Sat Jan 25 22:40:00 UTC 2025: ## Iowa State Women’s Basketball Hosts UCF in Big 12 Showdown

**AMES, IA** – The Iowa State Cyclones women’s basketball team (14-7, 5-3 Big 12) will look to continue their strong home performance when they face the UCF Knights (7-10, 0-7 Big 12) on Saturday, January 25th, at 4:00 p.m. CT in Hilton Coliseum. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.

Riding a wave of recent success, including four wins in their last five games and an impressive 11-1 home record this season, the Cyclones are heavy favorites. Their most recent victory was an 82-59 rout of BYU. This matchup marks the second meeting between the two teams this season, with UCF currently holding a 1-0 series lead.

Iowa State boasts two players, Audi Crooks and Emily Ryan, named to the Naismith Trophy Women’s College Player of the Year Watch List. Crooks, a sophomore, recently achieved the milestone of scoring 1,000 career points faster than any other Cyclone in program history. She’s currently averaging 20.4 points per game and has scored in double figures in an astounding 53 consecutive games. Crooks’ scoring prowess, including a season-high 33 points against Drake, makes her a formidable force in the paint.

Meanwhile, Ryan, a prolific point guard, is a key contributor to Iowa State’s 15th-ranked national assist/turnover ratio (1.33). She holds numerous program records, including an all-time best in assists. The Cyclones’ strong ball-handling and defensive capabilities, evident in holding opponents to 60 points or less eleven times this season, position them for another dominant performance at Hilton Coliseum.

The Cyclones have a long history of success at home, compiling a remarkable 391-82 record under Coach Bill Fennelly. Their home-court advantage and the individual brilliance of Crooks and Ryan make them a challenging opponent for UCF.

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