“Sloppy game, come on Iowa”: College hoops fans react to Lucy Olsen and Iowa Hawkeyes’ first half performance vs. MI State 

In an Instagram post on Sunday, fans reacted to Lucy Olsen and the Iowa Hawkeyes' first-half performance in their 68-66 loss to the No. 17-ranked Michigan State on Sunday.

Fans were worried as the No. 21-ranked Hawkeyes went into halftime with a five-point lead against Michigan State before racking up 23 turnovers overall.

Fans were critical of the Hawkeyes' performance against the Spartans, with one calling out the sloppy nature of Iowa’s gameplay during the half.

“Sloppy game, come on Iowa,” a fan commented.

Fan comments (corywalton32 on Instagram)

In other comments, fans expressed their disappointment at Iowa's performance:

Fans comment on Iowa Hawkeyes' performance

Hannah Stuelke finished the game with a team-high 18 points, eight rebounds and two assists but was unable to affect the scoreline in Iowa's favor, while Lucy Olsen put up 13 points, three rebounds and two assists.

Michigan State was behind 58-49 in the fourth quarter before rallying to a comeback victory to extend their winning streak to 10-0.

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How the Iowa Hawkeyes were stunned by Michigan State Spartans

Nationally ranked Iowa Hawkeyes opened its Big Ten season with a disappointing loss to Michigan State on Sunday.

Despite a strong performance from junior Hannah Stuelke and key contributions from Lucy Olsen and Kylie Feuerbach, the Hawkeyes couldn’t hold off the Spartans’ fourth-quarter comeback.

Stuelke led Iowa with 18 points and eight rebounds, showcasing her dominance on both ends of the court. Lucy Olsen put up 13 points and three rebounds, while Feuerbach added 12 points and three boards, making crucial plays.

The first quarter was a back-and-forth encounter, with Iowa Hawkeyes and Michigan State trading baskets early. However, the Spartans ended the period on a 5-0 run to secure a 16-12 lead.

Stuelke carried the Hawkeyes offensively, scoring seven points, while Feuerbach sunk a 3-pointer as Iowa controlled the boards, grabbing 10 rebounds compared to Michigan State’s six, but trailed heading into the second quarter.

Iowa Hawkeyes responded in the second quarter, surging ahead with a 7-1 run fueled by Stuelke and Olsen, who combined 10 points.

The Hawkeyes’ offense came alive, outscoring Michigan State 21-12 in the quarter and heading into halftime with a 33-28 advantage. It was a hard-fought first half with nine lead changes, but Iowa’s ability to take advantage of second-chance opportunities gave them the edge.

In the third quarter, Iowa extended the lead to nine points and looked ready to take control of the game. Olsen hit two crucial 3-pointers, keeping the Iowa Hawkeyes ahead for most of the period. However, Michigan closed out the quarter with a 6-0 run to outscore Iowa 21-19 heading into the final quarter.

The Spartans mounted a stunning 14-0 scoring run to take the lead with just under six minutes remaining. Despite Iowa’s best efforts to reclaim control, Michigan State’s defense closed out the spaces as the Spartans held on for a two-point victory.

Iowa Hawkeyes' inability to maintain its third-quarter momentum, coupled with Michigan State’s relentless energy, proved costly in the final stretch as they strat their Big Ten campaign with a loss.

Stuelke’s standout performance and the team's potential to compete at a high level suggest brighter days ahead for the Hawkeyes, though.