Hawkeyes need overtime to escape Michigan State upset bid in East Lansing
There is just something about the Breslin Center that has given the Hawkeyes fits over the years. Coming into the night they had lost 10 of their last 12 trips to East Lansing dating back to the 2004-05 season. Tonight was no different and it was very nearly another loss, as Iowa needed overtime to defeat Michigan State 84-81.
The first half of the game was much different than the second half. The game opened with both teams struggling from behind the arc and turning the ball over. Monika Czinano converted a layup in the final seconds of the first quarter to give the Hawkeyes an 18-13 lead.
Czinano finished the first half with ten points on 5/5 shooting, but the rest of the team was just 7/22 (31.8%) from the floor. Caitlin Clark had just seven points on 2/9 shooting in the opening half. That allowed the Spartans to keep things close. Kamaria McDaniel capped off the first half with an impressive half court buzzer beater to give Michigan State a slim 32-31 halftime advantage.
The second half did not start out in favor of the Hawkeyes. Just 44 seconds into the third quarter, MSU’s Taiyier Parks was whistled for an offensive foul for a hard screen on McKenna Warnock. Warnock was injured on the play and was forced to leave the game. She did not play any of the final 24:16.
The Spartans built a 39-33 lead, but the Hawkeyes responded. Gabbie Marshall hit a pair of three-pointers and Iowa used a 9-2 run to take a 42-41 lead midway through the quarter. The teams traded buckets back and forth with no one getting higher than two point lead until Moira Joiner got a layup to fall with under a minute remaining. The Spartans took a 58-54 lead into the final quarter.
In the fourth quarter, it was Monika Czinano that put the team on her back despite having four fouls. She scored ten of the Hawkeyes first 12 points of the quarter on 5/5 shooting from the floor, but picked up her fifth foul with 2:08 remaining.
MSU forward Isaline Alexander was big all night with 11 points and six offensive rebounds. Her basket, plus the foul on Czinano gave the Spartans a 67-66 lead. The Hawkeyes had the ball with under 35 seconds to play, but were unable to score and it gave Michigan State a chance to win it at the buzzer. Matilda Ekh got a good look from the baseline, but it didn’t fall and the game went into overtime.
In OT, it was the Spartans that got out to the early lead. A three point make from Tory Ozment put MSU up 77-73, but Hannah Stuelke responded with a basket, plus the foul to cut it to 77-76. The Hawkeyes got the lead at the free throw line, but it was Ozment with a layup to once again give the Spartans the lead. Caitlin Clark hit a turnaround midrange jumper with 30.6 to play and then converted a pair of free throws to put Iowa up 82-79. It appeared as though the Hawkeyes were going to escape, but the drama wasn’t over.
Before Iowa inbounded the ball with 5.3 to play, there was some hand fighting between McDaniel and Caitlin Clark. Clark tried to brush McDaniel’s arm away, but caught her in the mouth with her forearm and after review was hit with a flagrant foul. After two free throw makes, the Spartans had another chance to win the game, but Kamaria McDaniel was whistled for a travel with just 2 seconds to play. Molly Davis converted a pair of free throws and Iowa narrowly escaped with the 84-81 victory at the Breslin Center.
Caitlin Clark finished the night with 26 points, but was 6/19 from the floor. Monika Czinano finished with 22 points, while her 11/11 shooting performance from the floor set a school record for most shots in a game without a miss. Kate Martin added nine points, while Molly Davis and Hannah Stuelke combined for 14 points.
What kept the game close?
1. Turnovers and Second Chance points. Iowa turned the ball over 20 times and allowed six offensive rebounds. The Spartans took advantage of those opportunities and turned it into 34 points. On the other hand, the Hawkeyes turned 12 turnovers and 11 offensive rebounds into just 11 points. In the previous three wins, Iowa had done a better job of controlling this category.
2. Caitlin Clark had on off night shooting. It is crazy to think of 26 points, 9 rebounds and 11 assists an off night for Caitlin Clark, but she did a lot of her damage from the free throw line. She was just 6/19 from the floor and was just 2/10 from behind the arc. Even the best shooters have off nights, but a normal shooting night for Caitlin and the game likely never reaches overtime.
3. McKenna Warnock. Warnock was injured just 44 seconds into the second half and never returned to the game. That put the Hawkeyes down a starter and forced Hannah Stuelke to shoulder more of the load. It also took a three point shooting threat out of the lineup.
Up Next for the Hawkeyes…
With the win the Hawkeyes move to 15-4 on the season and 7-1 in Big Ten play. Next, is a trip to Columbus, Ohio to face the undefeated and second-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes. The game is on Monday night at 6:00pm and will be televised on ESPN2.
