LAS VEGAS, Nevada – Iowa State (2-3, 0-0 Big 12) dropped game two at the South Point Shootout against Syracuse (5-1, 0-0 ACC) on Saturday afternoon.

The Cyclones battled with the Orange, trading leads throughout the first half and entering the halftime break tied, 39-39. But Syracuse opened up an 11-2 run to start the second half that ISU could not come back from.

Audi Crooks led the Cyclones with 23 points, tying her season-high for the second 20-point game of her career. Addy Brown finished with her first career double-double, adding 19 points and 10 rebounds to the Iowa State cause.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Following a Syracuse basket, Crooks and Brown made buckets on back-to-back trips down the floor. Neither side was able to get a comfortable lead throughout the first quarter, as Iowa State held the largest lead of the period at three points. Nyamer Diew led the Cyclones with seven points in the quarter while Audi Crooks and Addy Brown each chipped in six apiece. ISU shot 55.6 percent from the floor in the period. The first quarter featured seven ties and six lead changes.

After trading scores for the first three minutes of the second period, Syracuse went on a 6-0 run to lead 31-26 with 5:57 left in the half. The Cyclones rallied with 10 of the next 15 points with 3-pointers from Arianna Jackson and Brown and two buckets from Crooks. Following a three-point play by Syracuse, Brown knocked down her second triple of the day to tie the game heading into halftime.

Iowa State fell victim to an 11-2 Syracuse run coming out of the break. Hannah Belanger knocked down a 3-pointer to get the Cyclones within 50-44 before another five-point spurt put the Orange back up by nine. Isnelle Natabou’s layup followed by another Brown triple got ISU within six with just under five minutes remaining in the quarter, but the two teams traded baskets the rest of the period to leave the Cyclones trailing, 65-59.

ISU showed signs of fight throughout the fourth quarter, chipping away at the Syracuse win to get within four points twice, including late in the period. After Crooks made a free throw to open the frame, Jalynn Bristow knocked down a 3-pointer to cut the Syracuse lead to 67-63 with 8:41 remaining. Crooks broke up an Orange run with three baskets down low, keeping Iowa State within 73-69 with 3:07 to play. Syracuse held the Cyclones scoreless for the final three minutes of play and score the final eight points to take the 81-69 win.

TOP PERFORMANCE

Addy Brown recorded her first career double-double and the first double-double of the season for the Cyclones with season-highs of 19 points and 10 rebounds. She also passed out five assists.

UP NEXT

Iowa State travels to meet St. Thomas on Wednesday, November 29th. The Cyclones meet the Tommies for a 7:00 p.m. tip-off in St. Paul.