EAST LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) – No. 17 Michigan State improved to 10-0 on the season Sunday afternoon, defeating No. 21 Iowa 68-66 in comeback vogue within the Massive Ten opener.
Head coach Robyn Fralick stated her workforce was totally conscious of the problem the Hawkeyes posed, even with out Caitlin Clark.
“Iowa’s been to back-to-back national championship games, our game there last year came down to a last possession like this game,” stated Fralick. “It’s a signature win.”
The Spartans’ 10-0 report extends the very best begin to a season in program historical past. MSU can be one in every of solely 9 unbeaten groups within the nation.
“We actually care about doing effectively and successful video games, simply attempt to hold it pushing, but it surely means lots to us,” stated graduate guard Julia Ayrault. “We’re definitely not done yet, but we are definitely happy to be in the spot we’re in.”
Nyla Hampton had her finest recreation of the season, placing up 13 factors, 5 rebounds and three assists. All 13 of her factors got here within the fourth quarter, together with a stretch of six straight to provide Michigan State the lead with lower than six minutes left within the recreation.
When Iowa referred to as a timeout, Hampton’s Spartan teammates raced to fulfill her on the ground, expressing their pleasure as her play helped pull the workforce again into the sport.
“We have, I’m sure Fralick has talked about this a ton, we have a really close team,” defined Hampton. “So, the excitement, the celebration, it’s not necessarily new because these girls, literally anything anyone does on this team is going to be celebrated.”
Fralick stated after the sport that the Spartans’ protection is what actually helped them pull out the win down the stretch. The Spartans pressured 23 turnovers and Julia Ayrault led the best way with three of the workforce’s 5 blocks.
“We made it interesting but credit to our team,” stated Fralick. “When the game was on the line we played some really good defense.”
Subsequent up for Michigan State is the West Palm Seaside Traditional wherein they are going to face Montana on December nineteenth and Alabama on December twentieth.
