Iowa State Women's Basketball Falters Late, Loses to TCU

Cyclones let 13-point fourth quarter lead slip away against No. 11 Horned Frogs

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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The Iowa State women's basketball team was in control for most of the game against No. 11 TCU, leading by 13 points in the fourth quarter. However, the Cyclones were unable to hold on as TCU went on a 14-0 run to take the lead and eventually win 80-73, snapping Iowa State's upset bid and the Horned Frogs' 40-game home winning streak.

Why it matters

This was a missed opportunity for Iowa State to add a marquee win to its NCAA Tournament resume. The Cyclones led for most of the game and were poised to hand TCU its first home loss in over a year, but they were unable to close out the game, raising questions about their ability to finish off tough opponents on the road.

The details

Iowa State led by as many as 13 points in the fourth quarter, but TCU responded with a 14-0 run to take the lead. The Cyclones' star player, Audi Crooks, fouled out late in the fourth quarter, and Iowa State missed 8 of its final 9 shots as TCU closed out the game on a 16-3 run.

  • The Cyclones led by 13 points with under 8 minutes to play in the fourth quarter.
  • TCU went on a 14-0 run to take the lead and never relinquished it.
  • Audi Crooks fouled out late in the fourth quarter for Iowa State.

The players

Audi Crooks

The star player for Iowa State, who finished with 22 points but fouled out late in the fourth quarter.

Jada Williams

The Cyclones' point guard, who scored 15 points, grabbed 7 rebounds, and dished out 11 assists in the game.

TCU

The No. 11 ranked Horned Frogs, who entered the game with a 40-game home winning streak that Iowa State nearly ended.

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What they’re saying

“We had them on the ropes, but just couldn't finish it off. It's a tough loss, but we'll learn from this and come back stronger.”

— Audi Crooks, Iowa State Forward (Des Moines Register)

What’s next

Iowa State will look to rebound from this tough loss when they host No. 5 Baylor on February 26th.

The takeaway

This game highlighted Iowa State's potential, but also their need to improve their ability to close out tough road games against ranked opponents. The Cyclones will need to learn from this experience if they hope to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.