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PROVO — BYU women's basketball had no answer Saturday night for Iowa State freshman standout Audi Crooks.
Crooks set an Iowa State season scoring record by a freshman Saturday with 18 points on 8-of-12 shooting, nine rebounds and three assists, and Emily Ryan scored 22 points with six assists as the Cyclones rolled to a 74-49 win over BYU at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa.
Hannah Belanger scored 17 points for Iowa State (16-10, 10-6 Big 12).
Lauren Gustin poured in 22 points, 11 rebounds and two assists for BYU (15-14, 5-11 Big 12) for her nation-high 27th double-double of the season.
Amari Whiting added 16 points, four rebounds and three assists as the Cougars shot just 31.1% from the field and 5-of-23 from 3-point range in their third consecutive loss.
In the first-ever meeting between the two teams at Hilton Coliseum, Iowa State held the Cougars to just 4-of-13 shooting en route to a 20-9 first-quarter advantage and never trailed from there.
"We've been in a lot of really close games, and a lot of it happens because we start slow and get in a deficit," Crooks said. "We just came out, shot out of a cannon, and got right into it."
toughhh @laurengus10
— BYU Women's Hoops (@byuwbb) February 25, 2024
watch on ESPN+ | https://t.co/wst5NInLcBpic.twitter.com/4aJT5SVcWQ
The Cougars didn't score for the final 2:09 of the first quarter, and Crooks doubled up the Cyclones lead 22-11 with a jumper less than a minute into the second quarter. Whiting hit her second 3-pointer with 5:44 left in the half to cut the deficit to 10 points.
But Crooks had 12 points before the break, and Addi Brown added six rebounds and four assists as Iowa State shot 55% from the field and held BYU to 12-of-33 for a 35-27 halftime advantage.
Gustin had 10 points, six rebounds and two assists, and Whiting added 10 points, three rebounds and two assists in the first half for the Cougars.
But BYU couldn't contain Crooks, who had 13 points and nine rebounds in the two teams' first meeting, and Ryan scored 15 of her team-high 22 points in the second half as the Cyclones led by as much as 74-46 with an 18-5 final period.
"I think today was as good as we've done in regards to scouting report defense," Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly said. "We wanted to chase shooters off the 3-point line. We wanted to make Whiting, who I think is going to be a great player in this league … have to shoot the ball a little bit and double a bit. And with Gustin, the kid is as advertised, but the goal was to make her hit some tough shots, don't foul her a lot, and don't let her get her own rebound.
"All four of the defensive things we tried to do, we did. That's how you win games."
The Cougars return home Wednesday to host Houston. Senior night festivities honoring Gustin and fellow senior Kaylee Smiler will begin before the 7 p.m. MST tipoff on ESPN+.
