The Michigan State women’s basketball team, coming off their first Big Ten win of the season, took on the Iowa Hawkeyes for the Spartans’ annual Alumni Day game.

Starting for the Spartans were Tori Jankoska, Cara Miller, Aerial Powers, Anna Morrissey and Becca Mills.

Powers led the team with 16 points and 11 rebounds, followed by Mills with eight points and 13 rebounds.

The scoring got started with a field goal from Jankoska two minutes into the game. The Spartans led the fast-paced game until the Hawkeyes took a 13-11 lead with 11 minutes left in the first half.

“We did everything as well as we could defensively and now we can’t catch or make a basket,” head coach Suzy Merchant said. “We missed some wide open baskets, and I thought we had some good looks inside, but we couldn’t make the layup. That’s not a very good rebounding team, and I thought we couldn’t get a couple rebounds that we needed to get.”

The Hawkeyes kept the game moving fast, which resulted in five Spartans in foul trouble in the first half.

“I feel like our intensity is there we just can’t catch a break. We’re right there,” Merchant said.

The Spartans entered the second half down 31-27. Despite the Spartan fight they could not stop the Hawkeyes and were defeated 52-50.

Samantha Logic and Melissa Dixon led Iowa with 13 points each.

The Spartans will travel to Maryland for their next matchup at 7:00 p.m. It will broadcast on the Big Ten Network.

Jennifer Aldridge is the host of Merchantaries for Impact Sports

Photo: Jennifer Aldridge/Impact Sports