AMES — No. 8 Iowa State won its fifth home game of the season against in-state rival Drake University, thanks to a last-minute shot by Audi Crooks that sealed the win with a score of 80-78.

The first minutes of the game were a success offensively for Drake, as the Bulldogs started with a 5-0 lead due to consistently missed jumpers and 3-pointers from the Iowa State starting lineup. 

Quickly warming up to Drake’s offensive skills, the Cyclones quickly caught up with guard Kenzie Hare making the first points of the game, with a successful 3-point shot marking her 10th of the season. 

The first quarter was a consistent possession battle but the Cyclones fought and ended the first quarter with a successful 3-point shot taken by forward Addy Brown giving Iowa State a 3-point lead to end the first quarter.

Iowa State quickly got into the swing of things and gained its biggest lead of 10. The Cyclones’ quick defensive rebounds created many fast break-point opportunities for the team, along with a lack of defense on Crooks. The team thrived on points in the paint due to Crooks’ availability at the low post. 

Despite the Bulldogs drilling baskets in the last minutes of the second quarter, the Cyclones still pulled away with a one-point lead, as Iowa State went into halftime 45-44.

Still keeping the defense strong, Iowa State limited opportunities in the third quarter, which came to its advantage as it ended with a five-point advantage, 67-62.

Even with a shortening lead in the fourth quarter, the Cyclones continued to battle. However, their softening defense led to a stronger shooting pattern for the Bulldogs as they pulled away with their 3-pointers. 

With 12 seconds left on the clock and a 78-78 score, a last-minute jump shot by Crooks, passed from Brown, sealed the game win at 80-78.

“[Crooks] and [Brown] just showed enough poise in that moment to get the ball and [Crooks] made the shot,” Iowa State head coach Bill Fennelly said.

Iowa State guards limit Drake’s strong offense 

Going into the game, it was quickly noticeable that Drake’s offense was going to be a tight struggle for the Cyclones. Senior guard Katie Dinnebier was the Bulldogs’ strongest shooter with a total of 39 points. However, top Cyclone defender Arianna Jackson was able to limit Dinnebier’s shots, as she created many turnovers which contributed to 30% of Iowa State’s shots. 

“They hit some hard shots and that’s what good players do,” Fennelly said. “In the biggest of moments, they hit hard shots because anyone could make an easy on. But I thought [Jackson] did really well.”

Jackson’s strong defense earned her a team-high of four personal fouls. However, it became beneficial in the end as she ended with a team-high of three steals and added six points, two rebounds and two assists.

Not only was Jackson a strong contribution to the Cyclones’ defense but Hare and senior guard Emily Ryan put up both strong defensive battles against Drake. Ryan ended the game with 11 points and 12 assists, giving her a double-double, and contributed six rebounds, five of which were defensive and two steals.

“Coach [Fennelly] always says that if shots are not going in, you have to get stopped so that you can stay in the game,” Ryan said. “So that’s what we did tonight and just kept coming back every single time, because it’s not always going to be pretty, there’s going to be mistakes. Basketball is a game of mistakes, so just how you respond to those is going to determine that one game.”

Hare earned herself the second-team high of three personal fouls due to her aggressive nature. However, her hard-put-up defensive battle earned her one steal, three defensive rebounds and 10 points.

Despite the guards building a strong defensive structure, Brown was an aggressive rebounder as she ended the game with a team-high of eight rebounds, all of which were defensive. Brown took her opponents one-on-one to the basket, which earned her one block, four turnovers and two steals.

Crooks’ shots lead the team to victory

Despite having a rough first half due to the presented double teaming by Drake, prohibiting Crooks from scoring, she still managed to make eight out of her 13 attempted shots off the glass.

However, after the first quarter, Crooks made a quick turnaround and used different offensive moves to succeed in the tough battles that were presented in the paint and scored 18 points in the first half. Crooks and the team’s success in the paint contributed to 57% of the team’s overall score.

Crooks once again became a reliable player at the low post, as she was able to maneuver past the double teaming present from Drake. 

However in the fourth quarter, with 12 seconds left on the clock and a 78-78 score, Crooks’ reliable nature came in handy as she secured a last-minute basket that gave Iowa State its fifth home win and first win against an in-state rival this season.

“The ball game in, I set a pindown screen for Addy Brown and It was her choice to either shoot it or throw it in,” Crooks said. “She threw it in and it went in a bucket.”

“Everyone in that gym saw where that ball was going, it was going to [Crooks],” Ryan said. “We have full confidence in her and she puts the work in. So that’s exactly why we want her to have the ball and she just does the rest.”

Crooks’ efficient scoring, earned her the team high of 33 points as she made 15 of her attempted 25 field goal shots.