Little has come easily for the Iowa women's basketball team as they venture north to Breslin Center. Their recent trips have been filled with challenges, with the last two wins requiring overtime and several others not ending favorably. Sunday's visit to Michigan State was no exception.

Challenges on the Road

Even with a nine-point lead early in the fourth quarter, the Hawkeyes couldn't hold on. No. 24 Iowa controlled much of the game but couldn't put the Spartans away. No. 19 Michigan State made a remarkable comeback, winning 68-66 in their Big Ten opener.Just four days after a big rivalry win over No. 17 Iowa State, the Hawkeyes seemed to have the opposite outcome. They were in control, handling turnover issues and foul trouble, but then the Spartans took over. Nyla Hampton led the charge with 13 points in the fourth quarter, igniting an 18-2 run that turned a 58-49 lead into a 67-60 deficit. Iowa went without a field goal for five minutes and had just one in the final 8 1/2 minutes.

Hannah Stuelke's Performance

Hannah Stuelke led Iowa with 18 points, getting 10 at the free throw line. She played a crucial role in the team's efforts. However, Olsen had a rough shooting day, scoring 13 points on 4-for-17 shooting. Kylie Feuerbach offset some of that with 12 points on four three-pointers, two of which started the fourth quarter. But from there, Taylor Stremlow was the only one to score for the rest of the way.

Looking Ahead

When considering this week's two ranked matchups, a 1-1 record might seem acceptable. But this ending will surely leave a bitter taste for this team still finding its rhythm. The Hawkeyes have faced tough challenges on the road and will need to learn from these experiences as they continue their season.Dargan Southard is a sports trending reporter covering Iowa athletics for the Des Moines Register and HawkCentral.com. Email him at msouthard@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter at @Dargan_Southard.