Iowa State women host No. 4 Hawks

By DANA BECKER

dbecker@messengernews.net

AMES — Caitlin Clark and the No. 4 Iowa women head to Hilton Coliseum to face in-state rival Iowa State Wednesday night. Tip is set for 6 p.m., with the game being aired live on ESPN2.

Over the last seven matchups, the Hawkeyes (8-1 overall) have won six times, including twice here. Iowa has won five in a row since a loss to Kansas State, including a November win vs. Drake.

They also avenged that defeat to Kansas State with a 77-70 triumph over the Wildcats late last month.

Clark, who led the Hawks to the national championship game a season ago, is averaging 29 points per game with eight assists and six rebounds. Kate Martin, Hannah Stuelke and Sharon Goodman are all averaging double figures.

The Cyclones (4-3) are coming off back-to-back wins over St. Thomas and UNCW following a loss to Syracuse in Las Vegas.

Former Bishop Garrigan standout Audi Crooks posted 16 points with nine rebuonds in the victory over UNCW, as the freshman made the start alongside Addy Brown, Kelsey Joens, Hannah Belanger and Nyamer Diew.

On the year, Crooks is averaging a team-high 16 points, shooting 67 percent from the floor. She has started three games and played in all seven, adding five rebounds a night.

“Everybody looks forward to this matchup no matter who you root for,” Crooks said. “We are blessed (in Iowa) to have four Div. I colleges that are good and put out quality teams.”

Crooks added that she was heavily recruited by the Hawkeyes but “I made the right decision and I am certain of that.”

Brown is second at 14 points with Diew adding 11 and Joens nine.

Iowa leads the series between the two, 30-23, with Iowa State winning 15 of the 24 meetings in Ames.