AMES — Iowa State relied heavily on inside scoring in its 71-58 win over Texas Tech for its third straight win on Tuesday night.
Sophomore center Audi Crooks got back on track with 28 points after having a season-low 11 points against Arizona. Sophomore forward Addy Brown contributed 21 points of her own as the two were the lone Cyclones in double figures.
The win tacks on the Cyclones’ fourth in Big 12 play, helping them climb to sixth in the conference. Overall, Iowa State is 13-6, with 10 wins coming at home.
Two former Cyclones started for Texas Tech, but Jalynn Bristow and Denae Fritz were contained by the Cyclone defense and held to eight combined points.
Despite the big win, Iowa State finished the game empty-handed from beyond the arc, which hasn’t happened since 1995 in a game against Colorado. The Cyclones attempted a season-low seven 3-pointers against Texas Tech, but 50% shooting and 75% from the free-throw line propelled them to a win.
“We didn’t have a ton of great looks from the 3,” head coach Bill Fennelly said. “I think we ran two plays the whole night to get one. I really don’t care. I know that’s a big deal for many people, I don’t really care,” “So if you told me the choice is to figure out a way to shoot a 3 or throw it to [Crooks] or [Brown], the ball’s going to [Crooks] or [Brown].”
After knocking down 10 3s in each of the past two wins, the Cyclones showed some versatility by picking up a large win without having even one.
“I think it says a lot about our players. It says a lot about my assistant coaches,” Fennelly said. “Everyone looks at us and goes, ‘Well, all they do is shoot the three, and they don’t guard anyone.’ Well, you didn’t watch the game tonight then because we guarded our asses off, and we played the game in a way to win the game.”
Iowa State had been leaning on some others to get some buckets during its road stand in Arizona, but had no trouble finding the stars in Crooks and Brown against the Red Raider defense.
“When we were playing Arizona State, it was a 3-point shooters game, and that’s fine by me,” Crooks said. “When he calls my name and calls my number and says this is going to be a paint-touch-heavy night, then that’s what it’s going to be.”
The streak of hitting a 3-point shot ends at 945 for Iowa State, an NCAA record. The Cyclones are not too worried about it, though, as they focus on winning basketball games. With players like Crooks and Brown, who score many points in the paint, triples are not always the best option.
“We’re historically known for shooting the 3. I was a little upset when I heard about it,” Brown said. “I’d like to keep the streak going but again, we took what they gave us and that wasn’t the 3-point shot tonight. So that’s kind of how it goes.”
Iowa State only made field goals from the paint, getting them to 50 points, and the ability to draw fouls gave them 21 points from the charity stripe.
“Sorry, but also not. The streak is cool but at the same time we’re able to win basketball games by only scoring in the paint and from the free throw line,” Crooks said. “21 points from the free throw line? Are you kidding me? That’s crazy.”
Crooks tried her shot at a 3-pointer late in the game to try and prevent the record from ending, but could not keep the streak alive.
“I realized how open I was and took a second, looked at the basket and let it fly. In and out. So close y’all, so close,” Crooks said. “I did not realize [the record], I thought they just wanted me to shoot the 3-ball because I never do it.
The Cyclones won comfortably against the nameless, faceless opponent in the Red Raiders and have built some momentum heading into a tougher stretch of games, starting with a matchup against No. 20 West Virginia on Sunday.
