Audi Crooks leads Iowa State (11-0) past Iowa in ranked matchup - ESPN

AMES, Iowa — Iowa State center Audi Crooks, the leading scorer in Division I women's basketball, had another huge game Wednesday night as the No. 10 Cyclones stayed undefeated by beating cross-state rival Iowa 74-69 at Hilton Coliseum.

Crooks had 30 points and 10 rebounds and is now averaging 27.8 PPG and shooting 72.2% from the field, which is second in Division 1.

But she was more focused on what this victory said about her team, which won its first game against a ranked opponent while handing the No. 11 Hawkeyes (9-1) their first loss. Crooks' teammates Addy Brown (20 points, 12 rebounds) and Jada Williams (11 points, 12 assists) also had double-doubles.

«I feel like now we're officially battle-tested,» Crooks said. «You know, people were commenting on our schedule and now there's not much else to say. When you have three players with double-doubles, you can't say we're a one-trick pony. You can't say our schedule is soft.

»But, honestly, we're not concerned with the noise and what everybody has to say online. We're worried about the mentality in our locker room [and] that we have in practice. I feel that comes with maturity. It's really easy to get sucked into social media and public opinion… this team, we're all a little bit older and a little bit wiser."

That said, coach Bill Fennelly acknowledged the Cyclones (11-0) definitely knew their strength of schedule — at 308 entering Wednesday — was being questioned. Last season, Iowa State lost nonconference games to UConn and South Carolina — who played in the national championship — plus Iowa and Northern Iowa.

Fennelly said he thought those losses cost the Cyclones a lot in public perception. This season, the schedule has not been nearly as difficult.

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