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Fennelly Becomes Big 12's Winningest Coach as Cyclones Upset Red Raiders
Iowa State's upset victory over #21 Texas Tech gives head coach Bill Fennelly his 297th career conference win.
Jan. 28, 2026 at 10:31pm
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In a Big 12 women's basketball matchup, the Iowa State Cyclones defeated the #21 Texas Tech Red Raiders 72-61. The win was the 297th career conference victory for Cyclones head coach Bill Fennelly, making him the winningest coach in Big 12 history and surpassing former Baylor coach Kim Mulkey. Iowa State was led by a dominant 33-point, 12-rebound performance from forward Audi Crooks, while Texas Tech was paced by 17 points from Sidney Love and 16 from Bailey Maupin.
Why it matters
This milestone victory for Coach Fennelly cements his legacy as one of the most successful coaches in Big 12 history. It also demonstrates Iowa State's ability to pull off an upset over a highly ranked conference opponent on the road, keeping the Cyclones in the hunt for a strong finish to the regular season.
The details
Iowa State jumped out to an early 6-0 lead and never trailed in the game. The Cyclones led by as many as 13 points in the second quarter before Texas Tech cut the deficit to 40-38 at halftime. Iowa State then pushed the lead back to 10 points by the end of the third quarter, and Crooks took over in the fourth to seal the victory.
- The win was Bill Fennelly's 297th career conference victory, making him the winningest coach in Big 12 history.
- The game was played on Wednesday, January 28, 2026.
The players
Bill Fennelly
The head coach of the Iowa State Cyclones women's basketball team, who became the winningest coach in Big 12 history with this victory.
Audi Crooks
The Iowa State forward who led the Cyclones with 33 points and 12 rebounds in the upset win.
Kim Mulkey
The former head coach of the Baylor Bears women's basketball team, who previously held the record for most conference wins in Big 12 history.
Sidney Love
The Texas Tech player who led the Red Raiders with 17 points in the losing effort.
Bailey Maupin
The Texas Tech player who scored 16 points for the Red Raiders.
What they’re saying
“This is a huge win for our program and for Coach Fennelly. To become the winningest coach in Big 12 history is an incredible accomplishment.”
— Audi Crooks, Iowa State Forward
What’s next
Iowa State will look to build on this upset victory as they continue their Big 12 conference schedule, while Texas Tech will aim to bounce back from the loss.
The takeaway
Bill Fennelly's milestone achievement as the winningest coach in Big 12 history underscores his sustained excellence and the consistent competitiveness of the Iowa State women's basketball program over the past three decades.
