Women’s Top 25 roundup: No. 12 Iowa State uses strong start to blow past Marquette

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Audi Crooks scored 14 of her 18 points in the first half, helping No. 10 Iowa State jump ahead early and coast to an 84-73 win over Marquette Friday in the opening round of the Coconut Classic in Fort Myers, Fla.

The Cyclones (8-0) took a 15-4 lead behind a 10-0 stretch and led 47-35 at the half, thanks to a late 7-0 run. The Golden Eagles (4-2) closed the game on a 10-0 run to make the final score more respectable.

Iowa State held a hefty rebounding advantage (44-26), anchored by a double-double from Jada Williams (15 points, 11 rebounds) and nine rebounds from Arianna Jackson. The Cyclones will play the winner of Friday afternoon’s Indiana-Gonzaga game in the Blue Heron Division championship on Sunday.

Jaidynn Mason led Marquette with 17 points on 7-of-14 shooting, and Skylar Forbes tallied 13 but was just 1-of-5 from 3-point range.

No. 12 North Carolina 85, Kansas State 73

Lanie Grant hit 4 of 8 3-pointers and scored a team-high 15 points to lead the Tar Heels to a victory over the Wildcats in the Cancun Challenge at Riviera Maya, Mexico.

North Carolina (7-1) shot over 50% as a team, making 14 of 26 threes (53.8%). Indya Nivar, Nyla Harris and Nyla Brooks scored 14 points apiece, with Nivar also adding a game-high seven assists and four steals.

Izela Arenas led Kansas State (5-4) with 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting off the bench. The Wildcats shot 56.3% from the floor (27 of 48 but were 50% from the free-throw line (12 of 24).

No. 24 Oklahoma State 74, Charlotte 65

Achol Akot led five Cowgirls (7 of nine) in double figures as they held off the 49ers for a win in the opening game of the Cayman Islands Classic at George Town, Cayman Islands.

Akot tallied 16 points with eight rebounds, leading an effort on the boards that saw Oklahoma State nearly double up Charlotte in rebounds (47-25). Lena Girardi scored 15 while Amari Whiting added 13 and Micah Gray and Stailee Heard scored 10 apiece.

Charlotte was 7-for-11 from 3-point range in the fourth quarter to trim a deficit that was as large as 18 points. Zoe Best made 5 of 10 threes to rack up a game-high 18 points, and Princess Anderson and Tanajah Hayes added 16 points apiece.

–Field Level Media