Iowa State Rallies Past Indiana in High-Scoring Women’s Basketball Showdown

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Interstat) — In a high-octane offensive showcase that defied pregame expectations, the Iowa State women’s basketball team remained undefeated Sunday, outlasting Indiana 106 to 95 in a nonconference matchup at Florida SouthWestern State.

The game, which featured a combined 201 points, was a stark contrast to the defensive struggle anticipated by oddsmakers, easily surpassing an over/under line set at 139.5. The victory pushed Iowa State’s record to a perfect 9-0, while handing Indiana its first loss of the season, dropping the Hoosiers to 7-1.

The contest was a tale of remarkable efficiency, particularly from the Cyclones, who scored 106 points on just 78 possessions for an elite offensive rating of 135.4. Indiana was also highly effective offensively, posting 95 points on 77 possessions for a 123.6 rating, but could not keep pace with Iowa State’s scorching shooting from the field.

Iowa State’s offense was a model of precision, connecting on 39 of 61 field goal attempts, a blistering 63.9 percent. Indiana shot a respectable 50.8 percent, making 32 of 63 shots, but the Cyclones’ ability to score inside and capitalize on free throws proved decisive.

The game was a duel of standout individual performances, led by Iowa State center Audi Crooks. The 6-foot-3 sophomore from Algona, Iowa, was virtually unstoppable, pouring in a game-high 47 points on remarkably efficient shooting. She added 4 rebounds and 2 assists in 32 minutes of action, anchoring the Cyclones’ offensive attack from the post.

She was complemented masterfully by point guard Jada Williams, who orchestrated the offense with a double-double of 23 points and 11 assists. Addy Brown, a 6-foot-2 forward from Derby, Kansas, also recorded a double-double with 17 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 blocks, providing a crucial all-around effort.

For Indiana, guard Shay Ciezki of Buffalo, New York, kept her team in the game with a spectacular 38-point outburst. Lenée Beaumont added 19 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists for the Hoosiers.

The first quarter set the tone for the shootout, ending in a 24-24 deadlock. Iowa State began to create separation before halftime, outscoring Indiana 22-19 in the second period to take a 46-43 lead into the break.

The Cyclones broke the game open in the third quarter, exploding for 29 points while holding Indiana to 25, extending their lead to seven points. They put the game firmly out of reach with their highest-scoring quarter in the fourth, racking up 31 points to Indiana’s 27 to seal the double-digit victory.

While the three-point shooting was relatively even, with Iowa State making 6 of 14 and Indiana hitting 8 of 25, the Cyclones dominated in the paint and at the foul line. Iowa State attempted 28 free throws, making 22, while Indiana was nearly perfect but less frequent, making 23 of 25 attempts.

The game was remarkably clean, with Iowa State committing just 9 turnovers and Indiana giving the ball away only 8 times. Indiana held slight edges in offensive rebounds, assists and steals, but it was not enough to counter Iowa State’s overwhelming offensive execution.

Iowa State, which entered the game as a 9.5-point favorite, now looks ahead to a home game against Northern Illinois on Dec. 7. Indiana, which according to Interstat’s ELO system had a 51.2 percent probability to win pregame, will return home to face Western Michigan on Wednesday.