The road trip was challenging, but head coach Robyn Fralick felt the team responded well against the Hoosiers.

“It’s a trip,” Fralick said about the road stretch postgame. “It’s a trip against two top-five teams. I think that part is just an extra level of challenge to it. I think it took us a little time this week to just recalibrate, but our defensive effort was really dialed in.”

The Spartans got off to a slow start, scoring just three points in the first five minutes and struggling to convert open shots. Indiana controlled the game early until a fastbreak layup by junior guard Theryn Hallock ignited a 7-0 MSU run.

The rocky start didn’t faze Fralick and the Spartans, who used the run to gain a lead coming out of the quarter.

“I didn’t feel discouraged because I actually felt like we were getting really good shots, and it’s a long game,” Fralick said. “But I also told them, ‘Hey, it’s time to finish (the shots),’ if we’re getting them, we’ve got to be able to finish and then we got our momentum going.”

MSU’s aggressive defense fueled its offense, creating multiple fastbreak opportunities. The Spartans scored 20 points in transition, using the open court to build momentum.

The second quarter highlighted MSU’s fastbreak attack, with five forced turnovers leading to eight points. Hallock and senior forward Jocelyn Tate set the tone, using active defense to create scoring chances.

Indiana’s physical style forced MSU to focus on attacking inside, using contact to its advantage.

“We knew that they were going to come in physical,” Hallock said. “We’ve had a little rivalry with them every year, so we know it’s going to be a physical game, but staying composed and staying confident and initiating contact. We know that there’s going to be contact when you’re going for the layups or the shots, so I think we did that well.”

MSU attempted 22 free throws to Indiana’s 14, making physical play a crucial factor in overcoming early shooting struggles.

MSU controlled the second half until Indiana’s late push in the fourth quarter. The Hoosiers went on a 12-2 run, cutting the deficit to single digits and threatening MSU’s lead.

That lead was at stake until Hallock hit a big-time three to slow down the hot Hoosier offense. Although shooting 1-for-7 from deep on the night, it was that one make that may have saved the game.

“Something I love about Theryn is no matter how many she misses, she’s shooting the next one like it’s going in,” Fralick said. “She doesn’t get deterred, she really is going to shoot the shot. So at that time it was good for us. That was very timely.”

This next-shot mentality is not only acknowledged by Fralick, but Hallock also believes it’s what makes the team so strong.

“For me, I kind of have a Dory mentality, when she says, ‘Just keep swimming,’ just keep shooting,” Hallock said. “I know I had a lot of wide open shots and they’re going to fall, I’ve got to keep trusting that I’ve been putting the work in.”

MSU had four players in double figures: Grace VanSlooten (17), Theryn Hallock (16), Jocelyn Tate (16), and Jaddan Simmons (11). Tate and Hallock also contributed with multiple steals.

MSU will travel to Columbus to face No. 8 Ohio State on Wednesday, Feb. 26, at 7 p.m.