NOTRE DAME, Ind. – In a fierce First Round matchup of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament, the 11-seed Iowa State Cyclones faced off against the 6-seed Michigan Wolverines, ultimately falling short with an 80-74 loss in South Bend, Indiana on Friday morning, March 21, 2025.
After a challenging start where Iowa State found themselves behind, the Cyclones rallied to take the lead with a strong second quarter showing. Iowa State went on a remarkable 10-0 run in the second quarter, highlighted by Audi Crooks, who scored 11 points in the frame alone. This surge allowed Iowa State to enter halftime with a five-point edge, 37-32.
In the third quarter, Iowa State continued to build momentum, eventually leading by as many as nine points at one juncture. However, the Wolverines countered with a determined effort, led by senior guard Jordan Hobbs, who would end the game with a career-high 28 points. The fierce competition continued into the fourth quarter, where Michigan outscored Iowa State 27-18, flipping the tide of the game.
The game began with a slow pace, as Michigan established an early lead, closing the first quarter ahead 19-13. Kelsey Joens and Sydney Harris kept Iowa State in contention with critical three-pointers, but it was Crooks's scoring spree that sparked Iowa State's resurgence.
In a significant moment, Iowa State took the lead for the first time through Addy Brown's layup at 3:51 in the second quarter, finishing the half on a 10-3 run. Brown wound up contributing to a strong performance with a total of 10 assists and nine rebounds, tying for fourth most in NCAA Tournament program history.
As the game proceeded into the third quarter, Iowa State's Crooks continued her scoring prowess, tallying 20 points by the end of the third period, after making 13-of-18 shots from the field throughout the game, all while maintaining her impressive streak of 67 consecutive games with double figures.
Despite Iowa State’s strong showing, Michigan’s three-point shooting began to heat up, with the Wolverines landing their 12th successful shot from behind the arc late in the game. The pressure intensified in the final minutes, but Iowa State couldn't reclaim the lead, despite making it a one-score game again at several points.
In the last moments, with exactly 1:09 left and Michigan ahead 77-74, Brown sunk a critical three-pointer to draw closer. However, Michigan responded decisively, pushing ahead to take the victory with a final score of 80-74.
As the Cyclones saw their season come to an end, emotions ran high, especially for their senior guard Emily Ryan. In her final game for Iowa State, Ryan delivered a performance that included five assists and a commendably close approach to a double-digit score with seven points. She finished her collegiate career with a total of 993 assists, setting an Iowa State and Big 12 record.
The Wolverines now advance to the next round of the NCAA Tournament, where they will play the winner of Notre Dame versus Stephen F. Austin.
This matchup underscored the intensity and unpredictability of NCAA tournament basketball, and while Iowa State's dreams of a deeper run were halted, their remarkable season solidified their status as a competitive program in women’s basketball.
The Cyclones battled valiantly but could not secure the win, as Michigan’s powerful fourth quarter pushed them over the top, highlighting the importance of timely scoring bursts in high-stakes games.
