STANFORD, California – Iowa State (21-11, 12-6 Big 12) continues to dance, downing Maryland (19-14, 9-9 Big Ten) in dramatic fashion, rallying back after being down by 20 to cement the seven-point victory of 93-86 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. It is the second-largest comeback in NCAA Women’s Championship history. Audi Crooks put up an all-time performance as she broke five Iowa State records on the night with 40 points at 90 percent.

The comeback stands one point behind the largest, where Texas A&M defeated Penn in 2017 in the first round. Iowa State fell behind by as much as 20 in the second quarter on account of Maryland shooting at 60 percent from the field including at 9-of-13 from deep, but Iowa State came alive in the second half outscoring Maryland 57-34. Crooks shot perfectly in the final two quarters with 10 shots, totaling 22 second-half points. Her final line stood at 40 points (18-of-20 shooting), 12 rebounds and two blocks.

Crooks downed the NCAA Championships single-game ISU point record (40), field goals made (18), field goal percentage (.900) along with the freshman single-game all-time record. Crooks also took down the freshman free throw record of 106 set by Jayme Olson in the 1994-95 season, now making the record 110. Crooks point total is the fourth-highest single-game total of any game in program history, just the fourth 40-point game for a Cyclone.

The freshman is the second player in women’s or men’s NCAA Championships history to score 40-plus points with at least 90 percent shooting, joining the company of Bill Walton who achieved the feat in the 1973 title game for UCLA. Crooks’ 40 points is the most by any player in her first career NCAA Tournament game dating back to 2000. The next most over that span is 39 by Elena Delle Donne on March 18, 2012. It is also the most by any freshman in any NCAA Tournament game since 2000.

The 40 points ties the Big 12 NCAA Championships record, matching Brittney Griner’s total set in the 2011 Regional Semifinal.

Emily Ryan totaled 18 points with 15 in the second half, also notching a double-double with 14 assists. It is her sixth double-figure assists game and second with 14 this season. Kelsey Joens (12) and Hannah Belanger (10) totaled four Cyclones with 10-plus points.

Up Next

The Cyclones move on to the second round of the NCAA Championship and will face the winner of the Stanford vs. Norfolk State game on Sunday, March 24. The time and network will be announced in the future.