The Iowa State Cyclones women's basketball team secured an 81-53 victory over Northern Iowa on Dec. 14 at Hilton Coliseum, completing a perfect non-conference schedule despite missing several key players to injuries. Star center Audi Crooks was sidelined with a head injury sustained in the prior game against Iowa, while guard Evangelia Paulk dealt with a neck issue and freshman Reese Beaty nursed a foot injury. Coach Bill Fennelly prioritized player safety in the win.
AMES — The No. 10 Iowa State Cyclones wrapped up their non-conference slate undefeated, defeating Northern Iowa 81-53 on Sunday afternoon. The game highlighted the team's depth, as they managed without leading scorer Audi Crooks and other contributors.
Crooks, who leads the nation with 27.8 points per game and 306 total points through 11 games, missed the matchup due to a head injury from the Dec. 10 win over No. 12 Iowa. She has shot over 72% from the field this season and holds Iowa State's single-game scoring records with 43 and 47 points in separate outings. 'She got hit in the head in the Iowa game,' coach Bill Fennelly said postgame. 'Our medical staff is phenomenal, we're not taking any chances. ... We'll probably know more by the end of the week.' Crooks is progressing through return-to-play protocol and could return soon.
Paulk, a key bench player averaging 1.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 0.9 steals in 11.6 minutes per game across all 11 contests, was out with a mild soft-tissue injury affecting her neck. Fennelly noted the medical staff believed she may have slept awkwardly, adding, 'My guess is she'll be OK.'
Freshman Reese Beaty also sat out with a foot injury, further testing the rotation. Despite the absences, Iowa State controlled the game from start to finish, showcasing their resilience ahead of Big 12 play.
