Jan. 12, 2008
Michigan State won its fifth consecutive game over the Hawkeyes with tonight’s 73-65 triumph at the Breslin Center. Iowa falls to 29-22 vs. Michigan State and 13-11 in contests played in East Lansing. Michigan State improves to 5-3 in home contests, while Iowa falls to 3-4 in contests away from Iowa City.
After yielding only 22 first-half points Michigan State out-scored Iowa 51-30 in the second half to record its 10th victory of the year.
Johanna Solverson posted her second career double-double and first of the season tonight. The senior totaled 15 points and 13 rebounds. Solverson notched her first double-double vs. Ohio State (17 points and 12 rebounds) in 2004. She also collected a season-high five assists tonight.
Kristi Smith poured in a game-high 23 points (7-11 FG, 4-8 3-pt FG, 5-9 FT), marking the second straight game the junior has eclipsed 20 points.
Stacy Schlapkohl finished tonight’s contest with 12 points. The senior has tallied double figures three (Michigan, Minnesota and Michigan State) of the last four games.
Iowa closed the first half outscoring Michigan State 31-13 to build a 13-point halftime margin (32-19). Kristi Smith netted 12 first-half points on a perfect 5-5 shooting from the field (3-3 from behind the arc), during that span. Iowa lost its third game (Arizona State, Michigan and Michigan State) of the year when leading at intermission. The Hawkeyes have led at the half in four of their five conference games this year.
The Black and Gold drained 5-8 (.625) from 3-point range in the first half. Kristi Smith made three, while Johanna Solverson and JoAnn Hamlin each sank one each. Hamlin’s triple was only her second of her career; she is a perfect 2-2 on the season.
Iowa limited the Big Ten’s fifth-leading scorer, Allyssa DeHaan, to only two points on 1-7 shooting in the first half. The Hawkeyes also got the 6-9 sophomore center in foul trouble with two early fouls in the first stanza.
Michigan State went on a 21-4 run, including an 11-0 run, to erase a 13-point Hawkeye second half cushion and claim a 58-55 advantage with 5:52 left in the game. The Spartans were able to make the comeback with DeHaan on the bench for most of the surge. The sophomore was whistled for her fourth personal foul at the 12-minute mark.
The Spartans’ one-point lead swelled to eight Michigan State’s next three possessions as it made a 3-pointer, a traditional 3-point play and a free throw (65-57).
Wendy Ausdemore, who averages 11.7 points per game, was held scoreless tonight. Ausdemore was 0-8 from the field tonight.
Megan Skouby finished with 10 points tonight, marking the first time since Dec. 8 that the junior posted double figures (15 vs. Northern Illinois),
Iowa returns to action Sunday when it entertains Wisconsin (8-6, 1-3) at 3:05 p.m. at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The contest will be televised live in Eastern Iowa on KCRG-TV9.