Cyclones Battle Orange in NCAA Women's Tourney

Coverage on KSOM as Iowa State takes on Syracuse in first round matchup

Mar. 21, 2026 at 10:50am

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Eight-seeded Iowa State will face off against nine-seeded Syracuse in the first round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament today. The Cyclones are led by All-American junior Audi Crooks, who is averaging 25.5 points per game, while the Orange feature 6'3" freshman Uche Izoje, who is putting up 15.5 points and 9.4 rebounds per contest. Iowa State's Addy Brown will be playing despite not being 100% healthy after missing 11 games during the regular season with a lower body injury.

Why it matters

This first-round matchup between the Cyclones and Orange features two talented teams looking to advance in the NCAA Tournament. Iowa State is seeking to build on its successful regular season, while Syracuse aims to pull off an upset and keep its tournament run alive.

The details

Iowa State enters the game with a 22-9 record, while Syracuse is 23-8 on the season. Audi Crooks has been a dominant force for the Cyclones, averaging 26 points per game in her three previous NCAA Tournament appearances, including a 40-point effort as a freshman. The Orange counter with the imposing presence of 6'3" freshman Uche Izoje, who has been a double-double machine this season.

  • The game is scheduled to tip off at 4:30 PM today.
  • Iowa State's pregame coverage on KSOM will begin at 4:00 PM.

The players

Audi Crooks

A junior All-American for Iowa State, Crooks is averaging 25.5 points per game this season and has been a dominant force in the NCAA Tournament, including a 40-point performance as a freshman.

Uche Izoje

A 6'3" freshman for Syracuse, Izoje is averaging 15.5 points and 9.4 rebounds per game, providing a formidable presence in the paint for the Orange.

Addy Brown

An Iowa State player who missed 11 games during the regular season due to a lower body injury, but is expected to play in today's first-round matchup against Syracuse.

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What they’re saying

“It's a team effort”

— Audi Crooks, Junior, Iowa State

“She is a post player that is different from what we have seen”

— Bill Fennelly, Head Coach, Syracuse

“This game against Syracuse is a fresh start”

— Addy Brown, Iowa State

What’s next

The winner of this first-round matchup between Iowa State and Syracuse will advance to face the winner of the game between the one-seeded South Carolina Gamecocks and the 16-seeded Howard Bison.

The takeaway

This NCAA Tournament first-round clash between the Cyclones and Orange features two talented teams looking to make a deep run in the tournament. While Iowa State is led by the dominant scoring of Audi Crooks, Syracuse counters with the imposing presence of freshman Uche Izoje in the paint. The health of Addy Brown will be a key factor as Iowa State seeks to build on its successful regular season.