Iowa State center Audi Crooks (55) celebrates with teammate forward Addy Brown, right, after an NCAA college basketball game against Baylor, Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. Iowa State won 66-63. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

AMES — Audi Crooks is used to setting records, but she is also quick to deflect recognition.

For the first time In Iowa State women’s basketball history, Crooks is the first Cyclone freshman to be named Big 12 Player of the Week.

“Being the first freshman named Big 12 player of the week feels great,” Crooks said. “I believe that it reflects heavily on the success of the team and I just hope to continue producing and impacting our collective success.”

The weekly honor is coupled with Crooks’ two Big 12 freshman of the week accolades as Iowa State jumps into the AP Poll at No. 24.

“The rankings don’t change a thing for us,” Crooks said. “We’ve always known what we’re capable of doing and we’re starting to turn some heads.”

Crooks, a Bishop Garrigan graduate, who is the daughter of the late Fort Dodge graduate Jimmie Crooks and Michelle (Vitzthum) Cook, had a big week for the Cyclones.

She led the Cyclones to a pair of victories over Top-25 foes. Crooks had her second career double-double, scoring 22 points with 11 rebounds as the Cyclones rallied from 19-points down in the third quarter to beat No. 24 West Virginia (74-64).

“It felt great to beat two ranked teams, especially in Hilton,” Crooks said. “It just shows what we’ve known all along, we’re here to compete.”

The freshman center hit a go-ahead basket with 24 seconds left, which stood as the game-winner, capping a 23-point performance against then No. 4 Baylor (66-63).

“Beating a team like Baylor was huge, having a battle like that forced us to evaluate ourselves and really dig deep to pull off that win,” Crooks said. “And now we know what we’re capable of when we play with and for each other.”

It is the first time since Feb. 2023 that a Cyclone has earned the league’s top-honor.

Crooks averaged 22.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and shot 57.6 percent from the floor.

The 2023 Miss Iowa Basketball leads Iowa State this season with 16.7 points per game while shooting a Division-I freshman best 61.5 percent from the floor. In conference play she is averaging 18 a game and 7.8 rebounds.