Post-Game Notes
4/2/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
April 2, 2008
Recap | Final Stats | Quotes | Photo Gallery 
• Michigan State has won 10 of its last 12 games...the Spartans improve to 13-4 at home and have won eight straight at the Breslin Center.
• Michigan State is now 10-1 in games decided by five points or less...MSU has won its last three games by a combined total of 10 points (Kansas, 58-54; Michigan, 45-40; NC State, 58-57).
• Michigan State improves to 23-13 on the season...the 23 wins tie for the fourth most in school history. Below is a look at MSU's top winning seasons:
1. 33 (2004-05)
T2. 24 (2005-06, 2006-07)
4. 23 (1976-77, 2007-08)
• Allyssa DeHaan tied her own single-season Big Ten blocks record she set last season (145)...she had five blocks tonight against the Wolfpack...the 145 blocks are tied for the eighth most in a single-season in NCAA history.
• Suzy Merchant tied her career high with 23 wins in a season...she also recorded 23 wins at Eastern Michigan during the 2004-05 season...Merchant ties Karen Langeland for the most wins as an MSU coach in her debut season...Langeland went 23-6 her first season in East Lansing in 1976-77.
• Mia Johnson scored 17 points, her second-best scoring effort of the season...she scored 20 at Illinois in her first start of the year...Johnson has started the last 16 games for the Spartans, and MSU's record is 12-4 during those games...she hit two clutch 3-pointers in the second half, both of which gave MSU the lead after the score was tied.
• DeHaan scored 15 points, giving her 520 for the season, which ranks fifth most in school history...she is one of just five Spartans to score 500 points in a single-season.
• DeHaan was 3-for-4 from the line...her 115 made free throws this season rank fifth best in school history.
• Michigan State will be making its first-ever appearance in the WNIT Championship game...the Spartans are 11-3 all-time in the WNIT.
• Michigan State has won 13 postseason games the past five years, the most of any Big Ten team.
• Michigan State's 23 wins are the most of any Big Ten team this season.
• Brittney Thomas played all 40 minutes tonight against NC State...she played all 40 against Kansas in the third round and all 45 in the overtime quarterfinal win over Michigan...it marks the eighth game this season she has played the entire game.
• Lauren Aitch (6), Cetera Washington (5) and Taja Wilson (5) combined for 16 rebounds off the bench...MSU outrebounded the Wolfpack, 35-31.
• Lauren Aitch was 6-for-9 from the field and scored 12 points...MSU is 9-3 this season and 11-3 in her career when she scores in double-figures.
• MSU held Wolfpack guard Shayla Fields to 1-of-9 shooting and three points...Fields came into the game averaging 18.2 points in her last 10 games.
• The Spartans improve to 16-2 when holding opponents to under 60 points.
• MSU, the Big Ten leader in field-goal percentage defense, held NC State to 39 percent shooting from the field.
• The starting lineup of Brittney Thomas, Mandy Piechowski, Mia Johnson, Kalisha Keane and Allyssa DeHaan improved to 11-3.
