This story has been updated with a Bill Fennelly postgame video, quotes and new information.
AMES — Iowa State women’s basketball closed out non-conference play without its star post player and one of its key contributors off the bench.
The Cyclones announced Sunday afternoon that Audi Crooks and Evangelia Paulk would miss the team’s game against Northern Iowa at Hilton Coliseum.
Crooks was out with a head injury that she sustained during the 10th-ranked Cyclones’ win over No. 12 Iowa on Dec. 10. Crooks is expected to finish return-to-play protocol this week but there are steps that need to be made each day before she can return.
“She got hit in the head in the Iowa game,” Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly said after the Cyclones’ 81-53 victory over Northern Iowa. “Our medical staff is phenomenal, we’re not taking any (chances). You can’t take any chances with anyone. She’s still mad at me that we didn’t play her, but we’re not doing that. I don’t care who we’re playing or where we’re playing. … We’ll probably know more by the end of the week.”
Paulk is out with a mild soft-tissue injury. Fennelly said the Iowa State medical staff thought maybe she slept wrong “because she can’t move her neck. My guess is she’ll be OK.”
The injuries created a challenge for Iowa State, but the Cyclones still capped off a perfect non-conference schedule with another win. Crooks leads the nation with 306 points and 122 field goals through 11 games this season. She’s shooting better than 72% from the field and averaging 27.8 points per game.
Crooks has broken Iowa State’s single-game scoring record twice this season, scoring 43 points in one game and 47 in another.
Paulk also has played in all 11 of Iowa State’s games, averaging 1.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 0.9 steals per game in 11.6 minutes off the bench.
Freshman Reese Beaty also was sidelined Sunday. She’s battling a foot injury.
This is finals week at Iowa State, so the Cyclones are off till Sunday, Dec. 21 when they play host to Kansas to open Big 12 Conference play.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa State women’s basketball star Audi Crooks misses Sunday’s game
Reporting by Tommy Birch, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
