For a moment, Hilton Coliseum went quiet.
With now-No. 10 Iowa State leading Mercyhurst 8-2 in the opening minutes on Sunday, star center Audi Crooks collapsed to the floor, grabbing at her leg, sending a ripple of unease through the building. The Cyclones’ undefeated start – and perhaps their season trajectory – suddenly felt fragile.
But just minutes later, Crooks emerged from the tunnel. The scare passed quickly. The dominance that followed did not.
Mercyhurst arrived in Ames averaging well under 50 points per game, but the Lakers came out firing, refusing to wilt against a ranked opponent. Iowa State’s early jitters and Mercyhurst’s hot shooting produced a surprising 17-17 deadlock at the under-5 timeout. Crooks returned to score through contact and converted an and-one chance, helping the Cyclones edge ahead 26-24 after one quarter.
For a brief stretch, the Lakers looked nothing like their usual low-scoring selves. They were nearly halfway to their typical output after just 10 minutes.
It didn’t last.
Cyclones break the game open
Iowa State opened the second quarter with a 9-0 run, turning a tight matchup into a mismatch. The Cyclones’ length, pace and physicality overwhelmed the overmatched visitors, who managed only nine points in the entire quarter.
Addy Brown added to the surge by attacking inside, drawing fouls and pushing the lead to double digits as Iowa State’s depth took over. By halftime, the Cyclones had outscored Mercyhurst 32-9 in the period and built a commanding 58-33 advantage.
Crooks dominates in her return
Any concerns about Crooks’ early injury scare vanished as soon as the second half began. The center asserted herself in the paint, finishing around the rim with ease and sealing off defenders who couldn’t match her size or touch.
By the 6:56 mark of the third quarter, Iowa State led 71-33 and had outscored Mercyhurst 45-9 since the end of the first. Crooks reached 27 points in just 22 minutes, her night effectively complete after the Cyclones pushed the lead to 89-43 entering the fourth.
Cyclones close it out
The fourth quarter was a formality as Iowa State’s reserves carried the Cyclones across the finish line, piling up points in transition and on second-chance looks.
When the final horn sounded, Iowa State secured a 112-62 win, moving to 7-0 on the season.
Arianna Jackson chipped in 12 points, while Addy Brown narrowly missed a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds. The Cyclones’ pace, passing and inside presence proved overwhelming once the early adrenaline settled.
