
Backup center Alisa Williams added 11 points on 5-for-5 field goal shooting in Crooks’ stead and point guard Jada Williams had 10 points and eight rebounds. UNI head coach Tanya Warren lauded ISU’s efficiency as her team fell to 4-6 — and offered a frank assessment of her own about the Cyclones.
“I’ve watched Iowa State a lot all year, and the one thing I said is, ‘They’re a much better team than they were a year ago, and they’re on a mission,” said Warren, whose Panthers beat ISU last season in Cedar Falls. “Audi’s a lot better, Brown’s a lot better — if that’s possible. And then you add (Jada) Williams. They’re driven and they’re playing with a purpose.”
