This suggests a real limit to her game, if she can be stopped without a double team. Of course, Brink and Iriafen are great defenders. But they’re not unique, and this is exactly what Crooks would have to deal with at the next level in every game. I wonder if she’ll develop past this.
She’s a freshman going up against 2 of the best posts in the country, she’ll develop her game and improve. I love Crooks but don’t think she projects to be a good WNBA prospect even if she’s a dominant collegiate player. Making it in the WNBA has as much to do with length and athleticism as it does skill. Who knows though, time will tell and she had a brilliant freshman season.
I like her too. I hope she grows her game. I’d really like to see her succeed.
My heart is only now recovering after an hour drive home post-game. That was an epic battle - 18 lead changes along with 12 ties. Back to back to back "go ahead" shots by both teams in the final minutes of both regular and over time. Foul outs by both teams' best players.
This is new. I'm obviously biased by homer rose-colored glasses, but I think she's unquestionably the post improved player in the country this season. Her shooting, scoring, and rebounding stats are actually better thank Brink's!
I watched Crooks in high school and wasn’t sure she would make it at D1. lol. How wrong I was. I’m thrilled with her success and will follow ISU for her career. But she is only 6’2” or so. Brink towered over her. Brink has long arms and Audie does not. Not surprised Brink took away her go to shot. I expect she will develop ways to score against taller, shot blocking opponents at the low post. Only a freshman, after all.
Not a homer. Kiki is maybe the best power forward in the game today.
Emily Ryan has announced she’s taking a Covid year.
I remember watching Iowa State her freshman year. She, Donarski (now at UNC), and Fuerbach (now at Iowa) all played huge roles as freshman. They were led by their veteran Ashley Joens. Really cool to now see Emily Ryan in that veteran role, on a team so reliant on freshman. I’m really intrigued to see how this freshman class plays out. I’m hopeful they stick together unlike Ryan’s class that had a lot of transfers out.
I loved that Kiki went out of her way to mention this in the presser, and to give ISU all the credit they deserved for playing a really physical but really sportsmanlike game:
Good news for WBB fans and for the young ISU players. Emily Ryan was a warrior last night. That kind of leadership doesn't grow on trees.
I don't even know how I would even be behind the wheel after a game like that if I were in your shoes.
And I had a car-full of friends who were entrusting me with their lives to get all of us home! Fortunately we basically coasted back to SF on good vibes and "KIKI FOR PRESIDENT" chants.
I can’t be certain, but I think that she thought the refs didn’t call Crooks for the foul. She immediately calmed down when she saw that Crooks was called for the foul.
I personally thought she was telling the player guarding Emily Ryan -- think it was Agara? -- not to help off of her on defense. Ryan had just been left open for three because Agara had stayed in the post to help deny the entry pass to Crooks.
