Crooks Pushes ISU Past Maryland in First Round

STANFORD, California – Iowa State (21-11, 12-6 Large 12) continues to bop, downing Maryland (19-14, 9-9 Large Ten) in dramatic trend, rallying again after being down by 20 to cement the seven-point victory of 93-86 within the first spherical of the NCAA Event. It’s the second-largest comeback in NCAA Ladies’s Championship historical past. Audi Crooks put up an all-time efficiency as she broke 5 Iowa State data on the evening with 40 factors at 90 %.

The comeback stands one level behind the most important, the place Texas A&M defeated Penn in 2017 within the first spherical. Iowa State fell behind by as a lot as 20 within the second quarter on account of Maryland taking pictures at 60 % from the sector together with at 9-of-13 from deep, however Iowa State got here alive within the second half outscoring Maryland 57-34. Crooks shot completely within the ultimate two quarters with 10 photographs, totaling 22 second-half factors. Her ultimate line stood at 40 factors (18-of-20 taking pictures), 12 rebounds and two blocks.

Crooks downed the NCAA Championships single-game ISU level report (40), area objectives made (18), area objective share (.900) together with the freshman single-game all-time report. Crooks additionally took down the freshman free throw report of 106 set by Jayme Olson within the 1994-95 season, now making the report 110. Crooks level complete is the fourth-highest single-game complete of any sport in program historical past, simply the fourth 40-point sport for a Cyclone.

The freshman is the second participant in ladies’s or males’s NCAA Championships historical past to attain 40-plus factors with no less than 90 % taking pictures, becoming a member of the corporate of Invoice Walton who achieved the feat within the 1973 title sport for UCLA. Crooks’ 40 factors is probably the most by any participant in her first profession NCAA Event sport courting again to 2000. The subsequent most over that span is 39 by Elena Delle Donne on March 18, 2012. It’s also probably the most by any freshman in any NCAA Event sport since 2000.

The 40 factors ties the Large 12 NCAA Championships report, matching Brittney Griner’s complete set within the 2011 Regional Semifinal.

Emily Ryan totaled 18 factors with 15 within the second half, additionally notching a double-double with 14 assists. It’s her sixth double-figure assists sport and second with 14 this season. Kelsey Joens (12) and Hannah Belanger (10) totaled 4 Cyclones with 10-plus factors.

The way it Occurred

Maryland hit 4 early 3-pointers on its method to a double-digit lead of 18-8 4 minutes into the competition. Out of the primary media timeout, Ryan hit a 3-pointer to trim the deficit to 5 at 20-15. Each groups shot over 50 % within the opening quarter, however Maryland shot at 70.6 % to take a 33-20 lead into the second.

Crooks entered double figures to start the quarter whereas Maryland adopted to discover a lead of 16. ISU would then take the following seven in a run together with a steal and driving layup by Nyamer Diew to chop the result in 9 (38-29) with 4:49 on the clock. The Terrapins’ Allie Kubek remained good along with her fifth 3-pointer within the midst of a 10-0 run, making a 48-29 benefit with slightly below two minutes within the half. Belanger hit a 3 within the ultimate minute, however Maryland took a 16-point lead (52-36) into halftime.

Belanger drained a deep shot proper because the second half kicked off, and Ryan hit one other on the Cyclones subsequent journey down the court docket. A Ryan layup then introduced the sport inside 9 at 55-46 with 7:52 on the clock. The Cyclones continued sinking photographs past the arc as Joens netted the third of the body at 6:17, making it 57-49 as Maryland known as a timeout. The Cyclones saved pushing, tying it at 59 after Joens made it a run of 10 with a triple. Crooks then gave ISU a one-point edge at 64-63 to tie her profession excessive of 29 factors. The rating stood at 66-66 headed into the ultimate quarter.

Belanger netted her third shot from deep to place the Cyclones up by three with 8:50 left to play. Crooks crossed over the 30-point barrier whereas Ryan adopted that up with a 3, her third, to make it a 76-72 Cyclone benefit. The run continued to seven straight as ISU led 78-72 on the halfway level of the fourth. At 2:10 Crooks broke the NCAA Championships ISU single-game report along with her thirty seventh level as ISU went up 87-82. The Cyclones held on, sealing the historic comeback forward by seven.

Prime Efficiency

Audi Crooks had a profession evening with an all-time greatest 40 factors and 12 rebounds, her eighth double-double. Crooks totaled her thirty first double determine level sport in a row. It was the freshman’s seventeenth 20-plus level sport and fifth in a row, whereas crushing her earlier profession excessive of 29 factors.

Notes

• Iowa State ladies’s basketball’s all-time report moved to 848-664 (.561).
• Head coach Invoice Fennelly‘s profession report moved to 777-365 (.681). His Iowa State report is now 611-312 (.662) total.
• The Cyclones are 22-21 within the NCAA Event all-time. Coach Fennelly has been on the helm for all 22 event wins for Iowa State and has an NCAA Event profession report of 24-24.
• Iowa State recorded the second-largest comeback in NCAA Event historical past, rallying from down 20 to win. It’s the second comeback of 16 factors or extra for the Cyclones (19, vs. No. 24 West Virginia, 74-64).
• With Emily Ryan’s 3-pointer within the first quarter, Iowa State has now recorded a triple in an NCAA ladies’s basketball report 926 consecutive video games.
• Emily Ryan has recorded an help in each collegiate sport she has performed in. Right this moment, she completed with 14 assists, shifting her profession complete to 778. She has posted 5 or extra assists in a single sport 17 occasions this season and 85 occasions in her profession.
• Her assists complete at present ties her season greatest and in addition moved her NCAA Championships profession complete to 53, the all-time greatest by a Cyclone within the fewest variety of video games (7).
• Ryan’s 14 assists match the sixth-best all-time for Iowa State in a single sport and owns Iowa State’s high NCAA Championships single-game report.
• Audi Crooks recorded simply the fourth 40-point efficiency in program historical past with 40 factors on 18-of-20 taking pictures from the ground.
• Crooks’ complete matched the highest factors complete by a Large 12 participant in an NCAA Event sport (Brittney Griner, 40, 2011).
• Crooks additionally set Iowa State NCAA Event single-game data for factors (40), made area objectives (18) and area objective share (.900).
• Crooks set the Iowa State freshman report without spending a dime throws made in a season along with her first make from the road. Her season complete of 107 broke Jayme Olson’s better of 106 in 1994-95.
• With 18 area objectives tonight, Audi Crooks broke Iowa State’s all-time single-season made area objectives complete along with her 255^th bucket of the yr. She bested Bridget Carleton’s 254 makes in 2018-19.
• Hannah Belanger has made a 3-pointer in 20-straight video games. She completed her day with 10 factors on three triples.

Up Subsequent

The Cyclones transfer on to the second spherical of the NCAA Championship and can face the winner of the Stanford vs. Norfolk State sport on Sunday, March 24. The time and community will probably be introduced sooner or later.