MANHATTAN, Kan. (Interstat) — In a game defined by a singular, unstoppable force in the paint, the Iowa State women’s basketball team rode a historic performance from center Audi Crooks to a decisive 93-79 victory over Kansas State on Sunday at Bramlage Coliseum.

Crooks, a 6-foot-3 sophomore from Algona, Iowa, was simply dominant, scoring a career-high 41 points on remarkably efficient shooting. She made 16 of her 20 attempts from the field and was a perfect 9-for-9 from the free-throw line, overpowering the Wildcats’ interior defense for 30 minutes of action. Her performance anchored an Iowa State offense that, despite significant ball-security issues, proved too potent for the home team.

The Cyclones, who improved to 22-8 overall and avenged a narrow loss to Kansas State earlier in the month, set the tone with a blistering first quarter, scoring 26 points to take a four-point lead. While Kansas State battled back in the second period, trimming the deficit to just 43-42 at halftime behind balanced scoring and capitalizing on Iowa State’s turnovers, the Cyclones reclaimed control after the break.

The third quarter proved to be the decisive stretch. Iowa State erupted for 28 points, with Crooks scoring 12 in the period. The Cyclones opened the half on a 12-3 run, stretching their lead to double digits and never allowing Kansas State to get closer than six points the rest of the way. They matched that 28-point output in the fourth quarter to seal the win, consistently answering any potential Wildcat rally with a basket from Crooks or backcourt partner Jada Williams.

Williams provided the perfect complement to Crooks’ interior mastery. The guard from Kansas City, Missouri, scored 23 points and dished out nine assists, repeatedly finding Crooks in advantageous positions and adding crucial perimeter scoring of her own. Addy Brown contributed seven points, three assists, and three blocks, providing key defensive resistance.

For Kansas State, which fell to 15-16, the loss highlighted a season-long struggle to find consistent stops. Despite forcing 24 Iowa State turnovers and converting them into 15 steals, the Wildcats could not contain Crooks. Gina Garcia, the sophomore from Barcelona, Spain, recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 assists. Jordan Speiser added 17 points, while Tess Heal scored 16 and Taryn Sides chipped in 11. The Wildcats shot just 37.1% from the field and were outrebounded 36-30, with Iowa State grabbing 10 offensive boards to their four.

The statistical disparity told the story of Iowa State’s offensive efficiency overcoming its sloppiness. The Cyclones shot 52.5% from the floor and a near-perfect 95.8% (23 of 24) from the foul line. Kansas State, while hitting 12 three-pointers to Iowa State’s six, could not keep pace inside the arc. Iowa State’s offensive rating of 107.6 points per 100 possessions dwarfed Kansas State’s 91.3, illustrating the chasm in offensive execution.

The game’s most important sequence occurred early in the third quarter. Holding a slim one-point halftime lead, Iowa State came out of the locker room with clear purpose. Crooks scored on a layup off an Addy Brown assist, and after a Kansas State turnover, Mackenzie Hare buried a three-pointer from a Jada Williams pass. Following another Wildcat miss, Crooks converted another Williams assist into a layup, capping a 7-0 run in just over 90 seconds that forced a Kansas State timeout. This burst established a working margin that Kansas State, despite its persistent defensive pressure, could never fully erase, as Crooks continued to score at will whenever the Wildcats threatened.

The victory solidifies Iowa State’s position heading into the postseason, showcasing an elite offensive weapon in Crooks. For Kansas State, the defeat concludes a challenging regular season, with the Wildcats needing a strong run in the upcoming Big 12 tournament to extend their year. A crowd of 7,423 watched the regular-season finale for both teams.