Audi Crooks

AMES — Just 24 hours after the Iowa State men’s basketball team knocked off No. 2 Houston, the Cyclone women scored an upset victory of their own.

After trailing by as many as 19 points in the second half, the Iowa State women’s basketball team rallied back to beat No. 24 West Virginia by double digits, 74-64, on Wednesday night at Hilton Coliseum.

West Virginia (13-2, 2-2) went ahead 55-36 with 6 minutes, 4 seconds left in the third quarter after making an 11-0 run. Iowa State countered with the next 13 points and got the margin down to five, 57-52, with 8:46 left in the game on a 3-pointer by Hannah Belanger.

Kyah Watson’s layup with 7:15 left put the Mountaineers up eight, 62-54, but the Cyclones (11-4, 4-0) closed the game on a 20-2 run from there for their seventh consecutive victory.

Emily Ryan scored eight of her 13 points during that deciding rally, and Audi Crooks added seven of her game-high 22 points down the stretch. A three-point play by Crooks gave Iowa State its first lead, 64-62, and another bucket by Crooks two minutes later put ISU in front for good.

The Cyclones doomed themselves with turnovers, surrendering 25 points off 20 turnovers, but they counteracted it with solid defense. Iowa State committed just eight fouls for the game and kept the Mountaineers off the free-throw line. ISU outshot West Virginia from the charity stripe, going 19-for-21 to the visitors’ 4-for-6 performance.

The Mountaineers shot a fiery 9-for-24 from 3-point range in the first half but were just 3-for-19 after the break. Iowa State was 5-for-10 from distance in the second half after going 0-for-7 before the intermission.

Addy Brown joined Crooks and Ryan in double-digit scoring, finishing with 12 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. Isnelle Natabou added eight points and seven boards off the bench.

Jordan Harrison led West Virginia with 17 points, seven assists and five steals, while Kylee Blacksten added 16 points before fouling out.

Iowa State gets another opportunity for an upset on Saturday as the Cyclones host No. 4 Baylor at noon.

Iowa St. 74, No. 24 West Virginia 64

WEST VIRGINIA (13-2) — Blacksten 6-11 0-0 16, Fields 4-14 1-2 13, Harrison 6-15 3-4 17, Quinerly 4-14 0-0 10, Watson 3-8 0-0 6, Arigbabu 1-3 0-0 2, Diggs 0-1 0-0 0, Hemingway 0-3 0-0 0. TOTALS 24-69 4-6 64.

IOWA ST. (11-4) — Brown 5-9 0-0 12, Diew 0-4 0-0 0, Crooks 9-17 4-6 22, Belanger 2-7 2-2 8, Jackson 0-1 2-2 2, Bristow 2-2 2-2 6, Natabou 2-3 4-4 8, Joens 1-5 0-0 3, Ryan 4-5 5-5 13. TOTALS 25-53 19-21 74.

W. Virginia 21 23 11 9 — 64

Iowa St. 19 12 16 27 — 74

3-Point Goals–West Virginia 12-43 (Blacksten 4-8, Fields 4-14, Harrison 2-8, Quinerly 2-7, Watson 0-3, Hemingway 0-3), Iowa St. 5-17 (Brown 2-2, Diew 0-2, Belanger 2-6, Jackson 0-1, Joens 1-5, Ryan 0-1). Assists–West Virginia 18 (Harrison 7), Iowa St. 17 (Brown 8). Fouled Out–Blacksten. Rebounds–West Virginia 26 (Blacksten 5, Fields 5), Iowa St. 45 (Crooks 11). Total Fouls–West Virginia 23, Iowa St. 8. A–8,798.