The MSU womens basketball team ended its five-game winning streak Sunday, falling to Indiana in its Big Ten season opener at Breslin Center, 50-47.
The game marks the fifth straight Big Ten opener loss for the Spartans (9-1 overall, 0-1 Big Ten), including a 71-54 setback at Indiana a year ago. The last time MSU won a Big Ten opener was Dec. 28, 1996, when it outscored the Hoosiers, 62-54 at Breslin.
Indiana led 26-22 at the half, but MSU returned in the second to outscore the Hoosiers 25-24, although not enough to offset its first-half loss.
The Spartans outshot Indiana from the three-point line, averaging 15.4 percent while holding Indiana from attempting any threes, but were behind in field-goal and free-throw shooting percentages.
MSU sophomore forward Julie Pagel finished with a team-high 14 points, including five three-pointers. Pagel also went 5-for-5 at the free-throw line.
Indiana center Jill Chapman led the Hoosiers (8-5, 2-0) with 18 points.
The Spartans next play No. 12 Michigan at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Ann Arbor.


