STANFORD, Calif. – Iowa State women’s basketball player Audi Crooks was still fighting back tears after Sunday’s season-ending loss to Stanford in the second round of the NCAA Tournament when she sat down for a quick interview.
Crooks grabbed a spot in the back of Maples Pavilion and began to smile as she talked about the future of the program and the following season.
“We have a lot of potential and we have a lot more work to do and this ain’t the last of us,” Crooks said. “You’re going to see us again.”
Crooks’ prediction didn’t seem bold after the season she and the Cyclones put together. Iowa State became one of the biggest surprise stories of the women’s basketball season, compiling 21 victories, reaching the championship game of the Big 12 Tournament and advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. But it all ended with an 87-81 loss to Stanford in overtime Sunday evening. That, though, may be just the beginning.
“You’ll see us the next three years,” said Iowa State freshman Jalynn Bristow.
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The Cyclones began the season with few expectations, having to lean on five freshmen and two transfers to carry them through what was supposed to be a rebuilding season. The hope was that Iowa State, with some time and experience, would once again turn into a Big 12 contender and return to the NCAA Tournament.
But the Cyclones, time after time, shocked those who followed the team. They knocked off Baylor, swept Kansas State and finished the regular season fourth in the Big 12. The Cyclones beat Baylor again in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Tournament and took down top seed Oklahoma in the semifinals before falling to Texas in the championship game.
When they reached the NCAA Tournament, they continued to open people’s eyes. They overcame a 20-point deficit to Maryland in the first round of the NCAA Tournament and delivered another big win. A bracket-busting upset nearly unfolded Sunday as the 7-seed Cyclones continually gave 2-seed Stanford troubles. Iowa State, which led briefly in the fourth quarter and in overtime, was on the verge of making its second Sweet 16 appearance in the last three seasons. Stanford hit its last six shots and finished with a 7-0 run to narrowly escape.
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“They have a terrific team,” said Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer.
It’s only going to get better. Crooks, who poured in 40 points during the win over Maryland, will return. So does Addy Brown, who finished with 15 points and tallied the game-tying layup in the fourth quarter. The Cyclones also bring back Kelsey Joens, a key contributor off the bench, and Bristow who tallied seven big points and grabbed eight rebounds off the bench. Guard Arianna Jackson, a valuable ball-handler and defender, also is expected to be back.
Then there’s Iowa State point guard Emily Ryan. Ryan, who plans to take advantage of the extra season of eligibility awarded by the NCAA due to the COVID-19 pandemic, scored a career-high 36 points and grabbed nine rebounds vs. Stanford. She took over Sunday’s game with Crooks in foul trouble, shooting 12-of-21 from the field including 6-of-9 from 3-point range.
“Certainly there is a lot of things very positive to look forward to and it starts with Emily Ryan,” said Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly. “I think you saw the difference she makes on our team. She’s the kind of kid that this sport is about and knowing that she’s going to be back leading our team again, she’s a great place to start.”
Ryan became a fan favorite when she decided to stay at Iowa State last offseason when five of her teammates transferred. The transfer portal is a concern that will likely linger into this offseason. Fennelly admitted he didn’t know what his roster will look like in 2024-25. But the hope is that the Cyclones can keep the core of this team together and do even bigger things down the road.
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“We just weren’t able to make quite enough plays,” Ryan said of Sunday’s loss. “So we’re going to take that into the offseason and use it as fire and remember this feeling and bottle it up so on days we don’t want to wake up at 6 a.m., to go do conditioning, we can find that extra motivation to push hard.”
After the game, Fennelly had former Iowa State quarterback Brock Purdy speak to the team. Purdy, the quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, experienced some recent heartbreak of his own, losing to the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl. Purdy tried to encourage the Cyclones after their emotional loss by assuring them that they have plenty of support.
“He just told us, ‘You wear Iowa State, keep your heads up, we have people around us, you can see it,'” Bristow said.
The support may be stronger than ever for the Cyclones after their just-completed season. Expectations will be high. Iowa State loses experience and versatility with Nyamer Diew. The Cyclones will miss the 3-point shooting of Hannah Belanger. And there will likely be other departures. But enough should be back to make the Cyclones one of the favorites in the Big 12 next season.
“The ceiling is limitless,” Crooks said.
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Tommy Birch, the Register’s sports enterprise and features reporter, has been working at the newspaper since 2008. He’s the 2018, 2020 and 2023 Iowa Sportswriter of the Year. Reach him at tbirch@dmreg.com or 515-284-8468.
First appeared on www.desmoinesregister.com