In an electrifying NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament game, Iowa State, led by freshman sensation Audi Crooks, mounted a historic comeback to defeat Maryland with a final score of 87-82. Crooks scored 40 points, making her the first player in over 25 years to score 40 points with a 90% shooting rate in a women's NCAA tournament game, a feat only matched by Bill Walton. This performance also marked the most points by a player in their first career NCAA Tournament game in the last 25 years. Iowa State, the 7th seed, overcame a 20-point deficit to beat the 10th-seeded Maryland, securing the second-largest comeback in NCAA women's tournament history. The game took place in Palo Alto, California, with Iowa State advancing to the second round. Crooks' remarkable achievement has drawn comparisons to basketball legends and has put her in the spotlight for future games, including an upcoming match against No. 2 seed Stanford.
Audi Crooks became the second freshman to score 40 points at Maples this year with her stunning Tournament debut vs Maryland. Against Cameron Brink and Kiki Iriafen, can Crooks give a repeat performance? | @sfchronicle https://t.co/XZKhmGRGYR
WATCH: Here's everything Bill Fennelly, Emily Ryan, Audi Crooks & Addy Brown had to say ahead of Iowa State's matchup against No. 2 Stanford set for Sunday. https://t.co/8J6pup9iTS
Iowa State freshman Audi Crooks went viral after her 40-point performance, and now Stanford must stop her if the Cardinal want to avoid another early exit in the NCAA Tournament. https://t.co/zbC1zhzkwW
Iowa State's Audi Crooks shared a heartwarming message about her late father inspiring her breakout game https://t.co/z1U0y7kTh1 https://t.co/0ni96qapBd
Emily Ryan, Audi Crooks and Addy Brown take the stage for Iowa State's pre-game press conference. The Cyclones face No. 2 Stanford on Sunday at 9 p.m. on ESPN. https://t.co/RPIuc42Evv
"I pray and I am kind of seeking guidance from my father. He passed away when I was 16 in 2021." Audi Crooks says she takes a moment before each game to think about her father โค๏ธ https://t.co/FDsBii0pYW
March Madness: Iowa State freshman Audi Crooks emotionally reveals she prays for her father before every game following his death in 2021 when she was just 16 after scoring record 40 points in first-round win https://t.co/2A8aYmQGpb https://t.co/KHRec59Q3P
Audi Crooks scored 40 points as Iowa State rallied back from a 20-point deficit to earn a trip to the second round. "This is a big night, not for me, but for Iowa State," Crooks said after the game. @cfchangs9 has the story from California. https://t.co/ytX8q6jNXo
WATCH: Everything Bill Fennelly, Audi Crooks, Emily Ryan, Addy Brown and Hannah Belanger had to say following Iowa State's 20-point comeback win in the first round of the NCAA Tournament Friday. https://t.co/ZewYxBypDu
Iowa State's Audi Crooks broke a remarkable record and drew praise from Aliyah Boston in her March Madness debut https://t.co/iIsc4Wy7pI https://t.co/h5Nq7w7g4w
Audi Crooks joins Bill Walton as the only players with 40+ points on 90% shooting in an NCAA tournament game. ๐ฑ๐ https://t.co/rmGv8eJtPl
Players with 40+ points on 90% shooting in an NCAA Tournament game, all-time (men or women): Bill Walton, UCLA (1973 title game) Audi Crooks, @CycloneWBB (tonight) https://t.co/pSbf9oBvJP
Audi Crooks really dropped 40 to lead Iowa St. back from 20-PT deficit as a FRESHMAN ๐คฏ HOOPER. https://t.co/XHOB1lCXxG
Iowa State comes back to win after being down by 20 pts, securing the second-largest comeback in NCAA womenโs tournament history ๐คฏ๐ ๐ฅ: @MarchMadnessWBB https://t.co/leAuCGHvAs
Iowa State comes back after being down by 20 pts, securing the second-largest comeback in NCAA womenโs tournament history ๐คฏ๐ ๐ฅ: @MarchMadnessWBB https://t.co/leAuCGHvAs
Down 20, second-largest comeback in NCAA womenโs tournament history. Freshman Audi Crooks with 40 points. The Cyclones are going to be good for a while. https://t.co/kEDXg8D25c
WHAT A GAME ๐ค Audi Crooks is the first player over the last 25 years with 40 points and 90% FG in a women's NCAA tournament game๐ฅ https://t.co/zBy2NrGPrC
A reminder that Audi Crooks is a freshman and just dropped 40 points in an NCAA Tournament gameโฆ @aa_boston ๐ค @AudiCrooks https://t.co/j3xO9ytOSX
WHAT. A. COMEBACK. (7) Iowa State erases a 16-point halftime deficit to defeat (10) Maryland in round one of the womenโs NCAA Tournament. @CycloneWBB | #MarchMadness https://t.co/lSMSIlQjKP
HISTORY: Audi Crooks' 40 points for Iowa State are the most by a player in their first career NCAA Tournament game over the last 25 years, per @ESPNStatsInfo
Headline: Star women's basketball player from Iowa dominates NCAA tournament game. That's right, Audi Crooks.
Audi Crooks! Cyclones lead it 87-82! 37 points for Audi
Audi Crooks blocks Faith Masonius. Cyclones get the ball back, leading by 4 with 3:30 to play.
Audi Crooks. Again. 78-72, Cyclones.
END OF 3: No. 7 Iowa State 66, No. 10 Maryland 66 10 minutes to decide who moves on to the Round of 32.
Iowa State runs an identical play with a lob pass to Audi Crooks. She cans it. Clones lead again. 64-63, Iowa State.
Audi Crooks gets the bucket on the other side. 22 points for her and Iowa State cuts its deficit to 8.
Kubek finally misses a shot. Iowa State comes down and hits a 3 on the other end and Frese calls timeout. Cyclones have found some offense outside of Crooks. Lead down to 57-49 with 6:14 remaining.
Live from Maples Pavilion, #7-seed Iowa State vs. #10 Maryland. Brenda Frese is facing her mentor Bill Fennelly for the first time. #MarchMadness #ncaaw https://t.co/Jn3MdBMYte
Audi Crooks wins the tip, Addy Brown finds the ball, and the Cyclones are off to a 2-0 lead early.
Round of 64 starting lineups No. 7 Iowa State Emily Ryan Arianna Jackson Hannah Belanger Addy Brown Audi Crooks No. 10 Maryland Shyanne Sellers Jakia Brown-Turner Bri McDaniel Brinae Alexander Faith Masonius
๐ Tenth-seeded Maryland (19-13) begins its NCAA Women's Basketball Championship run Friday night in Palo Alto, California against seventh-seed Iowa State (20-11). https://t.co/ypkgOQKBZ7
Maryland begins their tournament today vs No. 7 seed Iowa State. They need Faith Masonius to continue to play like she did at the Big Ten Tournament. https://t.co/qWRoGN3ZFg