The Iowa State women’s basketball team hoped playing an intense non-conference schedule would properly prepare it for Big 12 Conference play.
The Cyclones quickly learned the league schedule wouldn’t be much easier.
Iowa State overcame a giant first-half deficit but couldn’t finish it off with a win Saturday as the 23rd-ranked Cyclones suffered an 81-75 loss to Oklahoma State in Stillwater.
Audi Crooks scored 28 points and grabbed 11 rebounds as Iowa State fell to 9-5 on the season, including 0-1 in Big 12 play. Addy Brown added 15 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.
More: Iowa State women’s basketball hoping tough non-conference schedule prepares it for Big 12
The Cyclones have lost three of their last four games.
The huge games from Crooks and Brown were enough to help Iowa State recover from an ugly start. But they weren’t enough to give the Cyclones, who were picked to finish second in the Big 12 before the season started, a much-needed win.
Iowa State fell into a 17-point hole in the second quarter and trailed by 12 heading into halftime. But the Cyclones got back into the game with a giant second-half surge.
Bill Fennelly’s team went on an 18-5 run to cut into Oklahoma State’s giant lead. Crooks hit a pair of jumpers to bring Iowa State to within five points, 59-54, in the third quarter.
The Cyclones pulled to within four when Kelsey Joens hit a 3-pointer with four seconds remaining in the third. Iowa State completed the comeback in the fourth quarter.
Back-to-back 3-pointers by Arianna Jackson and Sydney Harris, tied the game, 67-67, with 4:40 to play. Oklahoma State reclaimed the lead for good on a layup by Micah Gray.
Oklahoma State pulled away as the Cyclones went just 2-for-8 from the field in the final four minutes.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa State women’s basketball lose Big 12 opener vs. Oklahoma State
