Audi-Matic: The Historic Dominance of Iowa State’s Audi Crooks

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While the headlines in women’s college basketball often gravitate toward flashy guards and perimeter playmakers, the most unstoppable force in the sport right now resides deep in the paint at Ames, Iowa. Audi Crooks, the 6’3″ junior center for the Iowa State Cyclones, isn’t just having a good season—she is putting up numbers that defy modern basketball logic.

As of mid-January 2026, Crooks has officially become the “immovable object” of the NCAA, leading the nation in scoring and rewriting the record books with every trip down the floor.

By The Numbers: Efficiency at an All-Time High

The sheer volume of Crooks’ scoring is impressive, but it’s the efficiency that has WNBA scouts and historians stunned. She is currently on pace to become the first player this century to average over 25 points per game while shooting nearly 70% from the field.

Category	2025-26 Season Stats (as of 1/16/26)	National Rank
Points Per Game	27.6	#1
Field Goal %	68.8%	Top 3
Points Per Minute	1.08	#1
Double-Digit Scoring Streak	78 Games	Longest Active (DI)

To put her “Audi-Matic” scoring into perspective: Earlier this season against Indiana, Crooks dropped a school-record 47 points in just 31 minutes. She followed that up by scoring 43 points in a staggering 20 minutes of action in a separate contest. When the ball enters the post, the result is no longer a question; it’s a formality.

The “Lady Shaq” Skill Set

The moniker “Lady Shaq” (recently popularized by Kevin Garnett and Pat McAfee) is often used to describe her physical dominance, but it does a disservice to her finesse. Crooks possesses a “soft-touch” that is rare for a player of her size, featuring:

The Fadeaway: Unlike traditional “bruiser” centers, Crooks has developed a deadly turnaround fadeaway that is virtually unblockable.
Elite Footwork: Her ability to pivot and seal defenders in the restricted area allows her to score even when facing triple-teams.
The “Flow State”: Crooks describes her game as a “natural flow state,” a connection with her teammates that has allowed Iowa State to build the nation’s 6th-most efficient offense.

“It’s not something I’ve seen, really, maybe ever,” said legendary head coach Bill Fennelly. “The touch is just really, really incredible.”

Navigating the Big 12 Gauntlet

Despite Crooks’ individual brilliance, the last two weeks have proven that being the nation’s leading scorer comes with a target. After a blistering 14–0 start to the season, the Cyclones have faced a brutal stretch in the Big 12, dropping four of their last five games as opponents like Baylor and Colorado have resorted to “junk defenses” designed solely to keep the ball out of her hands.

Even in these losses, Crooks has remained consistent, recording 35 points against Houston and 26 against Baylor. The challenge for the Cyclones moving forward is finding a “Plan B” when teams commit three defenders to the paint, but as long as Crooks is on the floor, Iowa State remains a threat to any team in the country.

The Legacy: A New Standard for Post Play

With a year and a half of eligibility still remaining, Crooks is already chasing the ghosts of the game’s greatest centers. If her current trajectory holds, she won’t just leave Iowa State as their all-time leading scorer; she could finish her career as the most efficient high-volume scorer in the history of the women’s game.

In an era defined by the “three-ball,” Audi Crooks is proving that the most valuable real estate in basketball is still the three feet closest to the rim.