A dominant second quarter fueled a Michigan blowout, as MSU fell 86-65 — its second straight loss by 20 points.

“We did a good job defensively. We got stops, and then I thought our ball movement was good, we felt like we could move the ball and attack them off multiple sides,” MSU head coach Robyn Fralick said regarding the first quarter. “Then second quarter, it was wild.”

The Spartans took control early, leading by as many as eight in the first quarter as Michigan struggled to find its rhythm. The Wolverines shot just 30% from the field on 20 attempts and failed to make a 3-pointer, while MSU caught fire, shooting as high as 70% during the period.

Even with the score sitting at 21-15 after the first 10 minutes, Michigan’s problems extended beyond shooting. Starting sophomore guard Mia Holloway picked up her second foul late in the quarter, while Spartan sophomore forward Inés Sotelo also ended the frame with two fouls.

MSU’s offensive success, that at times seemed effortless, disappeared entirely in the second quarter.

Simply put, the offense never settled. A barrage of turnovers disrupted the Spartans’ flow and swung momentum decisively in Michigan’s favor. The Wolverines outscored MSU 26-9 in a dominant 10-minute stretch defined by a 12-0 run after Holloway returned from the bench.

Holloway scored eight of the 12 points during the run, including a 3-pointer that gave Michigan its first lead halfway through the quarter.

While Holloway’s surge played a role, turnovers were the true catalyst behind Michigan’s second-quarter takeover. MSU committed 12 turnovers in the period — unfamiliar territory for a team averaging just 15 turnovers per game this season.

The impact was most evident during the 2:25 stretch of Michigan’s 12-0 run, as redshirt sophomore guard Kennedy Blair turned the ball over on four straight possessions.

“A lot of it was unforced turnovers, a lot of just passing and catching,” Blair said regarding the team’s issues. “I think that’s just the basic stuff that we can do, like we’re Division I basketball players we need to do better, and like I said a lot of that is on me.”

Turnovers weren’t the only area that tilted the game. Michigan’s offensive rebounding also proved costly, as six offensive boards led to crucial second-chance opportunities during the Wolverines’ push for the lead.

After Michigan entered halftime ahead 41-30, the deficit proved too large to overcome. The lead never dipped below 13 for the remainder of the game, and for more than half of the fourth quarter, the Spartans trailed by 20.

“We didn’t rebound the ball, they kept getting second chances, and that’s something that killed us,” Blair said. “We did not get stops and rebounds when we needed them the most.”

On paper, the game shouldn’t have resulted in a 21-point blowout. Neither team shot particularly poorly, and aside from the second quarter, scoring margins in each period were within six points.

The difference was turnovers.

Michigan won the turnover battle 24-16, with half of Michigan State’s giveaways coming during the “nightmare” second quarter. Combined with its edge on the offensive glass, the Wolverines finished with 13 more shot attempts than the Spartans — extra opportunities that allowed sophomore guards Syla Swords and Olivia Olson to score 24 and 23 points, respectively.

Injury concerns added to MSU’s difficult night.

After leaving the previous game early with an injury, junior guard Rashunda Jones went down again with 2:17 remaining in the third quarter, screaming in pain with what appeared to be an ankle injury. Sophomore forward Juliann Woodard later fell in nearly the same spot in the fourth quarter after appearing to suffer a head injury. She was eventually wheeled off the court while conscious.

With no clear timetable for either injury, the Spartans may need others to step into expanded roles. One player trending in that direction is freshman guard Amy Terrian, who logged 16 minutes and scored eight points, continuing a stretch of steady growth over the past three games.

“She’s easy to play with. She’s a competitor and I’ve been proud of her,” Fralick said. “When she’s been called on, she’s been ready to go.”

Despite the loss, Blair stood out with 21 points and 12 rebounds, though it wasn’t nearly enough to keep the Spartans within striking distance.

“We want to finish the story strong, and right now there’s things that we’re not doing well that are getting really exposed,” Fralick said. “Starts with me being responsible for figuring out how to get us back playing confident, competitive.”

MSU has now lost five straight games against ranked opponents and fallen to seventh in the conference with its sixth Big Ten loss. Next up is Northwestern (8-17, 2-12 Big Ten), which travels to East Lansing for a senior day matchup where the Spartans will look to lock down a win for their seniors.