The Michigan State Spartans women’s basketball team advanced as far as the semifinals in the 2021 Big Ten Tournament, but too many Spartans suffered injuries along the way to overcome a high-flying and No. 6 seed Iowa Hawkeyes squad late in the game to make it to the championship game. Iowa surged past the No. 7 seeded Spartans in the second half for the 87-72 win on Friday.
The first quarter was a back and forth affair with Michigan State taking an early 9-7 lead on a layup by Nia Clouden. Alisia Smith and Clouden combined for seven of MSU’s 24 first quarter points.