Audi Crooks closed Iowa State’s regular season with a performance that underscored why March attention is shifting toward the Cyclones. In 30 minutes, the junior produced a 41-point, 13-rebound outing that both sealed a dominant individual campaign and raised the stakes ahead of the conference tournament.
USC men’s basketball cuts Chad Baker-Mazara from roster
Steph Curry knee update raises alarm: Warriors face grueling run that could cost wins
The stat line mattered for more than one reason. Crooks’ 41-point game on Sunday marked her fifth career contest with 40 or more points, tying a Big 12 women’s record set by Brittney Griner. It also continued a remarkable scoring surge that has made her the national leader in multi-40-point games this season.
Game snapshot and immediate context
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander sets eye-popping NBA mark: propels Thunder past Mavericks
Dominiq Ponder, Colorado quarterback, found dead at 23: university confirms death
Facing Kansas State in the Cyclones’ regular-season finale, Crooks played just half the game clock and still produced one of the season’s most efficient scoring displays. Her 13 rebounds added a physical edge to a night that was otherwise defined by scoring volume and timing — arriving at the moment the team needs confidence most.
The timing is significant: the Big 12 tournament begins this week, with NCAA seeding and momentum on the line. How opponents respond to Crooks over the next few weeks will be central to Iowa State’s postseason outlook.
Her 40‑point nights
- 47 points — vs. Indiana (November)
- 43 points — vs. Valparaiso (November)
- 41 points — vs. Kansas (November)
- 41 points — vs. Kansas State (regular-season finale)
- One earlier 40‑plus outing in her collegiate career (date/opponent prior to this season)
Four of those five performances came during the current season, a run that the Iowa State program highlighted publicly as March began. That volume of elite scoring — repeatedly in single-game bursts — separates Crooks from her peers this year.
In January, Crooks reached another milestone: she crossed the 2,000-point threshold in just 89 career games, the quickest any player in Big 12 women’s history has done so. That mark adds historical context to a season already heavy with individual landmarks.
What this means going into March
The immediate consequence is tactical: opponents will likely adjust defensive schemes to limit Crooks’ touches and force others to beat Iowa State. That puts a premium on the Cyclones’ supporting cast and on coaching decisions about rotations and usage.
There are broader implications as well. Tournament performance will affect NCAA seeding and, depending on how far Iowa State advances, could influence national award conversations and professional evaluations ahead of the WNBA draft.
For now, Crooks’ late-season surge has given Iowa State a clear identity heading into postseason play — a team that leans on a dominant interior scorer capable of shifting games in short stretches. All eyes will be on how that dynamic holds up when defenses intensify in the weeks ahead.
Michael Brown is a seasoned sports journalist bringing years of experience covering professional athletics and sporting culture. With a keen eye for breaking stories and player dynamics, this veteran journalist delivers in-depth analysis and exclusive insights from the world’s biggest sporting events. His passion for the game shines through in every story, keeping fans connected to the action both on and off the field.