Iowa State vs No. 4 Baylor | Big 12 | 1.13.24

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State vs Baylor

Video Credit: ‪@KCCI‬ & ‪@rogerriley1‬
Song Credit : ‪@TrapMusicNow‬ (LET IT SNOW! LET IT SNOW! (OFFICIAL TRAP REMIX))

For the second time in the last four days, Iowa State (12-4, 5-0 Big 12) took down a Top 25 opponent, as the Cyclones beat No. 4 Baylor (14-2, 3-2 Big 12) 66-63 at Hilton Coliseum.

Despite the weather, Iowa State fans came through, making Hilton Coliseum the home of yet another win over a ranked team. It's the team's highest win over a ranked opponent since knocking off second-ranked Baylor in 2020. It is also the first time Iowa State has had back-to-back ranked wins since 2009-2010. The victory was Iowa State's ninth Top 5 win in school history and the 18th Top 10 win.

Audi Crooks punished the Bears all afternoon, as the freshman from Algona finished with a game-high 23 points to go along with six rebounds. Crooks was a major reason the Cyclones won the points in the paint battle, as ISU outscored Baylor 36-24. It marked the second-straight 20-point game for the phenomenal in-state freshman.

Hannah Belanger also had a solid afternoon for the Clones, scoring 15 points and canning three triples to go along with a pair of clutch free throws. Freshman Addy Brown just missed out on another double-double, finishing with nine points and 11 rebounds to go along with a career-high six steals. Her six steals are the most by any Cyclone since teammate Emily Ryan had nine against Omaha in 2021.

Both teams were ferocious on defense as each team finished above its season average for turnovers, with the Cyclones forcing 17 Baylor giveaways. Iowa State held BU to just 27 percent from beyond the arc and took advantage of the Bears' turnovers, converting them into 21 points.

Dre'una Edwards led the Bears in scoring, finishing with 19 points, while Jada Walker had 14 and a game-high six assists. It was the second-straight loss for the Bears, as they also lost their previous bout at Kansas by 21 points.

How It Happened:

After ISU jumped out to a 10-5 lead a little under five minutes into the game, Baylor regained the momentum, taking an 11-10 lead at the 4:16 mark of the first quarter and would hold the advantage until late in the fourth.

The Baylor advantage went away with a Crooks lay-in with three minutes left in the contest. The Bears eventually wrestled back control, taking a one-point lead with 30 seconds left. Iowa State called timeout following the free throws and set up a play to get the ball back to Crooks.

Out of the timeout, the ball found Brown who fed her fellow freshman, Crooks, who backed down the Baylor defender and finished through contact to draw an and-one and give ISU the lead with 24 seconds left.

A defensive stop from the Cyclones and a pair of free throws from Belanger gave Iowa State a three-point lead with 10 seconds left. The Bears had one final possession which ended in an airballed 3-pointer and Iowa State celebrated another ranked home-win in Hilton.

Iowa State led for just six minutes in the game, both starting the game and finishing the game strong.

Top Performers:

Emily Ryan was an unsung hero for the Cyclones today. When the Bears countered Iowa State's early lead with pressure, Ryan came in and steadied the ship before helping close out the game. Ryan stuffed the stat sheet, finishing with nine points, three rebounds and four assists.

Up Next:

Iowa State will be back in action next Wednesday, Jan. 17, when it hits the road to take on Texas Tech in Lubbock. Wednesday's game is set to tip off at 6 p.m. and will be broadcast on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.