Iowa was in a dogfight for most of the night against Michigan State, but this time the Hawkeyes were able to pull it out, 74-61. 

It was a sloppy start for Iowa on the offensive end as the Hawkeyes made two of their first nine shots from the field to start the first half, including one of nine. Michigan State was able to take advantage as the Spartans made four shots in a row while they also found a way to turn Iowa over. 

After that, it was back and forth between Iowa and Michigan State in the first quarter. Taylor McCabe hit a three to start the quarter, then Lucy Olsen scored Iowa’s next nine points to make it a 16-12 game at the end of the first quarter. 

Turnovers were an issue for the Hawkeyes as they had six in the first 10 minutes, but Michigan State coughed it up itself with having seven turnovers. The Hawkeyes were 2-of-9 from three in the first quarter. 

Iowa was able to strike first in the second quarter as Hannah Stuelke and Sydney Affolter responded with back to back buckets to make it a tie game at 16. There was definitely more energy for the Hawkeyes on both ends of the floor. 

The Hawkeyes opened up the second quarter with an 8-0 run to make it 20-16 with 7:20 left in the first half. Iowa expanded that run to 16-0 in the second quarter to move it 28-16. The Hawkeyes seemed to be pulling away, but the Spartans were able to respond with a couple of buckets to make it 32-25 at the half in favor of Iowa. 

Iowa gave Michigan State a piece of its own medicine in the first half as the Spartans had 15 turnovers in the first 20 minutes. Lucy Olsen had 13 points in the first half, but she picked up two fouls. Iowa got a big boost from Stuelke and Sydney Affolter in the second quarter. 

The Hawkeyes had a 32-25 lead going into halftime. 

Michigan State threw the first punch in the second half as the Spartans cut the lead to one in the first few minutes. The Spartans kept the pressure up and took a 44-41 lead with 5:20 remaining, bringing the intensity of both ends of the floor to take their first lead since the first quarter. 

Ava Heiden then responded with a huge stretch for the Hawkeyes as she scored five straight points for Iowa to take a 52-48 lead late in the third quarter with Stuelke on the bench. Michigan State went scoreless in the final three minutes of the third quarter which the Hawkeyes took advantage of as they had a six point lead. 

Heiden then responded with four points in the first five minutes of the fourth quarter, along with great play from Olsen. The Hawkeyes led 64-57 with five minutes remaining. 

Iowa went back and forth for the remaining minutes, but the Hawkeyes were able to keep the Spartans at an arms difference. Kylie Feuerbach delivered two big buckets, including a three-pointer, to push the lead into double digits late in the game. 

Star of the game: Iowa had timely buckets at key times from various players, but Lucy Olsen was the star of the game for the Hawkeyes as she finished with 21 points, nine assists, five rebounds, and four steals for Iowa. She also hit all eight of her free throw attempts. 

Iowa also got 12 points from Taylor McCabe and Hannah Stuelke, and 11 points from Ava Heiden. 

Up Next: Iowa will move on as the Hawkeyes will take on 3rd-seed Ohio State in the third round of the Big Ten Tournament on Friday, March 7 in Indianapolis. The game is set to tip at 8 PM CT. 

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