For most of the game, it seemed like the Iowa State Cyclones were on the verge of snapping TCU’s impressive 40-game home winning streak. But then Olivia Miles decided to put on a show.
The standout senior, who transferred from Notre Dame, scored a remarkable 17 of her 29 points in the fourth quarter. Her late-game heroics powered 12th-ranked TCU to a thrilling comeback, defeating the Cyclones 80-73 at Ed and Rae Schollmaier Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.
“Olivia Miles is an exceptional player and made some big plays,” ISU head coach Bill Fennelly shared on the Cyclone Radio Network. “We had our chances to shine, and I’m proud of how hard our team played. We just need to coach better in certain situations.”
The Cyclones, sitting at 21-7 overall and 9-7 in the Big 12, held a 13-point lead with just over seven minutes left. But TCU, with a 23-4 record and 13-3 in conference play, quickly responded with a 9-2 run, cutting the lead to four. They then unleashed a 14-point surge to seal the victory.
“We’ll keep working on it,” Fennelly added. “Even though it’s late in the season, there’s still room for improvement.”
Audi Crooks, the Cyclones’ star center, led with 22 points but fouled out with 1:35 remaining. At that moment, TCU was up by just one point, but the Cyclones only managed three points in the final six and a half minutes.
“We were pretty cohesive for about three and a half quarters, so there are definitely positives to take away,” Crooks noted.
Point guard Jada Williams recorded her seventh double-double of the season, contributing 15 points and 11 assists, though she struggled with her shooting, going 6-for-23 from the field.
“We’ll focus on the positives, learn from the negatives, and head into Wednesday’s final home game against Oklahoma State ready and confident,” Williams said.