The Spartans trailed 27-13 with 4:28 remaining, but scored eight unanswered points to close the half.

The Spartans attempted to feed Mills in the paint early, but Michigan's tenacious interior defense forced MSU to miss its first five shots. Michigan got to the rim on consecutive possessions for 6-0 start to the game.

Junior center Jasmine Hines checked in for senior guard Bell and tipped in a miss to get MSU on the scoreboard. A few possessions later, Pickrel nailed a turnaround jumper to even the score at 6-6.

Following a Michigan 3-pointer and free throw, Pickrel hit MSU's first 3-pointer of the night to cut the lead to 10-9. Pickrel followed with a tip-in on the following possession to give MSU the lead, 11-10.

Michigan continued to attack the rim and double the paint, and it made life difficult for the Spartans. One one possession, redshirt freshman guard Aerial Powers was doubled on a drive to the basket and turned the ball over. On another, Hines was stripped clean on a post move. Michigan went on a 11-0 run to jump to a 21-11 lead. Mills found her offense as the half went on, hitting a couple shots to make it a 10-point game once again with under four minutes remaining, 27-17.

Pickrel hit another 3-pointer with 2:24 remaining to bring the Spartans within nine. Following a pair of free throws by Thompson, Mills completed an And-1 opportunity to trim the lead to eight.

After two missed free throws by junior guard Elmblad, Mills scored under the rim yet again to trim the lead to six, 31-25.

Redshirt freshman guard Branndais Agee ended the half in exciting fashion, beating the buzzer to complete an And-1 opportunity with 0.4 seconds on the clock. Her 3-point play trimmed Michigan's lead to just three entering halftime.