HOUSTON — Ten days without a game showed early. Ten minutes were all No. 10 Iowa State needed to remind everyone who it is.
Shaking off dust, absorbing resistance and eventually asserting its identity, Iowa State pulled away from the Houston Cougars for an 80-62 road win on Wednesday that pushed the Cyclones to 14-0 overall and 2-0 in Big 12 play, tying the best start in program history.
The opening minutes were uneven. Jada Williams injected energy with five quick points, but Iowa State’s timing lagged and Addy Brown misfired on her first five shots. Even so, Brown influenced the game in quieter ways finding shooters, feeding Audi Crooks on the block, and keeping the offense functional while it searched for rhythm.
When Houston found momentum late in the first quarter, Iowa State answered like a veteran team. A 10-0 Cyclone run flipped the script, punctuated by a timely basket from Reagan Wilson and a late three from Sydney Harris that restored control and sent Iowa State into the second quarter with a 17-14 edge.
From there, Williams took ownership of the afternoon.
By the midpoint of the second quarter, she had already piled up 11 points, three rebounds, and three assists, pushing pace and dictating terms. Each time Houston edged closer, Iowa State answered — most notably with back-to-back threes from Brown and Arianna Jackson that created breathing room. The Cyclones closed the half with an 8-0 run, stretching the lead to 45-31 and quieting the Fertitta Center.
Seven first-half three-pointers fueled the surge. Jackson and Harris each knocked down two. Williams went to the locker room with 13 points and six assists. And Crooks, operating with calm inevitability, posted a double-double before halftime — 16 points on 8-of-12 shooting and 10 rebounds.
The third quarter was less about separation and more about control. Iowa State never fully sprinted away, but it never loosened its grip, either. Despite foul trouble for Brown and Kenzie Hare, the Cyclones maintained a steady cushion, leading 54-42 late in the period and 61-46 entering the fourth.
Then Crooks closed the door.
With her fifth straight 20-point performance already secured, Crooks elevated again in the final quarter, scoring with power, patience, and precision. She finished with 35 points and 13 rebounds on 17-of-21 shooting, extending her remarkable streak to five consecutive games of 30 or more points.
Around her, the Cyclones’ growth was evident. Arianna Jackson’s shooting continued to stretch Houston’s defense. Alisa Williams provided composed, high-level minutes that underscored her development from last season to this one. Jada Williams completed a virtuoso performance with 16 points and 14 assists, orchestrating every phase of the game.
