AP FILE PHOTO - Iowa State guard Jada Williams (8) shoots under pressure from Houston guard Kierra Merchant (2) during the first half of a Big 12 Conference basketball game on Dec. 31, 2025, in Houston.

AMES — Jada Williams scored a career-high 44 points to power the Iowa State women’s basketball team out of its five-game slide, leading the Cyclones past Cincinnati 93-68 on Wednesday night inside Hilton Coliseum.

Williams, a junior transfer from Arizona, hadn’t scored 30 points in her collegiate career, and now she owns the Iowa State single-game scoring record for Big 12 Conference play. She shot 15-of-22 from the field, 6-of-10 from 3-point range, and 8-of-12 at the free-throw line as the Cyclones (15-5, 3-5) won for the first time since last year.

“Honestly, I just wanted to win, and I wanted to win by a lot,” said Williams. “That meant something to us, that was a statement that we set, so I’m just super-proud of how everyone responded to adversity.”

Iowa State last prevailed on New Year’s Eve when it won at Houston, 80-62.

“I love our team, I love their effort, I love what they’re about, and it’s nice to see them smile,” said Cyclone head coach Bill Fennelly. “It’s been a tough couple weeks for us in a lot of ways.”

Williams added eight assists as Iowa State turned away Cincinatti’s second-half comeback attempt. The Bearcats (7-13, 2-6) got to as close as seven during the third quarter, but ISU pulled away down the stretch.

Audi Crooks added 24 points and Arianna Jackson contributed 11 points and a team-high eight rebounds in the Cyclone victory.

Kylie Torrence got 20 points to pace the visiting Bearcats (7-13, 2-6). Reagan Jackson added 17 and Caliyah DeVillasee finished with 15.

The Cyclones return to action Saturday with another home game against Arizona at 3 p.m.

Iowa St. 93, Cincinnati 68

CINCINNATI (7-13) — Torrence 8-13 4-5 20, Thomas 0-1 0-0 0, DeVillasee 5-11 5-5 15, Jackson 6-12 1-1 17, Perry 0-7 2-3 2, Byrd 1-3 0-0 2, Ndiba 0-2 0-0 0, Carden 1-2 0-0 2, Snyder 0-1 0-0 0, Alexander 1-2 0-0 2, Crawford 4-6 0-0 8, Whitted 0-1 0-0 0. TOTALS 26-61 12-14 68.

IOWA ST. (15-5) — Harris 0-1 0-0 0, Crooks 9-15 6-8 24, Hare 2-5 0-0 5, Jackson 4-8 0-2 11, Jada Williams 15-22 8-12 44, Alisa Williams 2-2 0-1 4, Beaty 0-3 0-0 0, Paulk 1-3 0-5 2, Tanke 0-0 0-0 0, Wilson 1-2 0-0 3. TOTALS 34-61 14-28 93.

Cincinnati 12 16 21 19 — 68

Iowa St. 21 20 27 25 — 93

3-Point Goals–Cincinnati 4-14 (DeVillasee 0-3, Jackson 4-5, Perry 0-3, Crawford 0-2, Whitted 0-1), Iowa St. 11-26 (Harris 0-1, Hare 1-4, Jackson 3-7, J.Williams 6-10, Beaty 0-1, Paulk 0-1, Wilson 1-2). Assists–Cincinnati 11 (DeVillasee 4), Iowa St. 21 (J.Williams 8). Fouled Out–Crawford, Hare. Rebounds–Cincinnati 34 (Torrence 6), Iowa St. 34 (Jackson 8). Total Fouls–Cincinnati 24, Iowa St. 13. Technical Fouls–Crawford. A–9,083.