Iowa State women's roster: Meet the Cyclones in the NCAA Tournament

FINAL FOUR. THE STORY SURROUNDING THIS CYCLONE WOMEN’S TEAM HAS BEEN THE EMERGENCE OF YOUNG STARS LIKE AUDIE CROOKS AND ADDIE BROWN, THE LEADER. THOUGH THERE’S NO QUESTION WHO THAT IS. KCCI JEFF DUBROF HAS THE STORY IN WHAT FEELS LIKE THE BLINK OF AN EYE. IT DOES FEEL LIKE IT’S ABSOLUTELY FLOWN BY, AND I THINK THAT’S KIND OF A CREDIT TO HOW MUCH FUN IT’S BEEN. IOWA STATE’S EMILY RYAN WENT FROM UP AND COMING STAR TO FACE OF THE PROGRAM. AND LAST YEAR, WHEN TEAMMATES TRANSFER AND SHE STAYED HOME, IT WAS NEVER UP IN THE AIR. THE DECISION ADDED TO HER LEGACY, SOMETHING SHE’S NOT REALLY INTERESTED IN. I REALLY DON’T THINK ABOUT THAT SO MUCH, SHE KNOWS THERE’S NO I IN TEAM. I WANT TO BE MORE REMEMBERED ABOUT THE TEAMS I WAS ON RATHER THAN MY OWN PERSONAL ACCOLADES OR SUCCESS. BUT DESPITE THAT, YOU CAN’T WRITE THE STORY OF IOWA STATE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL WITHOUT EMILY RYAN BECAUSE NO ONE HAS EVER HAD MORE ASSISTS IN THE CARDINAL AND GOLD THAN RYAN. AND IT WAS ON THIS PLAY THAT PUT HER IN THE RECORD BOOKS, GIVING HER TEAM THE WIN OVER BAYLOR IN THE BIG 12 TOURNAMENT AND PROMPTING HEAD COACH BILL FINDLAY TO SAY THIS THERE’S NO ONE THAT I’VE EVER COACHED THAT LOVES HER TEAMMATES, LOVES HER SCHOOL, LOVES HER COACHES MORE THAN HER. WHAT DID THAT I MEAN, MEAN TO YOU? IT REALLY DID MEAN THE WORLD TO ME. HE HE’S SOMEONE THAT HAS DONE SO MUCH FOR ME AND MY FAMILY. AND I’LL NEVER BE ABLE TO REPAY HIM FOR EVERYTHING HE’S DONE. AND THE OPPORTUNITIES HE’S GIVEN ME. AND, UM, JUST TO HEAR IT COME OUT OF HIS MOUTH LIKE THAT, IT’S SOMETHING SPECIAL. FROM WIDE EYED FRESHMAN TO NOW, SENIOR LEADER RYAN SERVES AS THE GUIDING HAND TO THE LATEST BATCH OF FRESHMEN. IT’S SO FUN TO EXPERIENCE IT THROUGH THEIR LENS, A LENS THAT SEES A GROUP OF SENIORS AS OLD. HANNAH GETS CALLED GRANNY ALL THE TIME IF THEY CALL HANNAH A GRANNY, DO THEY HAVE A NICKNAME FOR YOU? I DON’T HAVE ONE YET. I THINK MY FIFTH YEAR I COULD START GETTING SOMETHING THAT FIFTH YEAR, ONE THAT RYAN ANNOUNCED, SHE’S RETURNED FOR LAST MONTH. ONE MORE YEAR FOR RYAN TO BUILD HER LEGACY THAT MIGHT ALREADY BE CEMENTED. I’VE HAD A LOT OF GREAT PEOPLE, AND THERE’S YOU GUYS JUST DON’T SEE IT LIKE I SEE IT, BUT THERE’S NO ONE LIK

It was a season of uncertainty for the Iowa State women that turned into another trip to the NCAA Tournament for head coach Bill Fennelly and the Cyclones. Thanks in large part to five freshmen — Jalynn Bristow, Arianna Jackson, Kelsey Joens, Addy Brown and Audi Crooks — the team has a 20-11 record heading into Friday's NCAA Tournament game on Friday against Maryland in Stanford, California. Algona, Iowa native, Audi Crooks has racked up the most weekly honors of any Iowa State freshman in program history and was named an honorable mention All-American after breaking the school's all-time freshman scoring record. Crooks leads the Cyclones with an average of 18.9 points per game. Two other players average double-digit scoring — forward Addy Brown (13.1) and guard Emily Ryan (10.2). Brown leads in rebounds (8.3) and Ryan leads in assists (6.7) and steals (1.2). Brown is the only player to start in every game this season. NCAA Tournament coverage:Women's NCAA Tournament: TV, tickets, tip-off time for Iowa State vs. Maryland Women's NCAA Tournament: What to know about Maryland, Iowa State's first-round opponent Meet the Iowa State Cyclone women0 Isnelle NatabouJunior center from Ceska Lipa, Czech RepublicAverages 4.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, 0.4 assists in 31 games this season1 Jalynn BristowFreshman forward from Holliday, TexasAverages 5.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, 0.7 assists in 31 games this season2 Arianna JacksonFreshman guard from Des Moines, IowaAverages 5.1 points, 2.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists in 30 games this season4 Shantavia DawkinsSophomore guard from Brampton, Ontario, CanadaAverages 0.8 points, 0.2 rebounds, 0.9 assists in 10 games this season5 Nyamer DiewSenior forward from Marshall, MinnesotaAverages 6.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.1 assists in 28 games this season11 Emily RyanSenior guard from Claflin, KansasAverages 10.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 6.7 assists in 22 games this season12 Mary Kate KingJunior guard from Dubuque, IowaAverages 0.6 points, 0.2 rebounds, 0.6 assists in 5 games this season13 Hannah BelangerJunior guard from Grafton, WisconsinAverages 9.4 points, 1.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists in 31 games this season23 Kelsey JoensFreshman guard from Iowa City, IowaAverages 5.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists in 31 games this season24 Addy BrownFreshman forward from Derby, KansasAverages 13.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists in 31 games this season55 Audi CrooksFreshman center from Algona, IowaAverages 18.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.1 assists in 31 games this seasonMeet the Iowa State coachesHead coach: Bill FennellyAssistant head coach: Jodi SteyerAssistant coaches: Latoja Schaben and Billy Fennelly

AMES, Iowa —

It was a season of uncertainty for the Iowa State women that turned into another trip to the NCAA Tournament for head coach Bill Fennelly and the Cyclones.

Thanks in large part to five freshmen — Jalynn Bristow, Arianna Jackson, Kelsey Joens, Addy Brown and Audi Crooks — the team has a 20-11 record heading into Friday's NCAA Tournament game on Friday against Maryland in Stanford, California.

Algona, Iowa native, Audi Crooks has racked up the most weekly honors of any Iowa State freshman in program history and was named an honorable mention All-American after breaking the school's all-time freshman scoring record.

Crooks leads the Cyclones with an average of 18.9 points per game. Two other players average double-digit scoring — forward Addy Brown (13.1) and guard Emily Ryan (10.2). Brown leads in rebounds (8.3) and Ryan leads in assists (6.7) and steals (1.2).

Brown is the only player to start in every game this season.

NCAA Tournament coverage:

Meet the Iowa State Cyclone women

0 Isnelle Natabou

Junior center from Ceska Lipa, Czech Republic
Averages 4.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, 0.4 assists in 31 games this season

1 Jalynn Bristow

Freshman forward from Holliday, Texas
Averages 5.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, 0.7 assists in 31 games this season

2 Arianna Jackson

Freshman guard from Des Moines, Iowa
Averages 5.1 points, 2.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists in 30 games this season

4 Shantavia Dawkins

Sophomore guard from Brampton, Ontario, Canada
Averages 0.8 points, 0.2 rebounds, 0.9 assists in 10 games this season

5 Nyamer Diew

Senior forward from Marshall, Minnesota
Averages 6.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.1 assists in 28 games this season

11 Emily Ryan

Senior guard from Claflin, Kansas
Averages 10.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 6.7 assists in 22 games this season

12 Mary Kate King

Junior guard from Dubuque, Iowa
Averages 0.6 points, 0.2 rebounds, 0.6 assists in 5 games this season

13 Hannah Belanger

Junior guard from Grafton, Wisconsin
Averages 9.4 points, 1.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists in 31 games this season

23 Kelsey Joens

Freshman guard from Iowa City, Iowa
Averages 5.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists in 31 games this season

24 Addy Brown

Freshman forward from Derby, Kansas
Averages 13.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists in 31 games this season

55 Audi Crooks

Freshman center from Algona, Iowa
Averages 18.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.1 assists in 31 games this season

Meet the Iowa State coaches

Head coach: Bill Fennelly

Assistant head coach: Jodi Steyer

Assistant coaches: Latoja Schaben and Billy Fennelly

Iowa State women's roster: Meet the Cyclones in the NCAA Tournament

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Meet the Iowa State Cyclone women

Meet the Iowa State coaches

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