Arianna Jackson’s Return Sparks Cyclones as Texas Tech Test Looms
AMES - When Arianna Jackson crumpled to the floor in Iowa State’s loss at Cincinnati 20 days ago, the air went out of the Cyclones’ bench. A knee injury? That’s the kind of thing that can derail a season - especially for a team already navigating injuries and inconsistency.
But here’s the twist: it wasn’t a torn ACL. It wasn’t season-ending. And it wasn’t going to keep Jackson off the court for long.
“It was a little terrifying, just because I’ve never had a knee injury,” Jackson admitted. “When someone tells me a timeline, I always want to be on my own timeline just as an athlete.”
That mindset? It’s exactly what Iowa State needed.
The Cyclones were in the middle of their first five-game losing streak in a decade. Their offense had stalled.
Their confidence was wavering. But Jackson’s return - just two weeks after the injury - has been a jolt of energy and efficiency.
Since she’s been back, Iowa State is 2-0, and they’re looking like a team that’s finally found its rhythm again.
“She was something we really missed,” head coach Bill Fennelly said. And he’s not just talking about leadership or presence - though those matter.
He’s talking about cold, hard shooting numbers. Jackson is drilling a career-best 46.2% from beyond the arc this season, tops on the team.
That kind of shooting isn’t just a luxury - it’s a necessity in today’s game, especially for a Cyclones squad still without do-it-all forward Addy Brown, who remains sidelined with a lower-body injury.
Jackson’s ability to stretch the floor has opened everything up. It’s given point guard Jada Williams the space she needs to operate - and Williams has taken full advantage.
In the two games since Jackson’s return, Williams has looked unstoppable. First came a career-high 44-point explosion in a 25-point revenge win over Cincinnati.
Then she followed that up with a near-flawless 19-point performance on 8-of-11 shooting against Arizona, her former squad.
“She puts in the work and I think she’s playing with a high level of confidence right now,” Fennelly said of Williams. “Hopefully, that continues.”
And it’ll need to, because the road doesn’t get easier from here. Iowa State (16-5, 4-5 Big 12) heads to Lubbock on Wednesday to face No. 21 Texas Tech (20-2, 7-2), a team that’s been dominant at home and is getting major contributions from a pair of familiar faces.
Former Cyclones Jalynn Bristow and Denae Fritz have become key pieces for the Red Raiders. Bristow is leading Texas Tech on the glass with 6.9 rebounds per game and also anchors the paint with 2.2 blocks a night. Fritz, meanwhile, is a defensive menace, pacing the team with 2.4 steals per contest.
“It’ll be a good test for us,” said ISU guard Kenzie Hare. “I think we have to come out strong and kind of hit them first.”
That first punch? It might just come from Jackson.
She’s coming off a season-high 15 points in the win over Kansas State and grabbed eight rebounds in her return game against Cincinnati. Her ability to knock down shots early can set the tone - not just for herself, but for the entire Cyclones offense.
And now that the injury scare is behind her, Jackson is locked in.
“Once we knew it wasn’t something super serious, it was kind of like, OK, just trusting in the rehab and trusting in the process, and then getting back out there as soon as possible,” she said.
The Cyclones have their shooter back. Their point guard is rolling. And with a ranked opponent on deck, they’ve got a chance to show just how dangerous they can be when the pieces start to click.