The stay in Indianapolis is over for the Michigan State women’s basketball team.
The No. 6 seed Spartans suffered a 74-61 loss to No. 11 seed Iowa in their Big Ten tournament opener Thursday evening at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
The Hawkeyes advance to face No. 3 seed Ohio State in a quarterfinal Friday evening.
MSU went scoreless over the final 2:48 as Iowa closed the game on an 8-0 run to avenge its December loss to the Spartans.
“A lot of credit to Iowa,” MSU coach Robyn Fralick said. “I think they’re playing really good basketball. I thought they obviously finished the game well. For us, we’re disappointed. I think it’s the most turnovers we’ve had all season. Fouled too much, fouled just even when it wasn’t an attacking play and just put people at the free-throw line. I think those two things are things we know that have to change for us moving forward.
“I loved our effort. I think our kids played really hard. Took a lead in the second half off of playing hard, movingthe ball better. The way we finished the fourth was frustrating, and there are things we know moving into the NCAA tournament we’re going to have time to work on and we will.”
Julia Ayrault had a team-high 17 points and Grace VanSlooten had 12 points and 10 rebounds to lead MSU (21-9). Ines Sotelo added 11 points for the Spartans, who committed 24 turnovers.
Lucy Olsen had a game-high 21 points and nine assists for the Hawkeyes, who have won four straight and 10 of their last 12 games.
MSU led 46-41 in the middle stages of the third quarter before Iowa (22-9) ended on a 13-2 run to take the lead entering the fourth.
The Spartans never led again and got as close as three in the early stages of the fourth quarter. MSU trailed 66-61 after Ayrault made a pair of free throws with 2:49 remaining before going scoreless the rest of the way.
The Spartans will wait until Selection Sunday on March 16 to learn their postseason destination.
Contact Brian Calloway at bcalloway@lsj.com. Follow him on X @brian_calloway.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: MSU women’s basketball falls to Iowa in Big Ten tourney
