Iowa State women open with Syracuse

By DANA BECKER

dbecker@messengernews.net

STORRS, Conn. — Audi Crooks and the Iowa State women look to continue marching forward when they take on Syracuse on Saturday in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Tip is set for 4:30 p.m. Central from the Gampel Pavillion with the game airing live on ESPN2.

The Cyclones (22-9 overall) are led by Crooks, a former all-stater at Bishop Garrigan who earned multiple All-American honors this past season. She has scored in double figures in 97 consecutive games, averaging 25.5 points and almost eight rebounds.

Crooks is shooting 65 percent from the field.

Jada Williams adds 15 points and Addy Brown 12 with nine rebounds and five assists a night.

Syracuse (23-8) is paced by Uche Izoje, as the 6-foot-3 freshman leads the Orange at 15.5 points and over nine rebounds a game. Laila Phelia, a transfer who played at both Michigan and Texas, adds 14 points while former USC and UCLA guard Dominique Darius chips in 12.6 points per contest.

This marks just the third meeting all-time between Iowa State and Syracuse, as the the Orange have won both prior games. Syracuse eliminated the Cyclones in the 2017 NCAA Tournament, 85-65, and posted an 81-69 victory in 2023 during an event in Las Vegas.

Awaiting the winner is likely top-seed Connecticut, as the unbeaten Huskies face UTSA in the opening game of the Fort Worth 1 regional.