It’s a matchup that’s been a long time coming. On Wednesday night, the No. 19 Iowa State Cyclones women’s basketball team travels to Boulder to face off against the Colorado Buffaloes in a Big 12 showdown at the CU Events Center. The clock is set for an 8:00 p.m. CT tipoff, and the anticipation is palpable—not just because these two teams haven’t met in Boulder since January 2011, but because so much is at stake for both squads as they jostle for position in a competitive conference.
Iowa State enters the contest with a 14-3 overall record (2-3 in Big 12 play), but there’s no denying the Cyclones are feeling the sting of adversity. After dropping three straight games—including a tough home loss to West Virginia that marked their second consecutive defeat at Hilton Coliseum—the Cyclones are eager to get back on track. The Buffaloes, meanwhile, stand at 11-6 overall and 2-3 in conference play, boasting a formidable 9-1 record at home this season. The altitude, the crowd, and the sense of history all favor Colorado, but Iowa State’s recent dominance in the series (winning 15 of the last 17 matchups) looms large.
Leading the charge for Iowa State is the unstoppable Audi Crooks. The 6-foot-3 junior center has been nothing short of sensational this season, pacing the nation in scoring at 28.3 points per game while shooting a blistering 69.8% from the field. Crooks has scored at least 18 points in every contest, notching three 40-point games—including a jaw-dropping 47-point performance. Her consistency is historic; she’s tallied double figures in 83 consecutive games, the longest active streak in NCAA women’s basketball and the best in the Big 12 since Brittney Griner’s legendary run over a decade ago.
“You know Audi’s going to get her points,” Colorado senior Jade Masogayo admitted ahead of the clash. “But, we’re just making sure that the guards don’t have the opportunity to score, because Audi’s going to get hers for sure.”
That’s the challenge facing Colorado’s defense. CU assistant coach Jordynn Hernandez, who helped devise the Buffaloes’ scouting report, explained, “I think the biggest thing for us, we figure out who we can help off of – who can be an extra defender (against Crooks).” But that’s easier said than done. Crooks is coming off a 22-point, 10-rebound showing against West Virginia, and last time these two teams met, she torched the Buffaloes for 33 points (on 15-of-20 shooting) and 12 boards in an 86-56 rout in Ames.
Yet, Iowa State’s supporting cast is in flux. The Cyclones are missing two crucial starters: Addy Brown, a 6-foot-2 forward averaging 13.1 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 5.8 assists, is out indefinitely. Brown had earlier this season recorded the fourth triple-double in program history, underlining her all-around impact. Junior guard Arianna Jackson, another sharpshooter (47.5% from beyond the arc), is also sidelined for the foreseeable future. Both are not only two-year starters but rank among the Big 12’s elite from long distance, and their absences have forced Iowa State to lean even more heavily on Crooks and point guard Jada Williams.
Williams, a transfer from Arizona, has quickly become the Cyclones’ engine. She’s averaging 12.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, and a remarkable 7.9 assists through 17 games—third-best in the nation. Williams has notched several double-doubles this season, including a career-high 28-point outburst against Baylor and a 16-point, 14-assist masterpiece at Houston. “Crooks is going to get hers and obviously Jada has her moments, too,” Hernandez acknowledged. “You have to shut down everybody else and make somebody else score.”
That’s been the recipe for Iowa State’s opponents lately. In their recent loss to West Virginia, the Cyclones’ ball handlers were pressured relentlessly, leading to 25 turnovers and limiting Crooks’ touches (she took just nine shots, well below her average of 16.8 attempts per game). The Cyclones’ offense, ranked 11th nationally at 86.8 points per game, has sputtered without Brown and Jackson, and the team’s three-game skid is a testament to how much they miss their depth and shooting.
Still, the Cyclones aren’t without hope. Kenzie Hare, another sharpshooter, is connecting on 44.4% of her threes, and the team as a whole is hitting an impressive 76.9% from the free throw line—good for first in the Big 12 and 30th nationally. Head coach Bill Fennelly, now in his 31st season with Iowa State (648-328 at ISU, 814-381 overall), has a knack for rallying his teams in tough spots, and the Cyclones have been ranked in every AP poll this season, peaking at No. 10 for five weeks.
Colorado, meanwhile, is looking to capitalize on its home-court advantage and recent momentum. Despite going 0-2 on a tough road trip against Baylor and Oklahoma State, the Buffaloes’ spirits are high. “I don’t think their morale is down by any means,” Hernandez said. “I think it’s kind of uplifting because it’s like, we’re right there. … We’re starting to kind of put four quarters together.”
Masogayo, a 6-foot-3 senior forward, has been on a tear herself, scoring in double figures in six of the last seven games and averaging 12.9 points during that stretch. Anaelle Dutat and Logyn Greer provide additional interior presence, while guards Zyanna Walker and Desiree Wooten round out a balanced attack. The Buffs lead the all-time series 37-31, but Iowa State’s recent dominance (15-2 in the last 17 meetings) is hard to ignore. This is the Buffaloes’ first home game against the Cyclones since rejoining the Big 12, adding another layer of intrigue to an already compelling contest.
Both teams are hungry. For Iowa State, it’s a chance to steady the ship, prove their resilience, and keep pace in the Big 12 despite missing key pieces. For Colorado, it’s an opportunity to protect their home court, notch a signature win, and show they can hang with the conference’s best. With Crooks and Williams leading the charge for the Cyclones and Masogayo and company ready to defend their turf, fans can expect a hard-fought, high-scoring affair under the Boulder lights.
As tipoff approaches, the question lingers: Can Colorado slow down the nation’s top scorer and snap Iowa State’s dominance in the series, or will the Cyclones find a way to overcome their adversity and get back in the win column? Either way, all eyes will be on Boulder as these two Big 12 contenders battle for momentum and pride.
