Ames, Iowa — Reese Beaty may be new to college basketball, but she already plays like she belongs. The freshman point guard’s toughness, confidence, and energy stood out as No. 14 Iowa State opened its season with a decisive 85–36 win over St. Thomas (Minn.) on Monday night at Hilton Coliseum.
In just 16 minutes off the bench, Beaty contributed five points, four rebounds, and four assists, showcasing the poise and grit that have quickly earned her the trust of her teammates — and her coach.
“She’s fearless,” Iowa State head coach Bill Fennelly said. “We’ve got a lot of players that our fans really like, but I think Reese — and Evangelia Paulk — are going to have a lot of fans as the season goes on.”
Beaty and Paulk were part of a stifling defensive effort that suffocated the Tommies. Iowa State held St. Thomas to just 10 points over a 22-minute stretch, while dominating the turnover battle and posting a 29–3 edge in points off giveaways.
Crooks Leads the Charge
Star center Audi Crooks anchored the Cyclones’ offense with 20 points in 25 minutes, while Addy Brown added 11 points, six rebounds, and six assists.
Crooks credited the team’s defensive improvement to the work they put in during the offseason.
“Ball pressure and defensive chemistry don’t come overnight,” Crooks said. “With freshmen and transfers, you have to find lineups that fit. We spent the summer focusing on that — we barely talked offense until August.”
That preparation paid off. After leading 22–16 early, the Cyclones erupted on a 19–0 run to seize control and never looked back, taking a 43–19 lead at halftime.
A New Defensive Identity
The defensive dominance marked a clear shift from last season, when Iowa State often relied on its scoring.
“That’s on me,” Fennelly admitted. “Last year, we tried to play a certain way and got too focused on offense. This team has a tougher edge.”
Few embody that edge better than Beaty, who plays with the confidence of someone who’s been overlooked before.
“I’ve never been the tallest, quickest, or strongest,” said the 5-foot-8 freshman. “But playing hard and keeping that mindset — that’s gotten me through everything.”
With her fearless approach and early impact, Beaty is already proving she’s more than a backup. She’s part of the future of a Cyclones team intent on making noise this season.
