EAST LANSING, Mich. — Thanks to Ashley Barlow, Notre Dame withstood a tough test on the road.

Barlow scored 18 points and hit a tiebreaking free throw with 10 seconds left, lifting the fifth-ranked Fighting Irish to a 68-67 victory over No. 21 Michigan State on Thursday night.

The Spartans had a chance to win after Barlow's late foul shot, but Aisha Jefferson missed a jumper from the lane with four seconds to go.

Notre Dame coach Muffet McGraw wasn't happy with ill-timed turnovers, sketchy shot selection and occasional lapses on defense. But she liked her team's character at crunch time.

“I thought we did a pretty good job of keeping our poise down the stretch,” McGraw said.

Allyssa DeHaan led Michigan State (1-2) with 20 points.

Michigan State trailed 45-35 when DeHaan, a 6-foot-9 senior, limped off the court with an apparent ankle injury early in the second half. The Spartans, sparked by their defense and forcing turnovers, went on a 15-2 tear immediately afterward to grab a 50-47 lead with 11:52 remaining.

DeHaan returned and increased Michigan State's lead to 56-51 with a basket with about 10 minutes to go.

But the Irish (2-0) regained the lead with an 8-0 run capped by Erica Williamson's layup with 8:41 left.

Michigan State tied the score at 67 on a free throw by Porsche Poole with 55 seconds left.

A foul by Michigan State after a missed free throw by the Irish put Notre Dame in the double bonus. Barlow missed her first free throw with 10 seconds left, but sank her second opportunity to put the Irish in front.