March 3, 2006
Iowa falls to 6-5 in Big Ten Tournament games under Coach Bluder. This year, for the first time, the Hawkeyes were a fifth seed in the conference tournament. Michigan State has won five of the last six overall games vs. Iowa. Iowa now leads the series 29-19.
Michigan State has handed Iowa two of its three worst losses in Big Ten Tournament play. The Spartans defeated the Hawkeyes by 27 (81-54) in the 2004 tournament. The Boilermakers also topped Iowa by 27 (84-57) in 2003. Michigan State bounced Iowa from this years tournament by 21 points (79-58).
Freshman Megan Skouby scored a team-high 13 points, marking the 15th-straight game that she has scored double figures. Skouby ranks fourth in the nation in active consecutive double-figure scoring among freshman. The 6-6 center, also grabbed a team-high seven rebounds.
Today was Iowa’s 11th loss of the year, with eight of the defeats coming to nationally ranked opponents. The Spartans are ranked 16th this week in the Associated Press poll.
Iowa out-scored Michigan State 17-4 at the free throw line today. The Hawkeyes, who led the league in free throw shooting, converted 81.0 percent today.
Michigan State opened the game making four of its first five field goals, taking a 9-4 lead in the first 3:30.
Michigan State went on an 11-3 run from the 13:09 mark to 10:12 to build an 11-point advantage (24-13).
Senior Tiffany Reedy tied a career high with two blocked shots, both occurring in the first half. She also matched a career high with five assists.
Freshman Wendy Ausdemore netted 12 points (5-8 FG, 1-1 FT). She has tallied double figures six times this year.
Iowa had a 7:44 scoring drought in the first half after they closed the deficit to six points. The Spartans scored 17 straight points to establish a 22 point advantage (40-18). Michigan State closed the half on a 19-2 run to take a commanding 42-20 lead into half. Iowa only scored two field goals in 13 minutes, spanning both halves.
The Hawkeyes had 19 first half turnovers. Michigan State converted Iowa’s miscues into 25 points. Michigan State collected 17 steals today, which is a season high for an Iowa opponent.
Michigan State’s two leading all-time scorers, Liz Shimek and Lindsay Bowen combined for 27 first-half points on 12-14 shooting (.857).
Senior Crystal Smith, who entered today’s game ranked third in Big Ten scoring, scored only two first-half points, and finished the game with 10 points.
Iowa, who leads the Big Ten in 3-point field goal percentage defense, allowed Michigan State to convert 5-8 from behind the arc (.625).
Michigan State led from start-to-finish, marking the third time an opponent has led start-to-finish (Rutgers, Ohio State).
The higher-seeded teams in the first five games of the tournament have won.