Jada Williams Ignites Iowa State With Career Night, Ending Skid and Reigniting Big 12 Hopes
When Jada Williams locks in, her teammates know it. And on Wednesday night, Cincinnati learned it the hard way.
Williams, Iowa State’s fiery point guard, delivered a career-defining performance that didn’t just end the Cyclones’ five-game losing streak - it sent a message. With a steely glare and a relentless motor, she poured in a staggering 44 points on just 22 shots, leading ISU to a dominant 25-point win over the Bearcats.
“She got that look in her eyes,” said forward Alisa Williams. “She wasn’t playin’ around.”
That “look” - equal parts intensity and confidence - is what Iowa State has been missing during their recent slide. And with a pivotal matchup looming Saturday against Arizona, Jada’s former team, the timing couldn’t be better.
“We belong in the top 25,” Williams said postgame. “We’re a Tournament team.
We’re a Sweet 16-caliber team. And I think we all believe that.
If people don’t believe in us, that doesn’t affect us. That goes in one ear and out the other.”
Williams became just the sixth player in Cyclone history to drop 40 or more in a game - and she did it with ruthless efficiency. Her offensive explosion wasn’t just a personal milestone; it was a spark for a team that desperately needed one.
But it wasn’t just Jada who made noise Wednesday night.
Arianna Jackson, ISU’s top perimeter defender, returned to the floor after missing two weeks with a knee injury - and her presence was felt immediately. Jackson played 31 minutes, grabbed a game-high eight rebounds, and chipped in 11 points. More importantly, she brought stability and energy to a rotation that’s been stretched thin, especially with standout guard/forward Addy Brown still sidelined indefinitely with a lower-body injury.
“Losing Addy Brown is devastating in a lot of ways and everyone knows it,” said head coach Bill Fennelly. “When you lose her and Jackson at the same time, that’s a huge thing we just can’t overcome.
And obviously, if you lose five games in a row, you didn’t overcome it. But what ‘AJ’ can do is not everything Addy can do, but, I mean, she got eight rebounds.
She’s pretty solid with the ball. … Just having ‘AJ’ back at practice made everything better, and I thought she played great (on Wednesday), and hopefully she’ll continue to get healthier.”
Jackson’s return gives Iowa State much-needed depth and defensive grit, but the Cyclones’ ceiling still hinges on their stars - and right now, Jada Williams is playing like one.
Then there’s Audi Crooks, the force in the paint who continues to be a consistent scoring threat. Even on what was considered an “off night,” she still managed to eclipse the 20-point mark - a testament to how high her floor is. If Crooks keeps producing and Williams keeps leading with that same fire, ISU’s path back to the Big 12’s upper tier - and into the national conversation - is wide open.
“She’s very influential to our team,” backup point guard Reese Beaty said of Williams. “Just seeing that fire, that grit she played with Wednesday night, and just the energy - it really sparked the rest of us.”
That’s the kind of leadership that doesn’t show up on the stat sheet but changes games. And as the Cyclones prepare to face Arizona, it’s clear they’re not just trying to stop the bleeding anymore - they’re looking to make a run.
“Kind of like Jada said, we needed to make a statement,” Jackson added. “And even Coach Fen said in the locker room, ‘Sometimes we just need good things to happen.’ So I think just building off that and going forward, that’s what we need to keep sticking with.”
With Williams locked in, Jackson back in the mix, and Crooks anchoring the paint, Iowa State suddenly looks like a team ready to turn the corner - not just for Saturday’s showdown, but for the stretch run ahead.