Michigan State 68, Iowa 56

Post-Game Notes Michigan State downed Iowa by 12 points tonight, 68-56, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing, MI.  Michigan State, who is second in the Big Ten standings, won its sixth-straight game and improved to 15-6 overall and 8-2 in league play.  Iowa lost its first game in five games.  The Black and Gold fall to 12-8 overall and 5-4 in the Big Ten.   Tonight was the 53rd meeting between the two schools.  Michigan State has now won nine of the last 11 in the series.  The Spartans have extended their winning streak to five-consecutive over the Hawkeyes at the Breslin Center.   JoAnn Hamlin missed her second-straight game tonight with a sprained left ankle.  Hamlin is Iowa's second-leading rebounder and fourth-leading scorer.  Despite feeling under the weather and not participating in the team's shootaround earlier in the day, Kamille Wahlin started and scored six points and collected a steal and an assist in 27 minutes of action.   Iowa trailed by double figures most of the second half.  The Hawkeyes were able to cut the deficit to eight (57-49) with 3:55 left, but were unable to get any closer.    The Spartans totaled 25 points off 18 Hawkeye turnovers and 23 second-chance points tonight.   Kristi Smith, Iowa's leading scorer in conference play, was held scoreless the first 20 minutes missing her four field goal attempts.  Smith finished the contest with 12 points and three assists, playing all 40 minutes for the second-consecutive game.   Also playing all 40 minutes tonight was center Megan Skouby, who contributed eight points and four rebounds.   Kachine Alexander got to the foul line a game-high 10 times tonight, making seven of the attempts.  The sophomore finished the contest with nine points and six rebounds.    Michigan State scored 18 of the 26 first half points in the paint.  For the game, the Spartans netted 46 of their 68 points in the paint.  Michigan State outscored Iowa, 46-16 in the paint.   Wendy Ausdemore and Kachine Alexander played limited minutes in the first half as the duo sat on the bench in foul trouble.  Ausdemore was called for two quick fouls, while Alexander was called for three fouls.  Ausdemore finished the contest with a game-high 18 points and had two steals.  Ausdemore was 6-10 from the field, including 3-6 from distance.  She has led or shared team scoring honors a team-best seven times.   Hannah Draxten pulled down a game and personal-high eight rebounds tonight.  The freshman also collected four assists and three points in a season-high 28 minutes of action off the bench.   Iowa trailed by as many as seven points in the first half (19-12).  The Hawkeyes went on a 7-0 run to tie the game at 19-19 at the four-minute mark, but the Spartans closed the half on a 7-0 run to take a 26-19 advantage into the locker room.   Iowa (12-8, 5-4) will look to rebound from tonight's setback Sunday when the Hawkeyes entertain the Penn State Lady Lions (8-11, 3-6).  Tip-off is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena.  Sunday is Iowa's Pink Zone event as both teams will be wearing pink-trimmed uniforms to help raise breast cancer awareness.   Post-Game Quotes Iowa Head Coach Lisa Bluder "Michigan State is a very physical, strong, deep team with a great bench.  They are a good basketball team.  I feel like were unable to match their physicality tonight.  We were understaffed tonight."   "Kamille had a gutsy performance tonight.  She was sick all day with the flu."   "On Sunday, we will face another aggressive, up-tempo team and Penn State.  I hope we are able to use the advantage of a great crowd Sunday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena."