Arizona State Defeats Iowa State in Large 12 Tournament, Strengthening NCAA Berth Hopes

KANSAS CITY, MO – The Arizona State Sun Devils defeated the Iowa State Cyclones 77-68 on Thursday in the second round of the Big 12 Tournament, advancing to face No. 2 seed West Virginia in the quarterfinals on Friday. The win bolsters Arizona State’s case for an NCAA Tournament berth.

Unhurried Start for Iowa State

Iowa State struggled to find its rhythm early, scoring only two points in the first seven minutes of the game. A jumper by Jada Williams provided the initial points for the Cyclones. Audi Crooks added a pair of free throws with 2:48 remaining in the first quarter, but Iowa State finished the quarter shooting 2-10 from the field, including 1-11 from beyond the three-point line.

Sun Devils Control the Game

Arizona State secured the win through strong performances in the first and third quarters, outscoring Iowa State 17-9 in the first and 27-21 in the third. A 16-point lead was established during the third quarter, fueled by an offensive surge. All five Arizona State starters contributed significantly to the scoring effort.

Key Performances

Gabby Elliott led the Sun Devils with 22 points, accompanied by 10 rebounds and eight assists. Heloisa Carrera, McKinna Brackens, and Last-Tear Poa also scored in double figures. Marley Washenitz contributed with two crucial three-pointers, one in the third quarter that helped catalyze the win. Arizona State shot 46% from three-point range (6-13) and 82% at the free throw line (23-28).

Defensive Strategy Against Audi Crooks

Arizona State implemented a defensive strategy focused on limiting the impact of Iowa State’s Audi Crooks, a leading scorer in college basketball. The Sun Devils consistently assigned two or three defenders to Crooks when she received the ball. While Crooks still managed to score 21 points on 6-10 shooting, including 8-12 from the free throw line, it was a significant reduction from her recent performance of 41 points against Kansas State. Arizona State head coach Molly Miller emphasized the importance of defensive support and perimeter coverage after a previous loss where Crooks’ scoring proved hard to contain.

Tournament Implications

With the loss, Iowa State was eliminated from the Big 12 Tournament in the second round. Arizona State advances to play West Virginia. Iowa State will now focus on the NCAA Tournament, hoping the early exit provides additional rest and practice time.