Michigan State University
Penn State
Spartans Top No. 19 Penn State, 75-65
1/7/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 7, 2012
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Suzy Merchant and Taylor Alton Press Conference
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Behind a dominating first half performance, the Michigan State women's basketball team beat No. 19 Penn State, 75-65, in front of a national television audience on CBS Saturday afternoon. Senior Taylor Alton (20 points) and freshman Kiana Johnson (18 points) each scored career highs leading the Spartans (11-5) to a 3-0 start in Big Ten play.
Alton, despite feeling under the weather, went 6-for-9 from behind the arc, tying for the fourth most 3-point field goals made in a MSU single game.
"It's funny because I didn't have a good morning. I caught a touch of the bug I think," Alton said. "I really wasn't feeling my best physically, but I was able to focus. I was just able to stay mentally sharp and help the team as much as possible."
K. Johnson also dished out a team best five assists in the win. Senior Porsche Poole added 12 points in the win, while senior Lykendra Johnson posted her fifth double-double of the season with 10 points and 15 rebounds.
The Spartans were impressive in the first half, taking a 46-24 lead into the break. Michigan State knocked down 8-for-11 from behind the arc and forced PSU into 14 turnovers. Penn State opened with a brief 4-3 lead, but MSU would go on a 15-5 run and not trail again. The Spartans put together another extended run later in the half, this time an 11-0 spurt over nearly six minutes, to go up 33-15 with under four minutes to go. The Green and White kept its foot on the pedal, going into the break up 22 after a 3-pointer by L. Johnson in the final seconds.
Penn State fought back in the final 20 minutes, behind 28 second half points from Maggie Lucas. The Spartans led by 17 (63-46) with 8:42 left, but the Lions went on a 15-2 run to cut the MSU lead to four (65-61) with 3:15 to go. However, PSU would not get any closer, as K. Johnson scored eight of the Spartans last 10 points, including hitting all six of her free throws, down the stretch to seal the 75-65 victory.
The Spartans hit a season high 11 3-pointers, shooting 47.8% from behind the arc. MSU also forced Penn State into a season high 25 turnovers and picked up 14 steals.
Maggie Lucas was the lone Nittany Lion in double figures with 33 points.
Michigan State returns home for two conference games this week, hosting Indiana on Thursday at 7 p.m. and No. 8 Ohio State on Sunday at 4 p.m.
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- Michigan State is 26-4 in its last 30 Big Ten games.
- The Spartans are 3-0 in the conference for the second straight season, and for the sixth time all-time.
- MSU has won six straight Big Ten road games, and is 24-13 under Coach Merchant in road conference games.
- The Spartans have won three in a row vs. Penn State, and nine of the last 12 meetings.
- Coach Merchant is 4-1 at the Bryce Jordan Center. Prior to her arrival, MSU had lost all 13 games at PSU.
- MSU is 11-0 this season when attempting at least 12 free throws. The Spartans were 18-for-24 (75.0%) from the line today.
- Michigan State is 38-2 in the last three seasons when attempting more free throws than its opponent.
- The Spartans have won 29 straight games when scoring at least 70 points. Under Coach Merchant, MSU is 46-4 when reaching that scoring plateau.
Player Notes:
- Alton's six 3-pointers tied for the fourth most in a MSU single game, and were the most since Nov. 24, 2006.
- Alton moves into a tie for 10th all-time at MSU with 91 3-point field goals made.
- MSU is now 11-0 all-time when Alton scores in double figures and 5-0 when she leads in scoring.
- Today marked L. Johnson's 100th career start, the eighth most in MSU history.
- K. Johnson went 7-for-8 from the foul line, tying for the most makes in a game by a Spartan this season.
- K. Johnson also tied her season high with three 3-pointers made.
