Iowa State sensation Audi Crooks scores 40 points in NCAA debut

STANFORD, Calif. (AP) Des Moines police consider they’ve little likelihood of stopping Audi Crooks.

Either way, it is a good-natured message they’re sending.

Crooks is popping heads all over the place after a dominating 40-point NCAA Tournament debut, and the nation’s police are having just a little fun with Iowa State’s NCAA Tournament success up to now, powered by its stellar freshman center.

“Some fraudsters no one can stop.”

This is what social media is congratulating post to the team and Crooks read on the police channel via X, formerly Twitter, posting a photograph of a smiling Crooks wearing a No. 55 jersey and holding a basketball.

The imposing 6-foot-3 Crooks and Iowa State play in Ames, about 55 miles from the state capital of Des Moines. Sure, Crooks doesn’t have the celebrity of Iowa’s Caitlin Clark, but she’s quickly made a reputation for herself on the March scene.

“I thought it was pretty funny. It’s nice that the police are watching and taking notice,” said the deceptively quick Crooks. “It actually brings a lot of attention to our program and women’s basketball, so overall I think it’s just a positive thing.”

With a relentless smile and poise well beyond her 18 years, Crooks converted 18 of 20 shots and led the Cyclones to a 20-point comeback as seventh-seeded Iowa State (21-11) defeated Tenth-seeded Maryland 93-86 on Friday night.

This signifies that the second round of the competition will happen on Sunday evening, in which No. 2 seed Stanford (29-5) will play on Cardinal’s home field.

“I don’t think there’s any doubt that Audi has the opportunity and the platform to impact our sport,” Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly said Saturday.

According to OptaSTATS, Crooks joined Bill Walton because the only players in NCAA Tournament history to attain 40 points on not less than 90% shooting after Walton did it for UCLA in the 1973 NCAA Championship Game.

“Obviously last night was interesting, so not every game is going to be like that,” Crooks said a day later. “I’ll just take whatever comes next.”

Stanford players were in a position to watch Crooks play live in the stands before heading to the locker room to arrange for the tip of the sport.

“She’s phenomenal, very efficient and I think she was 18 out of 20 last night,” guard Hannah Jump said. “So I think I’m just trying to limit her catches, be aggressive, make sure we take her out and don’t let her get any second chances.”

Hall of Fame Cardinal coach Tara VanDerveer is delighted with the fanfare surrounding the Crooks’ breakout.

VanDerveer gave a shout of appreciation to the police officer: “I thought it was really cute that there’s nothing wrong with being a crook.”

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The Des Moines Police (*40*) public information officer is Paul Parizek, a friend of Fennelly and this system.

In an email to the Associated Press, Parizek described Katie Dinnebier of Clark, Crooks and Drake as “a homegrown Iowa talent who has made her mark on the national stage.”

“Our perspective is that if women succeed, we all succeed. Anything we can do to help increase the achievements of women in our state is a win for everyone,” Parizek wrote. “Our agency has quite a big social media following in central Iowa, and we wish to do all the things we will to focus on the outstanding achievements of female role models.

“These actions, which discourage law enforcement agencies across the country from using social media platforms to acknowledge the greatness of our communities, promote the success of others, and expand our reach amongst the various communities we serve, seem like counterproductive to our collective success. It’s Women’s History Month and a lady’s place is anywhere she wants, regardless of what uniform she wears!

VanDerveer knows that form of recognition could reach a brand new audience, which could shed a brand new perspective on women’s basketball and fans who won’t otherwise tune in on Sunday.

“I think it’s fantastic,” said VanDerveer, who passed former Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski earlier this season as probably the most successful coach in men’s and ladies’s basketball. “…We need regular people, not only basketball fans who’re all interested in basketball, but everyone who says, ‘Hey, let’s check the rating, let’s watch.’ It’s great. I believe it’s really exciting that something like that is getting this much attention.

Crooks realizes that repeating her first-round performance is not realistic, especially considering Stanford’s Cameron Brink is the nation’s top shot-blocker and had six shots in the first-round win over Norfolk State.

Brink has 115 blocks this season, and her frontcourt teammate Kiki Iriafen is equally able to disrupting shots regularly.

“It kind of reminds me of growing up playing against my sister, who was a lot taller than me and hit all over the place,” Iowa State’s Addy Brown said of older sister Kennedy, a Duke star. “They’re really good inside at blocking shots, especially Cameron. I just have to be smart and prepared for it, know that she will come. You can’t be afraid of it.”

VanDerveer will depend on several players in Crooks’ defense, calling her a “great talent.”

“I’m glad I don’t have to watch her,” the coach said. – We have players on the team who will work really hard against her.