Freshman star Audi Crooks led the Iowa State Cyclones to a remarkable comeback victory in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
Crooks scored a career-high 40 points on 18-for-20 shooting, helping her team rally from a 20-point deficit to defeat 10th-seeded Maryland 93-86.
The comeback marked the second largest in NCAA tournament history.
Audi Crooks really dropped 40 to lead Iowa St. back from 20-PT deficit as a FRESHMAN 🤯
HOOPER. pic.twitter.com/XHOB1lCXxG
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 23, 2024
Crooks’ performance was historic, matching Iowa State’s single-game points’ record for an NCAA tournament game and setting a new school record for field goals made.
She also became the first player in the past 25 years to score 40 points while shooting 90% or better from the field.
Maryland started strong, taking a 13-point lead in the first quarter and extending it to 20 points by halftime.
However, Iowa State slowly chipped away at the deficit and eventually tied the game with a 10-0 burst in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, the Cyclones took the lead and sealed the victory with an 11-4 run.
Despite Crooks’ standout performance, she credited her teammates for the win. Allie Kubek led Maryland with 29 points, while Shyanne Sellers added 19 points and Faith Masonius contributed 14 points.
Iowa State will now face either No. 2 Stanford or No. 15 Norfolk State in the second round of the tournament.
Coach Bill Fennelly praised his team for their poise and called the game one of the most entertaining he had ever been a part of.
Crooks, who lost her father in 2021, shared that she takes a moment before every game to remember him and pray. Her inspiring performance earned her the honor of placing the Iowa State name plate on the NCAA Tournament bracket board.
Fans reacted as follows:
40 on 20 shots is crazy good shoutout to her
— renji (@renji2k14) March 23, 2024
Kenny lofton think we don’t know
— Street Clothes 🧢 (@LeCap623) March 23, 2024
She weighs more than an Audi bro 😭
— Muhammad Zubair (@MZaibi74) March 23, 2024
Gorlock the Destroyer IRL
— john (@LonelyMigaloo) March 23, 2024
Female Shaq??? I like it!
— Fernando Ocasio (@TechPalsTalk) March 23, 2024
She was efficient and effective
— 💄Kiki💎 (@PunksWorldd) March 23, 2024
Shout out Kenny lofton gotta be my favorite transgender
— respectable job getter (@YourBeanBo1) March 23, 2024
