Key Highlights
- Audi Crooks set a new single-season record for points in a season with 889.
- Crooks led the Cyclones to an historic 96-93 double overtime victory over Kansas State on Valentine’s Day 2024.
- She became the first freshman All-American and leading scorer in Iowa State women’s basketball history.
- Crooks scored a school-record 47 points against Indiana, breaking her own high water mark.
Audacious Beginnings: Audi Crooks at Bishop Garrigan High School
Audi Crooks didn’t just play basketball; she dominated. At Bishop Garrigan High School in Algona, Iowa, her 49-point performance in the 2023 Iowa Class 1A state title game wasn’t just a scoring outburst. It was a statement.
A declaration that she was operating on a different level.
Her high school career was nothing short of extraordinary. Crooks was named to the First Team All-State in Class 1A each year, setting records left and right: most points in a single game (49), most points in a tournament (117), and most rebounds in a career (160). Track star too. A thrower whose strength and technique translated to shot put success and discus dominance.
The Paint Has a New Owner
When Crooks arrived at Iowa State, she brought with her an identity already etched in the lore of Iowa’s basketball history. “Fifty-five” was more than just a jersey number; it was a legacy. Her presence transformed Iowa State’s offense. She wasn’t just dominating; she was defining.
In her first March Madness game against No. 10 seeded Maryland, Crooks scored 40 points on an efficient 18-of-20 shooting from the field and 4-of-8 from the free throw line, pulling down 12 rebounds in a 93-86 victory.
Conference Play: The Defining Moments
The Big 12 is known for its rigor. But Crooks didn’t just hold her own; she imposed her will. In a 96-93 double overtime victory over Ayoka Lee and No. 7 Kansas State on Valentine’s Day 2024, Crooks scored 20 points in the extra periods, including six crucial points.
“Last year, I was at home watching her,” Crooks said following the win. “She’s somebody that I kind of admire… Being able to play against and compete against her just meant a lot to me.”
A New Era in Iowa State Basketball
Crooks’ first season set the stage for what was to come. She became the first freshman All-American in program history, leading the Cyclones with 635 points (175 more than Megan Taylor’s school record) at 19.2 points per game while shooting 57.7% from the floor.
By the start of the 2025-26 season, everything ran through her. Tonya Burns’ single-game record of 42 points against Nebraska in 1984 was first eclipsed by Crooks on Nov. 12, 2025, with a 43-point performance against Valparaiso.
Eighteen days later, she broke her own high water mark with a scoring tally of 47 points in 33 minutes.
The most defining Iowa State moment wasn’t a single play; it was the shift. Crooks didn’t just contribute to the system; she became it.
