STANFORD, California – Iowa State (21-12, 12-6 Big 12) lost a heartbreaker to No. 4 Stanford (30-5, 15-3 Pac-12) on Sunday night 87-81 in overtime in the second round of the NCAA Championship. The Cyclones were led by an elite 36-point performance by Emily Ryan, making for the second straight game a Cyclone has scored 30-plus.

Iowa State came out hot shooting at 6-of-8 from deep to lead 23-16 after the opening quarter, while Ryan put up a 15-point first half giving Iowa State a 33-31 edge. In a game of 18 lead changes and 12 ties, the Cyclones gave the Cardinal all they could take forcing overtime but came up short to end a memorable season.

Ryan was magnificent throughout the night, going out to a career-high 36 for her first 30 point game. That total now ties the second-highest single-game mark in ISU NCAA Tournament history, matching Ashley Joens’ mark set in the first round in 2022. The guard made 12 field goals to set the second-highest single-game program total. Ryan, who officially broke the NCAA Championships career assist program assist record in the first round, upped the record to 57. Ryan brings her tournament assist total to 18, tying the No. 5 single-tournament total in school history.

Ryan came one rebound shy of a double-double while adding four assists, two blocks and a steal to her final stat line. Ryan had six 3-pointers to match her career high.

Addy Brown had a stellar night totaling 18 points (7-of-11 shooting) and four 3-pointers to match her career high. ISU totaled 12 3-pointers, its 11th game with 10 or more 3-pointers. Audi Crooks had her 32nd-straight double-figure scoring outing with 10 points, also pulling down eight rebounds.