“This team has a lot of heart,” Michigan State Head Coach Mike Rowe said. “They're bummed because they thought we could take this tonight and we could've but we had some slipups. To be bummed and walk away shows me that they really care and that's the passion we need to maintain in order to advance.”

The Spartans started the night off on vault where they led Iowa 49.100 to 48.900

Freshman Gabrielle Stephen earned a perfect score of 9.950 and made MSU gymnastics history as she tied for third-best score of all-time with volunteer assistant coach Alina Cartright.

“Obviously there are some things that I can improve on, but I can't ask for better on vault,” Stephen said. “It was so amazing and I've been working so hard. This is such a good feeling.”

The team then moved onto the uneven parallel bars for their second rotation where they scored 49.300, leading the Hawkeyes 98.4 to 97.925. This score is tied for fourth-best all-time for the Spartans.

The Spartans improved from their last meet on this event. Freshman Skyla Schulte and sophomore Delanie Harkness tied for first with a score of 9.925

The women then moved onto the balance beam where they fell short.

“We had some issues on beam, but it's not a huge deal,” senior Sydney Ewing said. “We've been training incredibly and this beam team is unreal. It was little things here and there, but i'm not too worried about it.”

The Spartans wrapped up the night on floor for their fourth and final rotation. Ewing scored a career high of 9.900 and the reality of being a senior seemed to set in for the veteran.

“I am so excited for my team,” Ewing said. “I know we made some mistakes and have some room to grow, but I am so proud of all of them. I know that this is my last year and I want to enjoy it as much as I can. Like that floor routine, I just felt pure joy and the score was just topping it off.”

After the loss, the team remains hungry to go out and prove that they have what it takes to hang with the best.

"This team wants it. We're all hungry for wins and we've been training so hard," Stephen said. "I think we have to continue what we are doing because everyone is determined, we know what we can do, and we've just gotta put it out there and show it. (0:30-0:43)

MSU heads to Ann Arbor Sunday as they play both their rival and the No. 1 ranked team in the nation, University of Michigan.

“We've got to continue training like we have been and every day it blows me away by the talent this team has,” Ewing said. ”I want us to enjoy it, have fun out there, and show what we have been working for. We're going to be proud of what we do when we do that.“