No. 11 Iowa State Women’s Basketball Looks to Bounce Back After First Loss at Cincinnati
AMES — Iowa State women’s basketball faces a moment of reckoning this week after seeing its near-perfect season stumble for the first time. The No. 11 Cyclones, riding high at 14-0, suffered a narrow 72-70 defeat at the hands of No. 16 Baylor on Sunday at Hilton Coliseum, leaving coach Bill Fennelly and his team searching for answers and a way to rebound.
The loss wasn’t just a blow to their record; it was a wake-up call about how opposing defenses are evolving to counter star center Audi Crooks. Baylor rolled out an innovative defensive scheme that Fennelly had not seen before, putting two long, athletic defenders on Crooks for more than half the game. The tactic effectively limited her touches and disrupted the Cyclones’ offensive rhythm, while leaving Baylor’s point guard, Jada Williams, open on the perimeter. Williams took full advantage, scoring a career-high 28 points. Still, despite her standout performance, Baylor’s lead was razor-thin, showing that Iowa State remains a formidable force even when challenged by elite competition.
“That will be something we look at,” Fennelly said after the game. “I don’t think anyone can do it like Baylor did it, with that length and athleticism, but I’m sure we’ll see something similar down the road. We’ve faced a lot of defenses, but that one was unique.”
Looking forward, the Cyclones hope to regroup quickly with a Wednesday evening matchup against Cincinnati (5-10, 0-3). Fennelly stressed that adjustments don’t have to be dramatic just smart tweaks to regain the team’s balance and confidence. “We still have a lot of pieces in place,” he noted. “It’s about refining what we do well and learning from what didn’t work.”
A key piece in that puzzle is guard/forward Addy Brown, the 6-foot-2 junior from Derby, Kansas. Brown has been a versatile contributor for Iowa State this season, but recent struggles at the rim have raised questions about her scoring consistency. In the past two games, she’s made just three of 17 field-goal attempts, including a meager two points on seven shots against Baylor. Yet her overall shooting percentage remains impressive at a career-best 49.7 percent. Brown even notched her first career triple-double back in mid-November during a win over Norfolk State, showcasing the breadth of her abilities.
Fennelly hopes Brown will strike a balance between facilitating offense for her teammates and asserting herself as a scorer. “We want her to be aggressive offensively,” he said. “Her instinct is to pass first, which is great, but we can’t win games with her scoring just two points, not against a team like Baylor. She has to hunt her own shots while still creating opportunities for others. There’s a lot of room for growth there, and I think she’s capable of it.”
Crooks, despite being the focal point of Baylor’s defense, emphasized that the team has plenty of takeaways from the loss. “We have a lot of film to study and areas to improve on,” she said. “It’s not about dwelling on the loss it’s about learning and coming back stronger.” The Cyclones’ resilience will be tested as they face Cincinnati, a team struggling to find its footing in the conference. But for a squad accustomed to dominating games, this matchup offers a chance to regain rhythm, test new strategies, and give key players like Brown confidence to play with more freedom.
Sunday’s game against Baylor highlighted both Iowa State’s strengths and areas needing attention. Crooks’ presence in the paint remains a cornerstone of the offense, but when teams double her, it exposes gaps elsewhere. That’s where the versatility of players like Brown becomes essential. The Cyclones need someone to step up offensively and keep defenses honest, creating space for Crooks while also contributing points in their own right. It’s a delicate balance, but one the team has managed well most of the season.
Baylor’s approach, though novel, also underscored how critical teamwork and composure are under pressure. Even with Crooks heavily guarded and Williams lighting up the scoreboard, Iowa State remained competitive until the final seconds. “We had moments of hesitation,” Fennelly admitted. “But the fight was there. That’s encouraging because it shows our players have resilience and heart. Now it’s about fine-tuning our execution.”
The Cyclones’ path forward is about learning to adapt. Coaches and players alike recognize that defenses will continue to evolve, and staying ahead requires not just talent, but strategic thinking and versatility. That’s why Wednesday’s game at Cincinnati isn’t just another contest on the schedule it’s an opportunity to reset, regain confidence, and demonstrate that the Cyclones can overcome adversity.
Brown’s role in the team’s bounce-back cannot be overstated. Her combination of size, skill, and basketball IQ makes her a matchup problem for most opponents. But her recent scoring slump suggests a mental hurdle as well as a physical one. Finding her scoring touch while continuing to distribute effectively could make the difference in close games and is likely the focus of the coaching staff in practice this week. “Addy has all the tools,” Fennelly said. “It’s about giving her the right situations and encouraging her to be assertive. That confidence will carry over into games.”
For fans, the loss to Baylor is a reminder that even the best teams face challenges. Yet the Cyclones’ response could define their season. With a mostly healthy roster, a clear understanding of their strengths and weaknesses, and a strong team culture instilled by Fennelly, Iowa State has all the ingredients to rebound quickly. And while Cincinnati presents a lighter test than Baylor, it offers a chance to work on execution, refine rotations, and build momentum heading deeper into the season.
Off the court, the Cyclones continue to inspire attention with their commitment, teamwork, and star power. Crooks’ poise under pressure, Brown’s versatility, and the coaching staff’s strategic acumen make them a team to watch in the Big 12 and nationally. The challenges they’ve encountered, including the tight loss to Baylor, are part of the journey of a championship-level squad. They’re reminders that even elite teams need to adjust, learn, and grow and often, that growth comes from the very games that sting the most.
As Iowa State prepares for Wednesday’s tipoff in Cincinnati, all eyes will be on how quickly the team can re-establish its rhythm and offensive balance. Can Crooks continue to dominate despite double teams? Will Brown rediscover her scoring confidence? And will the Cyclones’ collective resilience carry them past another tough road test? Those questions may well define the next chapter of Iowa State’s season.
For now, the Cyclones are focused on the immediate challenge, knowing that a strong response can set the tone for the remainder of the season. Fennelly remains calm but determined. “We know what we need to do,” he said. “It’s about getting back to our identity, playing together, and making the adjustments that will keep us competitive. We’re not panicking. We’re learning and that’s how great teams grow.”
One game, one adjustment, and one determined mindset at a time, Iowa State is ready to show the basketball world that a first loss doesn’t define them. It’s how they respond that truly matters.
