Michigan State University
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Western Michigan
No. 15 Spartans Win Seventh-Straight, Defeat Broncos, 62-50
12/10/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 10, 2010
KALAMAZOO, Mich. (AP) - Taylor Alton scored 12 of her 15 points in the second half to help No. 15 Michigan State beat Western Michigan 62-50 on Friday night.
Kalisha Keane and Lykendra Johnson each added 12 points for Michigan State (9-1).
The Spartans jumped out to a 13-3 lead to open the game and took a 31-25 lead into halftime. They pulled away with a 10-2 run early in the second half, capped by a 3-pointer from Alton that gave them a 45-32 advantage with 12:56 left.
Ebony Cleary had 16 points and seven rebounds, and Aurielle Anderson scored 15 points for the Broncos (2-8).
Michigan State outrebounded Western Michigan 40-30 to help offset 22 turnovers and a 10-for-21 performance from the free throw line.
POST-GAME NOTES
With the win...
- MSU improves to 9-1 on the season and have won seven straight.
- The start is tied for the best 10-game beginning in program history with the 2001-02, 2003-04 and 2004-05 teams.
- Under Coach Merchant, MSU is now 54-6 when holding its opponent under 60 points, including six of the seven games during the winning streak.
- MSU improves to 3-1 all-time on December 10.
Series Notes:
- The Spartans lead the all-time series with Western Michigan, 12-8.
- MSU has won five in a row in the series and eight of the last nine meetings.
Player Notes:
- Senior Cetera Washington played her first collegiate game in her hometown of Kalamazoo.
- In her homecoming, Washington scored nine points, grabbed a game-high nine rebounds and had three steals in 24 minutes. She tied her career high in both rebounds and steals.
- Washington led MSU in rebounding for the fourth time this season and the ninth time in her career.
- Washington played in her 112th game, moving into 17th all-time at MSU.
- Junior Taylor Alton scored a career- and team-high 15 points in a career-high 23 minutes. It was the first time in her career that she has led MSU in scoring and just the second time she has scored double-figures.
- Alton had only scored 21 points and played 38 minutes entering the game.
- Alton went 3-of-5 from 3-point range, a career-high in makes. For the season, she is 8-of-12 (66.7%) from behind the arc.
- Alton tied her career high with five rebounds, including three on the offensive end.
- With her 12 points, senior Kalisha Keane moved into 10th place all-time on the Spartan career scoring list with 1,202.
- Keane also is now fourth with 202 steals, 15th with 113 games played and 17th in career assists with 251.
- Junior Lykendra Johnson tallied 12 points, on 6-of-9 shooting, seven rebounds and a game-high four assists. Her four assists tied her season high.
- Johnson had four offensive rebounds and is averaging 5.2 board on the offensive end over the last five games.
- Senior Brittney Thomas moved into eighth place in MSU history with 3,321 minutes played.
- Thomas tied a season-high with five rebounds.
Team Notes:
- The Spartans outrebounded Western Michigan, 40-30, including a 24-11 margin in the second half.
- MSU had 17 offensive rebounds. Over the last three games, the Spartans are averaging 17.3 offensive rebounds a game.
- The Spartans held the Broncos to 2-of-10 shooting from behind the arc and 35.4% from the field.
- MSU had a 28-12 edge in points in the paint.
- Western Michigan never led and MSU lead by as much as 18 (56-38 with 5:19 to go in the game).
