No. 10 Iowa State's ‘excited’ to open conference play Sunday against Kansas

AMES — When Iowa State’s Audi Crooks puts her exceptionally good hands around a pass to the post, the basketball court becomes a chessboard.

The strongest move: Crooks shoots. The 6-3 star center from Algona leads the nation in scoring at 27.6 points per game.

The next-best move: Crooks angles a pass to an open teammate on the perimeter, or to fellow star Addy Brown, who’s one of the most versatile players in the country.

The number of moves: Seemingly countless, as Crooks’ presence, along with a rim-attacking point guard in Jada Williams, helps the 10th-ranked Cyclones space the floor perfectly.

“In the past, we’ve been able to (do that), but we haven’t been able to space it with the threat of someone beating you off the bounce,” said ISU head coach Bill Fennelly, whose team (12-0) opens Big 12 women’s basketball play against Kansas (10-2) at noon Sunday at Hilton Coliseum. “It’s just something we haven’t had here.”

Unlocking such a broad array of looks and options has also helped the Cyclones rise into the top-five nationally in points per game (92.8) while climbing into the top 20 in 3-point shooting accuracy at 38 percent. Four ISU players — led by guard Kenzie Hare — are shooting 47.4 percent or better from beyond the arc, while Crooks ranks second nationally in overall field goal percentage at 72.2. And all of that culminates to make most opposing defenses feel like they’re out of options when it comes to successfully slowing down the Cyclones.

“I mean, whenever you have people trying to guard Audi with (as many as) three people, leaving us wide open, it’s dangerous, you know?” said valuable backup forward Sydney Harris, who shot 46.2 percent from long range last season. “So you’re gonna have to pick.”

Harris, a senior, has not yet picked up where she left off from long range, as she’s currently shooting just 35.3 percent from the 3-point line this season. The operative word there is “currently,” though, as Harris has shot 40 percent or better from beyond the arc in the two previous seasons.

“I’m saving it, I’m saving it,” she said with a smile.

There’s nothing left to save now as conference play kicks into gear. And the Jayhawks bring a talented and balanced team into Hilton that includes promising freshman and former Cedar Rapids Xavier standout Libby Fandel.

“Defensively, they’re in the gaps all the time, very physical,” Fennelly said. “They’re got their hands on you a lot. They’re not gonna make anything easy. Audi’s gonna think there’s seven people (guarding her) out there at times.”

Hence the need for an array of cuts, moves and finds — as more potent counterattacks suddenly lurk on that chessboard and will remain there well into March.

“Kansas is actually the first game I watched post (hip) surgery (last season),” said Hare, who is hitting an ISU-best 51.1 percent of her 3-point shots after missing most of last season because of injury. “So I’m excited to play in-conference.”

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