Despite being down by 20 points entering the second half, Iowa State pulled off a miraculous comeback to take down Maryland 93-86.
Highlighted by center Audi Crooks’ 40-point performance, the Cyclones found life in the second half and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament with a win over the Terrapins on Friday night.
Crooks sets multiple records
It may get repetitive seeing Crooks’ name in nearly every headline following an Iowa State win, but the hype has been, and still is, warranted for the freshman center.
The Algona, Iowa, native went out and led Iowa State to its 20-point second-half comeback, as Crooks finished her game with a career-high 40 points on 18-of-20 shooting from the field.
This shooting performance from Crooks set multiple records, as she set the single-game Iowa State record in an NCAA Tournament game for field goals and points while matching the most points scored by a Big 12 women’s player in an NCAA Tournament game.
Crooks also broke the Cyclones’ freshman free throw record earlier in the game as she finished 4-of-8 from the charity stripe in Iowa State’s big win.
Along with the 40-point showing, Crooks earned her ninth double-double of the season as she grabbed 12 rebounds along with her superb shooting day.
Iowa State overcomes 20-point deficit to stun Terrapins
Along with Crooks’ dominant game, the Cyclones showcased their ability not to let a big deficit end the season they have had, as Iowa State overcame a 20-point Maryland lead.
This comeback win also set NCAA Tournament history, as the Cyclones now hold the second-largest comeback by any team in the NCAA women’s basketball tournament history.
Guard Emily Ryan showcased her ability to provide a big-time presence when needed the most, as she finished her day with 18 points and 14 assists in a team-high 37 minutes played.
Ryan was also one of the main reasons for Iowa State’s 3-point turnaround, as in the first half, the Cyclones shot 2-for-10 from beyond the arc. In the second half, Iowa State went 7-for-12 from 3-point range, which added another factor to the Cyclones’ comeback win.
That brought Iowa State to a 9-for-22 3-point shooting performance, with Ryan going perfect in her three attempts from beyond the arc. The other six makes from beyond the arc came from guard Hannah Belanger, who finished the day with 10 points, guard Kelsey Joens who came off the bench to score 12 points and forward Nyamer Diew who also contributed off the bench with eight points.
Cyclones advance to Round of 32
With its win, Iowa State can finally take a breath and celebrate the team’s miraculous win before having to play its next game in the NCAA Tournament.
Having a game to experience the pace of play in an NCAA Tournament game is something not a lot of teams get to have, as this young Cyclone team will now look to continue their tournament run.
Iowa State now moves into the Round of 32 and awaits the winner of the Norfolk State/Stanford game. Barring a massive upset, the Cyclones can assume that they will most likely take on Stanford on its home court Sunday.
It will be a tall task for Iowa State to achieve if all stands true going into Sunday’s predicted matchup against Stanford. But for now, the Cyclones can take the night and celebrate a massive tournament win that only adds to the team’s extraordinary season.
