No. 22 Iowa holds on against Michigan State 52-50

Jan 18, 2015, 06:05 pm

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Samantha Logic and Melissa Dixon scored 13 points apiece and No. 22 Iowa survived a shaky and wild finish to beat Michigan State 52-50 on Sunday.

The Spartans kept the high-powered Hawkeye offense (79.8 points a game) in check but couldn't come up with a final key play down the stretch.

Lexi Gussert's layup with 2:31 left pulled Michigan State (9-9, 1-6 Big Ten) within 49-45 but the Spartans had turnovers on their next three possessions. Meanwhile the Hawkeyes (14-3, 5-1) couldn't score and Logic (74 percent) and Dixon (86 percent) missed the front end of one-and-one free throws.

Anna Morrissey hit a 3-pointer from the left corner with 20 seconds left to make it 49-48 but Michigan State couldn't get the ball back until after Dixon made two free throws at eight seconds. Down three, the Spartans' Tori Jankoska was fouled with a half-second to go and she made both free throws, the second on a bank when she was trying to miss.

Ally Disterhoft, who had 12 points, made a last free throw.

Aerial Powers had 16 points and 11 boards for Michigan State.