Iowa State women hit many milestones in 84-70 win at No. 21 Texas Tech

The resurgent Iowa State women hit four big milestones Wednesday night at No. 21 Texas Tech.

But Cyclone head coach Bill Fennelly isn’t very impressed by one of them — his own.

Fennelly became the Big 12’s all-time winningest coach as ISU (17-5, 5-5) dominated the Red Raiders, 84-70, at a quiet United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock. He passed current LSU coach Kim Mulkey with his 297th Big 12 win.

“I should never be in the same discussion with Kim Mulkey,” Fennelly said earlier this week. “The only reason I (passed) Kim Mulkey for anything is I’ve coached in the Big 12 a lot longer than her. That record is a longevity record.”

As for the other three milestones? Fennelly’s very impressed by them.

**Standout center Audi Crooks became the fourth Cyclone to surpass 2,000 career points, joining Angie Welle, Bridget Carleton, and Ashley Joens. The 6-3 junior from Algona finished with 33 points and 12 rebounds and made all seven of her free throw attempts.

“I thought tonight was maybe start to finish, offense to defense, as good a game she’s played, maybe, since she’s been on campus,” Fennelly said on the Cyclone Radio Network.

Crooks said she “felt like herself” for the first time in a while, and it showed.

“All I’ve got to say is, ‘I’m back,’” said Crooks, who scored 30-plus points for there first time since New Year’s Eve.

**Skilled point guard Jada Williams eclipsed 1,000 career points with a 15-point, nine-assist effort. She didn’t shoot well (6-for-19), but only committed one turnover against the high-pressure Red Raiders.

“It’s an honor that she did it with us,” Fennelly said of the junior transfer from Arizona. “She’s part of the Iowa State family now, and what she’s brought to our team, what she’s brought to our university, is really special.”

**Senior Sydney Harris notched the first double-double of her career by scoring 13 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. And 11 of those points and 10 of those boards came in the second half while Texas Tech rallied within striking distance a few times.

“Coming off the bench is the perfect fit for her,” Fennelly said. “I think she probably had more rebounds today than she did in the whole Big 12. I think that says a lot about her and her willingness to contribute.”

Harris hit two big 3-pointers in the third quarter and also posted up to hit a tough bank shot to beat the buzzer and restore a double-digit lead entering the fourth quarter.

“Coming off rough patches, we’re on a high right now,” Harris said. “And getting this one on the road, it was just really good for us.”

ISU outscored the Red Raiders, 40-to-14, in the paint, and was plus-11 in rebounding margin. Eight of the nine Cyclones who logged minutes scored three or more points as they notched their second win over a ranked foe this season.

“It was probably, maybe going back to the Iowa game, the best we played with everyone (contributing),” Fennelly said. “Everyone did something and they seemed to do something right when we needed it.”

That collective effort — more than any milestone — is what impressed Fennelly the most. It’s also what points to what could be a strong finish to the season, as the Cyclones seek their fourth straight win at 2 p.m. Saturday against UCF (10-10, 2-7) at Hilton Coliseum.

“You beat a top-20 team on the road, in this environment, (against) that style — that says a lot,” Fennelly said.

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