Iowa State women’s basketball star Audi Crooks has yet to find an opponent that can shut her down this season. On Wednesday night, Colorado will become the latest team to tangle with Crooks and the 19th-ranked Cyclones, but shutting down the big and powerful 6-foot-3 junior center isn’t the top priority. University of Colorado Buffaloes’ Jade Masogayo shoots over University of Cincinnati Bearcats’ Destiny Thomas during the game played in Boulder, CO on Jan.3, 2026.(Cliff Grassmick/Staff Photographer) “You know Audi’s going to get her points,” CU senior Jade Masogayo said. “But, we’re just making sure that the guards don’t have the opportunity to score, because Audi’s going to get hers for sure.” Not that CU won’t try to limit Crooks, the nation’s leading scorer at 28.3 points per game – 3.2 more than Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo, who is second (25.1). Crooks is also remarkably efficient, with the second-best field goal percentage (.698) in the nation. “I think the biggest thing for us, we figure out who we can help off of – who can be an extra defender (against Crooks),” said CU assistant coach Jordynn Hernandez, who helped to develop the Buffs’ scouting report on Iowa State scouting. That’s been difficult for Iowa State opponents because it has talent around Crooks. However, the Cyclones are missing two of their best players. Addy Brown, a 6-foot-2 forward who averages 13.1 points, 9.0 rebounds and 5.8 assists is out “indefinitely,” according to coach Bill Fennelly. And junior guard Arianna Jackson, who posts 5.6 points per game, is out “for a while.” Brown and Jackson are both two-year starters and two of the best 3-point shooters in the Big 12, with Jackson hitting at a .475 clip and Brown at .422. ISU still has point guard Jada Williams and sharpshooter Kenzie Hare (.444 from 3-point range), but comes in on a three-game losing streak as it has struggled without a couple of its stars. “Crooks is going to get hers and obviously Jada has her moments, too,” Hernandez said. “You have to shut down everybody else and make somebody else score.” Crooks and Williams combined for 54 points in a loss to Baylor, but the rest of the team – including Brown and Jackson – combined for just 16. The Crooks/Williams duo combined for 36 at Cincinnati, but nobody else had more than eight. On Sunday, West Virginia won in a different way, putting pressure on the Iowa State guards and limiting Crooks’ touches. She scored 22 points, but attempted just nine shots (she averages 16.8) in an 83-70 loss. Crooks has been a consistent threat, scoring at least 18 points in every game, while hitting the 40-point mark three times (with a high of 47). The banged-up Cyclones are still adjusting to a new lineup, though, and CU hopes it can take advantage. “I just think the more we can kind of throw them off their rhythm, the better we can be,” Hernandez said. Crooks scored 33 points (on 15-of-20 shooting) and pulled down 12 rebounds against the Buffs in an 86-56 blowout win in Ames on Feb. 8, 2025, so Masogayo knows all about how dangerous she can be. That game was a disaster from the start, though, and Crooks had three teammates score in double figures. That’s what the Buffs hope to prevent Wednesday. CU comes into the game with some confidence, however, despite going 0-2 last week. The Buffs battled two of the Big 12’s best teams – Baylor and Oklahoma State – on the road and took confidence from that trip. “I don’t think their morale is down by any means,” Hernandez said. “I think it’s kind of uplifting because it’s like, we’re right there. … We’re starting to kind of put four quarters together.” Masogayo agreed, adding that film study showed how close the Buffs were to winning both games last week. “It’s given us motivation and I know that we’re on the right track to be successful on that end for sure,” Masogayo said. “It’s just little things that we got to clean up and that’ll win us ball games.” CU Buffs women’s basketball vs. No. 19 Iowa State TIPOFF: Wednesday, 7 p.m., CU Events Center TV/RADIO: ESPN+/KHOW 630 AM RECORDS: Colorado 11-6, 2-3 Big 12; Iowa State 14-3, 2-3 Big 12 COACHES: Colorado — JR Payne, 10th season (175-122; 276-235 career). Iowa State — Bill Fennelly, 31st season (648-328; 814-381 career) KEY PLAYERS: Colorado — C Jade Crook, 6-4, Fr. (4.5 ppg, 2.6 rpg, .524 fg%); F Anaelle Dutat, 6-0, Sr. (9.9 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 2.1 spg, .556 fg%); F Logyn Greer, 6-4, Fr. (10.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg); F Jade Masogayo, 6-3, Sr. (9.9 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 2.2 apg, .500 fg%); G Zyanna Walker, 5-11, Jr. (10.4 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2.7 apg, 2.2 spg); G Desiree Wooten, 5-8, Jr. (10.9 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.6 spg). Iowa State — G Reese Beaty, 5-8, Fr. (5.2 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 3.6 apg); C Audi Crooks, 6-3, Jr. (28.3 ppg, 7.1 rpg, .698 fg%); G Kenzie Hare, 5-9, Jr. (6.2 ppg, 2.5 rpg, .444 3pt%); G/F Sydney Harris, 6-1, Sr. (6.8 ppg, 1.9 rpg); F Alisa Williams, 6-2, Jr. (5.5 ppg, 3.6 rpg, .642 fg%); G Jada Williams, 5-8, Jr. (12.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 7.9 apg). NOTES: CU returns home after a two-game road trip. … CU is 9-1 at home this year, while Iowa State is 2-1 on the road. … The Buffs lead the all-time series with the Cyclones, 37-31, but ISU is 15-2 in the last 17 meetings, dating back to 2004. The Cyclones won the lone meeting last year, 86-56 in Ames on Feb. 8, 2025. … This will be Iowa State’s first trip to Boulder since Jan. 15, 2011. … Masogayo has scored in double figures in six of the last seven games, averaging 12.9 points in that stretch. … In Big 12 games, Dutat is averaging 10.6 points and 9.8 rebounds. … While Crooks leads the nation in scoring, Jada Williams is third in assists (7.9 per game). … Jada Williams played the previous two years at Arizona, leading the Wildcats in scoring (12.7 ppg) and assists (2.9 per game) last year. In three career games against CU, she has averaged 12.7 points and 3.7 assists. ...read more read less