AMES, Iowa – Sophomore Audi Crooks added to her preseason accolades on Friday as she was named to the Lisa Leslie Award Watchlist. One of the nation’s top centers, Crooks averaged 19.2 points while shooting nearly 58 percent from the floor as a freshman in 2023-24.

The Algona, Iowa native enters her sophomore season following one of the most accomplished freshman seasons in Iowa State women’s basketball history. She became the first Cyclone freshman to earn AP All-America Honorable Mention honors, a unanimous All-Big 12 First-Team selection and a spot on the Big 12 All-Tournament team. Crooks set Iowa State freshman season records for points (635), made free throws (114) and made field goals (258) while posting the third-highest season rebound total (259) behind classmate Addy Brown. Her season made field goals also set the program record regardless of class while points (6th) and scoring average (8th) were also top 10 all-time marks.

Making steady progress throughout her rookie season, Crooks captured national attention in the first round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament. Suffering a 20-point third-quarter deficit against No. 10-seed Maryland, Iowa State rallied to a 93-86 victory over to advance to the second round for the 13th time in program history. Crooks led the comeback, finishing with 40 points on 18-of-20 field goals. It was just the second time in men’s and women’s NCAA Tournament history that a player scored 40 or more points on 90 percent shooting from the floor. She also pulled down 12 rebounds for her eighth double-double of the season.

Iowa State will officially open the regular season Monday morning against Chicago State. Tip-off is set for 11 a.m. in Hilton Coliseum.