Michigan State University
Wisconsin
Keane Leads No. 11 Spartans Over Wisconsin, 73-70
2/3/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 3, 2011
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Head Coach Suzy Merchant Press Conference
MADISON, Wis. - The No. 11 Michigan State women's basketball team overcame a 12-point deficit with 5:49 remaining in regulation to force overtime and eventually beat Wisconsin, 73-70 in Madison on Thursday night. Senior Kalisha Keane, celebrating her 22nd birthday, tied her career high with 28 points, including the game-tying 3-pointer with 12.9 seconds left. MSU improved to 19-3 overall and 7-2 in the Big Ten.
Trailing 56-44 with 5:49 left in regulation, the Spartans closed out the second half on a 16-4 run to force overtime. Keane and senior Cetera Washington each scored six of the points during the run, while redshirt sophomore Courtney Schiffauer added four. MSU made 6-of-7 field goals in the final 5:49, including its last five, while the Badgers missed their last five attempts from the field in regulation.
Michigan State never trailed in overtime, led by seven points from Keane in the extra session. MSU has now won 14-straight overtime games. It was the Spartans first win in the Kohl Center since 2006 and the first in four attempts for head coach Suzy Merchant.
Wisconsin, who entered the game in a tie for first place in the Big Ten, fall to 12-10 overall and 7-3 in conference play. Lin Zastrow had 23 points to lead the Badgers, while Alyssa Karel added 21 points.
The Spartans return home on Sunday, when they host Purdue at 3 p.m. on the Big Ten Network.
POST-GAME NOTES
With the win...
- MSU improves to 19-3 on the season and are 7-2 in Big Ten play.
- The record is tied for the best 22-game start in program history.
- MSU has won 17 of its last 20 Big Ten regular season games.
- The Spartans win their 14th straight overtime game, dating back to the 2002-03 season. The streak is the longest active streak in the Big Ten.
- It was the Spartans' seventh win over an RPI top-50 team, tying them for the fifth-most in the country.
- MSU has won 22 straight games when scoring 70 or more points. Under Coach Merchant, the Spartans are 39-4 when reaching 70 points.
- MSU is 13-0 this season and 27-1 over the last two season when attempting more free throws than its opponent.
- The Spartans have won seven-straight games after a loss.
- It was MSU's third double-digit deficit overcome this season, including twice against Wisconsin.
- MSU improved to 36-25 all-time against Wisconsin and sweep the season series for the first time since 2005-06.
- It was MSU's first win in Madison since Jan. 12, 2006, a string of three-straight losses.
- The Spartans improve to 10-4 all-time on Feb. 3.
Player Notes:
- Senior Kalisha Keane celebrated her 22nd birthday on Thursday.
- Keane tied her career high with 28 points, which were her highest in a Big Ten game. It was the most points by a Spartan in a Big Ten game since Vnemina Reese also had 28 points at Minnesota on Feb. 24, 2002.
- Keane moved into ninth on the MSU career scoring list with 1,381 points. - Keane tied her career high with four 3-point field goals made.
- Keane also is now tied for 15th all-time at MSU with 280 assists after three tonight.
- Keane also jumped up on the Spartan career lists in field goals made (tied for 10th with 496), 3-point field goals made (third with 161) and free throws made (tied for 15th with 228).
- It was Keane's eight 20-point game of the season, tying her for the eighth most in a single-season in program history.
- Keane also added seven rebounds, including a season-high four offensive, three assists and two steals.
- Senior Cetera Washington had a season-high 14 points, one off her career high. It was her best output in a Big Ten game in her career.
- Washington has five double-figure scoring games this season, after having only two in her first three seasons.
- Washington, who tied her career high with six made field goals, also added eight rebounds, three steals and two assists.
- With her team-high tying eight rebounds, junior Lykendra Johnson is now 15th all-time at MSU with 644 rebounds.
- Johnson has led MSU in rebounding in all nine Big Ten games and in 15 games overall.
- With her three offensive rebounds, Johnson moved into ninth on the single-season offensive rebound list with 86.
- With her three assists, senior Brittney Thomas is now tied for seventh all-time at MSU with 371 assists.
- Thomas and Keane both played season-high minutes, moving Thomas into fifth place on the career minutes list with 3,672 and Keane into 11th with 3,286 minutes.
- Redshirt sophomore Courtney Schiffauer played the final 19 minutes of the game. Entering the game, she had played only 24 minutes total in Big Ten play.
- Junior Taylor Alton tied a career high with five rebounds.
Team Notes:
- The Spartans were +10 on the boards tonight (40-30) and are +12.6 over their last eight games.
- MSU had a 15-6 edge in offensive rebounds tonight and is 16.8-6.9 over its last eight games. The advantage has led to a 132-39 differential in second chance points, including a 20-6 edge tonight.
- The Spartans shot 20-of-23 (87.0%) from the free throw line, setting season highs in both makes and percentage. It was the most makes since MSU made 25 at Purdue on Feb. 25, 2010 and it was the best percentage since shooting 91.7% vs. Middle Tennessee State on March 22, 2009.
- Even though both teams committed 16 turnovers, MSU held a 21-9 advantage in points off turnovers.
