The 2025-26 college season is just three games (per team) old, and we are already witnessing some of the best and record-breaking games in the season. Florida Gators’ Liv McGill sets basketball history with rare stats matching Miami Heat legend Dwyane Wade earlier this season. Now, Audi Crooks set a new scoring record for the Iowa State Cyclones.
The Iowa State improved their record to 4-0 with a 97-50 win over the Valparaiso Crusaders, and it was their center Crooks who shone in the game with an effective scoring performance. Analyst Pat McAfee praised the star and even called Iowa State a possible champion for the season.
Pat McAfee Lauds Audi Crooks And Calls Iowa State 2026 NCAA Champions
The 20-year-old played for 21 minutes in the game and scored 43 points for the Cyclones. With that, the center surpassed the previous Iowa State single-game record of 42 points set in 1984 by Tonya Burns. What amazed the analyst Pat McAfee was her control and scoring efficiency, whom he called his new favorite player on a recent ESPN show.
“Audi Crooks, my new favorite player. 21 minutes, 43 points, seven rebounds, two assists. Audi Crooks doesn’t need a lot of time, but she is gonna take over, and we need to be prepared for March Madness, for it to be the Audi Crooks show, because my timeline has already become that,” McAfee said as he concluded by declaring the Iowa State team as national champions for the season.
It is worth noting that the 6-foot-3 player extended her streak of scoring in double figures to 71 straight games, which is already the longest active stretch in NCAA basketball and a record in Cyclones history – not even the top 5 WNBA draft pick prospects or active seniors hold this consistency.
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Moreover, the team never won the NCAA Championship in its 30-year history, but has three conference cups and one regular-season championship. So if Crooks can deliver a championship to the program, it will be a historic accomplishment by the junior.
While his prediction about the natty might feel a bit exaggerated, Crooks certainly impressed everyone with her performance, especially given the condition she was in when playing the game.
Audi Crooks Sets Record Despite Illness
Iowa State always had a plan to use their powerful center to the fullest extent, who could dominate the paint region easily. Against the Crusaders, she had a size advantage, with no defender from the opposition able to cover her. However, the junior was even battling a bug that led to her vomiting early in the game, and she didn’t tell anyone so that she could play in the game.
“I’m not going to tell anybody that I’m not feeling good because then they’re not going to play me,” Crooks said.
AUDI CROOKS TONIGHT 🔥🔥
— Women’s Hoops Network (@WomensHoops_USA) November 13, 2025
• 43 POINTS
• 7 REBOUNDS
• 2 ASSISTS
• 18/23 FG
• 20 MINUTES PLAYEDpic.twitter.com/KgUrESYwJj
While she clocked just below 20 minutes into the game, her effective scoring was enough for the side. Coach Bill Fennelly said that the opposition made mistakes playing her one-on-one. He added that even though there are players who can defend her one-on-one, that’s a hard thing to do because her positioning is good, her hands are good, and her feet are good.