Iowa drops its Big Ten women’s basketball opener 68-66 at Michigan State

(Note: This report was filed in Cedar Rapids)

The fourth quarter was nothing but Nyla.

Scoreless through the first three quarters, Nyla Hampton scored 12 points in a fateful 18-2 surge, and 17th-ranked Michigan State rallied past No. 21 Iowa, 68-66, in the Big Ten women’s basketball opener for both teams Sunday afternoon at the Breslin Center in East Lansing, Mich.

Michigan State (10-0 overall, 1-0 Big Ten) trailed 58-49 after Iowa’s Kylie Feuerbach opened the fourth quarter with back-to-back 3-pointers.

But Hampton started the rally with a basket from the wing, and when Hampton capped it with a bucket at the 3:20 mark, the Spartans were in front, 67-60.

Helped by four straight missed Michigan State free throws, the Hawkeyes (9-2, 0-1) made one final bid.

Two free throws by Hannah Stuelke, a putback by Taylor Stremlow and two foul shots by Sydney Affolter had the Hawkeyes within 67-66 with 20 seconds to go.

But Iowa missed two shots in the final seconds, and Hampton closed the scoring with a free throw with 0:01 left.

Stuelke led Iowa with 18 points. Olsen added 13, Feuerbach 12. Stuelke grabbed eight rebounds to stake Iowa to a 44-35 advantage on the glass, but the Hawkeyes were undone by 23 turnovers.

In Iowa’s two losses, the Hawkeyes have committed 26.5 turnovers per game.

Iowa trailed 16-12 after a quarter, but took the lead early in the second period, and held it until Michigan State’s fourth-quarter push.

Julia Ayrault scored 19 points to pace Michigan State, which is 10-0 for the first time in school history.

Iowa will play its final non-conference game Friday at home against Northern Iowa in a contest that will determine the mythical state championship.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com