Michigan State University
Minnesota
Spartans Drop Second Straight, Lose at Minnesota, 71-65
1/20/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 20, 2012
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - The Michigan State women's basketball team struggled on both ends of the floor Thursday, falling 71-65 at Minnesota. The Spartans (12-7, 4-2) were led by senior Porsche Poole, who scored 17 points off the bench.
Michigan State never led, falling behind to Minnesota 11-2 in the first six minutes. The Spartans followed with a 13-4 run of their own to tie the game at 15 with 11:31 left in the first half. The run was sparked by a pair of 3-pointers from freshman Becca Mills. The Golden Gophers responded though, coming back with a 14-4 spurt to open up a double-digit lead at 29-19 with under five minutes to go in the first. Minnesota maintained that margin, taking a 38-27 lead into the break.
The Spartans could not get any closer than six in the second half, chipping away to that margin on a handful of occasions, but Minnesota would also have an answer. The Gophers would miss some free throws in the final minutes, but MSU could not get a key bucket, dropping its second straight game.
Poole was the lone Spartan in double-figures, as senior Taylor Alton chipped in nine points on 3-for-6 shooting from behind the arc, and freshman Jasmine Hines had eight points. Sophomore Annalise Pickrel led MSU in rebounding for the first time in her career, grabbing a career high seven. Junior Jasmine Thomas and freshman Kiana Johnson each dished out four assists. Senior Lykendra Johnson had a season high five steals on the defensive end.
The Golden Gophers (11-9, 3-3) were led by 22 points from Kiana Buford.
The Spartans remain on the road Monday, facing No. 13/18 Purdue at 7:30 p.m. on the Big Ten Network.
TEAM NOTES:
-MSU outrebounded Minnesota, 35-33. The Gophers were leading the Big Ten in conference games with a +12.0 mark.
- It was MSU's first back-to-back in-season loss since Jan. 2010.
- The Spartans snapped a four-game winning streak vs. Minnesota.
PLAYER NOTES:
- Lykendra Johnson moved into a tie for fifth on the MSU career steal list with 202.
- L. Johnson is the first Spartan to surpass at least 1,000 points, 750 rebounds and 200 steals.
- She is also the only Spartan in the top-5 in both career steals and blocks in program history.
- L. Johnson also moved into 19th place on the career points list (1,076) and 15th in games played (118).
- Becca Mills set a season high with two made 3-point field goals.
