The energy inside Hilton Coliseum usually feels like a physical weight. When the Iowa State Cyclones women's basketball team is rolling, that "Hilton Magic" is less of a marketing slogan and more of a headache for visiting coaches. But lately, things have been weird. Honestly, it’s been a bit of a rollercoaster in Ames.
You’ve got a team that started the 2025-26 season like a freight train, ripping off a 12-0 start and sweeping the state of Iowa. They beat the Hawkeyes 74-69 in December. They looked invincible. Then January hit, and the wheels didn't fall off, but they definitely started wobbling. Losing three straight conference games to Baylor, Cincinnati, and West Virginia wasn't exactly in the script for a team ranked No. 11 in the country.
The Audi Crooks Factor
Let’s talk about Audi Crooks. If you aren't watching her, you’re missing the most dominant post player in the Big 12, period. The junior center from Algona is basically a human cheat code in the paint. On January 11, 2026, against West Virginia, she went 8-of-9 from the floor. That’s not a typo. She barely misses.
Crooks currently holds the longest active double-digit scoring streak in NCAA women's basketball—83 games and counting. Think about that. Every single time she steps on the court, for over two years, she gets at least 10 points. She recently crossed the 1,900-career point mark, moving into fourth place on the school’s all-time scoring list.
But here is the catch. Even when Audi puts up 22 points and 10 rebounds, the Cyclones are finding ways to lose. Against West Virginia, they turned the ball over 25 times. You can’t win at this level giving away 30 points off turnovers. It doesn't matter if you have a generational talent in the middle if the ball never gets to her.
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Why the 2026 Big 12 Schedule is Brutal
The Big 12 isn't what it used to be. It’s deeper. It’s meaner.
Iowa State Cyclones women's basketball currently sits at 14-3 overall, but that 2-3 conference record is a glaring red flag. They are sitting in 9th place in the league standings as of mid-January. That sounds bad, and it sort of is, but look at who is ahead of them. Texas Tech is a terrifying 18-0. TCU is 16-1. The margin for error has evaporated.
Bill Fennelly, now in his 31st season at the helm, is seeing the growing pains of a roster that relies heavily on underclassmen production alongside stars like Addy Brown. Brown is a Swiss Army knife. She’s the kind of player who grabs 10 rebounds and dishes out 5 assists while scoring 20. When she and Audi are both clicking, Iowa State leads the conference in field goal percentage (over 50% as a team). When they aren't? Well, you get the Cincinnati game where they shot themselves into a hole they couldn't climb out of.
The Guard Play Dilemma
The Cyclones have some serious snipers. Sydney Harris and Reagan Wilson can light it up from deep. They combined for six triples against West Virginia. But the perimeter defense and ball security have been... let's say "inconsistent."
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- Reagan Wilson (Sophomore): Showing flashes of brilliance but struggling with the speed of Big 12 press defenses.
- Arianna Jackson (Junior): The defensive heart, but needs to be more aggressive offensively to space the floor for Crooks.
- Addy Brown (Junior): Essentially a point-forward. If she gets in foul trouble, the offense stalls.
It's kinda frustrating to watch because the talent is clearly there. This team has the offensive ceiling to make a Final Four run, but their floor is currently lower than Fennelly would like. They are leading the Big 12 in shooting percentage but are near the bottom in turnover margin. It’s a classic high-risk, high-reward system.
Breaking Down the "Hilton Magic" Myth
Is Hilton Coliseum still a fortress? People talk about the 10,000+ fans like they’re the sixth man, and usually, they are. Iowa State is 10-2 at home this year. But those two losses—Baylor and West Virginia—happened right in front of the home crowd.
The Mountaineers outscored the Cyclones 44-20 in the paint. That shouldn't happen when you have a 6'3" All-American center. It suggests that teams have figured out how to pull Audi away from the basket or simply beat the Cyclones down the floor before they can set their defense.
What to Watch for in February
The upcoming schedule is a gauntlet. They have to travel to Boulder to face Colorado and then to Stillwater for Oklahoma State. If they don't find a way to split those road games, they could be looking at a middle-of-the-pack seed in the NCAA Tournament, which would be a massive disappointment given their December hype.
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Keep an eye on the recruiting trail, too. Macy Comito, a high-level point guard from Carlisle, Iowa, is the big prize for the 2026 class. She’s exactly the type of ball-handler this roster is screaming for right now.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Bettors
If you’re following the Iowa State Cyclones women's basketball trajectory this season, here is what actually matters for the rest of the month:
- Watch the Turnover Count: If Iowa State keeps it under 15 turnovers, they win. Simple as that. When that number hits 20, they are in deep trouble regardless of the opponent.
- The "Audi-Addy" Point Total: In wins, Crooks and Brown usually combine for 45+ points. If the defense collapses on Audi and forces the guards to win it, the Cyclones become much more vulnerable.
- Free Throw Efficiency: They are actually shooting remarkably well from the stripe (94.7% in their last outing). In close Big 12 games, this is their secret weapon.
- Bench Depth: Fennelly needs more from players like Alisa Williams and Aili Tanke to give the starters a breather without the lead evaporating.
The Cyclones aren't broken, but they are definitely being tested. The 12-0 start proved they have the ceiling of a contender. The 2-3 Big 12 start proved they have the discipline of a mid-tier team. Which one they choose to be in March will depend entirely on whether they can stop throwing the ball to the other team.
Next up is a road trip to Colorado. It’s a late-night tip, it’s at altitude, and it’s exactly the kind of "gut check" game that defines a season.
Check the local broadcast schedules on ESPN+ or the Cyclone Radio Network. If you can, get to Hilton for the Kansas State game on February 15—it's likely going to be a sellout with massive seeding implications. Stay locked into the box scores for turnover margins; that is the only stat that matters for this team right now.