Michigan State University
Dayton
Keane Leads No. 25/24 Spartans Past Dayton, 74-62
11/15/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 15, 2010
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Head Coach Suzy Merchant Press Conference
Kalisha Keane | Annalise Pickrel | Cetera Washington
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The No. 25/24 Michigan State women's basketball team improved to 2-0 on Monday night with a 74-62 win over Dayton at the Breslin Center. Senior Kalisha Keane scored a game-high 23 points to pace the Spartan effort.
The Spartans enacted revenge against a Flyer team that returned four starters and 14 letterwinners from last year's team that upset MSU in the season opener and advanced to the 2010 NCAA Tournament Second Round. Dayton, who is receiving votes in both national polls, was led by 16 points from Brittany Wilson.
Senior Cetera Washington had 13 points, while freshman Annalise Pickrel had nine points, five rebounds and three blocks. Washington has been in double-figures in both games this season, after having only two double-digit scoring nights in her career entering the season.
Michigan State shot 47.4-percent from long range (9-of-19), and held Dayton to a 23.1-percent (3-of-13) clip from 3-point range. MSU's 19 3-pointers over two games is the most in a two-game span in program history.
With only a two point lead at the half (29-27), the Spartans used a 13-4 run midway through the second half to open up a working margin they would not relinquish.
MSU goes on the road for the first time on Friday, when it travels to No. 2 Baylor. The game is scheduled to tip at 8 p.m. ET.
POST-GAME NOTES
With the win...
- MSU begins the season 2-0 for the 19th time in program history. - The Spartans improve to 214-78 all-time at the Breslin Center. - MSU improves to 31-4 under Coach Merchant when scoring at least 70 points in a game, including winning its last 14 games. - MSU improves to 3-1 on November 15.
Series Notes:
- MSU now leads the all-time series 7-3, including a perfect 4-0 mark in East Lansing.
- The Spartans snap Dayton's two-game winning streak in the series. MSU's previous win was Dec. 17, 1999.
Player Notes:
- With her game-high 23 points, senior Kalisha Keane moved 19th place on the MSU career scoring list with 1,055 points, and with her two assists, she moves into a tie for 20th with 231 career assists.
- It was Keane's 10th career game scoring 20 or more points and also the 21st time in her career that she has led the Spartans in scoring.
- Senior Cetera Washington posted double-figure points (13 points) for the second-straight game. Entering the season, she had only two double-digit nights in 102 career games.
- Washington hit a career high five free throws, going 5-of-7 from the line.
- Washington and freshman Annalise Pickrel led MSU with three blocks apiece, tying a career high for Washington and setting a season-high for Pickrel.
- With two blocks, junior Lykendra Johnson moves into eighth place in MSU history with 63 career blocks.
- Johnson grabbed a team-best five steals, tying her career high.
- Johnson also led MSU with six rebounds. It was the 32nd time in 68 career games, she has led the team in rebounds.
- Senior Brittney Thomas played 35 minutes, jumping her into 15th place all-time with 3,070 minutes played.
- Thomas had a game-high six assists. It was the 57th time in 93 career games that she has led MSU in assists.
Team Notes:
- The Spartans went 9-of-19 (47.4%) from 3-point range, and have hit 19-of-39 (48.7%) on the season. The 19 3-pointers through two games is the most in a two-game span in program history.
- The Spartans held Dayton to 3-of-13 shooting from 3-point range (23.1%), after the Flyers hit 11 and shot 39.3% in their season opener.
- MSU had 16 offensive rebounds, leading to a 17-6 edge in second chance points.
