Bold claim: Audi Crooks is rewriting what’s possible in women’s college basketball. In a season already packed with prolific scorers like Mikayla Blakes (25.7 ppg), Hannah Hidalgo (25.9 ppg), and Liv McGill (27.3 ppg), Crooks has surged to the top with an eye-popping 27.6 points per game for the No. 10 Cyclones. The 6-foot-3 standout from Algona, Iowa, is turning heads not just for scoring, but for the efficiency and poise she brings to every minute on the floor. As Iowa State (10-0) prepares to host No. 12 Iowa (9-0) on Wednesday night, the question isn’t just whether Crooks can keep firing; it’s how any defense will slow a player who has already shown she can explode for 40 points in a NCAA tournament game and tally 30 points in a rapid 19 minutes this season.
Crooks isn’t new to being a threat. Her breakout moment came in the 2024 NCAA tournament when she dropped 40 against No. 10 Maryland in the first round, instantly putting her name on the national radar. She currently ranks second in the nation in field-goal percentage at 73.2%, and she has already surpassed the 40-point mark twice this season, with eight games of 20 or more points. Her refined footwork and polished release, especially on mid-range jumpers, have evolved noticeably each year, helping her find patient, productive spots on the floor.
Iowa State head coach Bill Fennelly isn’t shy about how tough Crooks is to defend. He warned that teams will start double-teaming, players will fling themselves to the ground in an effort to draw fouls, and Crooks will need to keep playing through contact because whistles won’t always come her way. That’s the reality of guarding a player who rarely wastes movement and makes efficient use of every minute she’s on the court.
When Crooks takes the floor against Iowa, she’ll face a Hawkeyes squad with multiple scoring threats and a strong front line led by sophomore Ava Heiden, who tops the team in points (16.1) and rebounds (9.2). The rivalry adds extra fuel because Iowa State hasn’t beaten Iowa since December 2021, but Crooks’s teammates remain confident that she can deliver the big performances that often swing games. As guard Reagan Wilson put it: “You throw the ball to her, and it’s going in.”
What makes Crooks truly remarkable is not only the numbers, but the way she builds a game. She combines efficient shot selection with patient, purposeful movement, and she consistently raises her level when the stakes are highest. Her path mirrors a broader trend in which players who can score at high volume while maintaining a lethal shooting touch become game-changing forces for their teams. And with her current pace, she’s opening the door to conversations about historic benchmarks in Division I basketball, including comparisons to the rarest statistical feats achieved by a handful of players over the years.
As fans anticipate the Wednesday night showdown, the question remains: can Crooks sustain this level against top competition and prove that her scoring prowess translates into big wins against storied programs? Regardless of the outcome, one thing is clear—Audi Crooks is redefining what it means to be a dominant scorer in women’s college basketball, challenging defenses at every turn while inviting debate about just how far she might go.
