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Iowa State Picked Second in Preseason Poll, Crooks Garners Preseason Honors

Sports

October 3rd, 2024 by Asa Lucas

AMES, Iowa – Coming off a runner-up finish at the 2024 Big 12 Championships, Iowa State has been picked to finish second in the Big 12 for the 2024-25 season according to the poll of conference coaches. Coaches voted on the awards and poll and were not allowed to vote for their own team.

The Cyclones were picked as a close second behind preseason favorite Kansas State as the Wildcats edged out ISU by two points and one first-place vote. Iowa State and Kansas State are set to meet twice during the regular season with the first matchup to take place on January 30 in Manhattan.

After a stellar freshman campaign, sophomore Audi Crooks was a unanimous selection to the All-Big 12 Preseason team. Crooks averaged 19.2 points and 7.8 rebounds per game while shooting nearly 58 percent from the floor to lead all NCAA Division I freshmen. Her efforts earned her AP All-America honorable mention, WBCA Regional Finalist recognition and a unanimous selection for First-Team All-Big 12 in 2024.

Full results of the preseason poll and list of awards can be found below.

2024-25 Big 12 Women’s Basketball Preseason Poll
Kansas State (7), 211 points
Iowa State (6), 209 points
Baylor (2), 194 points
TCU, 185 points
West Virginia (1), 184 points
Utah, 149 points
Arizona, 136 points
Kansas, 128 points
Colorado, 113 points
Texas Tech, 84 points
Oklahoma State, 80 points
BYU, 59 points
Cincinnati, 56 points
UCF, 54 points
Arizona State, 51 points
Houston, 27 points
(first-place votes)

2024-25 Big 12 Women’s Basketball Preseason All-Big 12 Team
Audi Crooks, Iowa State*
Ayoka Lee, Kansas State*
JJ Quinerly, West Virginia*
Sarah Andrews, Baylor
Aaronette Vonleh, Baylor
Katilin Peterson, UCF
S’Mya Nichols, Kansas
Serena Sundell, Kansas State
Hailey Van Lith, TCU
Gianna Kneepkens, Utah

2024-25 Big 12 Women’s Basketball Preseason Player of the Year
Ayoka Lee, Kansas State

2024-25 Big 12 Women’s Basketball Preseason Co-Newcomers of the Year
Aaronette Vonleh, Baylor
Hailey Van Lith, TCU

2024-25 Big 12 Women’s Basketball Preseason Freshman of the Year
Tabitha Betson, Colorado