Hawkeyes outlast Michigan State in OT

IOWA CITY — Their point guard was out with an injury. Their post was in uncharacteristic foul trouble. The opposing star went on a six-minute shooting barrage.

But somehow, some way, the Iowa Hawkeyes prevailed.

'I don't know how you record a big sigh of relief, but that's kind of how I feel right now,' Iowa Coach Lisa Bluder said after the Hawkeyes outlasted Michigan State in overtime, 87-83, in a Big Ten women's basketball game before 4,384 Thursday night at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

'It was a very meaningful win. It keeps us in contention.'

Meaningful is right. Most meaningful of the season, to be precise.

Iowa (15-9 overall, 6-5 Big Ten) moved into a four-way tie for fifth place in the league with five regular-season games to go. There's still work to be done to make the NCAA tournament, a lot of work. But this was a step.

The Hawkeyes bottled up the Spartans' leading scorer, Tori Jankoska, for the first three quarters. Averaging 21.6 points per game, the senior guard managed just six Thursday through the first 30 minutes.

Then, she went crazy and finished with 32, including a pair of 3-pointers in the final 14 seconds of regulation that forced overtime.

'I felt I was contesting her shots pretty well,' Iowa's Kathleen Doyle said. 'But you can always play better defense.'

Jankoska's step-back 25-footer knotted the score at 69-all with 4 seconds left in regulation. Chase Coley's 3-pointer was short at the buzzer.

Bre Cera started overtime with a 3-pointer, and the Hawkeyes held the lead throughout the extra session.

Jankoska scored all 14 overtime points for Michigan State (16-8, 6-5).

Iowa was playing its first game without Tania Davis, who suffered a torn ACL in her right knee in Sunday's loss to Michigan, and will be lost for the rest of the season. Megan Gustafson, a cinch for first-team all-Big Ten status, picked up her fourth foul late in the third quarter.

Still, the Hawkeyes gutted it out and survived.

Ally Disterhoft led Iowa with 25 points and 12 rebounds.

'My shots weren't falling as much (early), but the team needed me to step up and keep aggressive,' she said.

Gustafson added 18 points, Makenzie Meyer 14, Doyle 12, Coley 10.

Meyer and Cera (eight points) both notched career-highs. Both are freshmen.

'The end of the game usually comes down to free throws and layups,' said Meyer, who nailed 12 of 14 foul shots, leading the Hawkeyes to a 32-of-41 performance from the line. 'Those are easy points to get.'

Michigan State stormed to a 13-1 lead before the Hawkeyes started to click. They forged a 28-28 tie late in the second quarter, then took their first lead at 38-37 on Disterhoft's 3-pointer with 7:02 left in the third.

An 8-0 run gave Iowa a 50-41 advantage, and the Hawkeyes still led 65-61 with 1:30 left in regulation before Jankoska's late scoring spree. She scored the Spartans' final 22 points.

'It was nice to close out this game. We could have won at the end of regulation,' Disterhoft said. 'But Tori stepped up and hit some shots.'

After Cera opened overtime with a 3-pointer, Disterhoft hit another for a 75-70 lead. The margin grew to 79-72 and 81-74 before Jankoska hit three treys in the final minute, including one that banked in to make it 85-83.

Gustafson then hit two free throws with 1 second left to clinch the outcome.

The Hawkeyes play at No. 13 Ohio State at 11 a.m. Sunday.

IOWA 87, MICHIGAN STATE 83 (OT)

At Iowa City

MICHIGAN STATE (83): Victoria Gaines 4-6 0-2 9, Taya Reimer 7-13 0-0 14, Tori Jankoska 8-21 11-12 32, Taryn McCutcheon 3-10 1-2 9, Branndais Agee 2-5 0-0 5, Mardrekia Cook 0-3 0-2 0, Nia Hollie 0-2 0-0 0, Hana Vesela 0-1 0-0 0, Lexi Gussert 2-5 1-1 6, Jenna Allen 3-7 0-0 6, Kennedy Johnson 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 30-75 13-19 83.

IOWA (87): Megan Gustafson 7-10 4-5 18, Ally Disterhoft 7-13 8-12 25, Makenzie Meyer 1-3 12-14 14, Kathleen Doyle 4-10 2-2 12, Bre Cera 2-5 2-4 8, Alexa Kastanek 0-3 0-0 0, Chase Coley 3-7 4-4 10, Hannah Stewart 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 24-54 32-41 87.

Halftime: MSU 33, Iowa 30. End of regulation: 69-69. 3-point goals: MSU 10-25 (Gaines 1-3, Jankoska 5-13, McCutcheon 2-5, Agee 1-2, Gussert 1-2), Iowa 7-16 (Disterhoft 3-5, Meyer 0-1, Doyle 2-4, Cera 2-4, Kastanek 0-1, Coley 0-1). Team fouls: MSU 28, Iowa 15. Fouled out: Gaines, Allen. Rebounds: MSU 42 (Jankoska 11), Iowa 41 (Disterhoft 12). Assists: MSU 12 (McCutcheon 5), Iowa 12 (Meyer 4). Steals: MSU 9 (three with 2), Iowa 9 (Disterhoft 3). Turnovers: MSU 16, Iowa 18.

Attendance: 4,384.

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com