Michigan State University
16-4, 7-2
Wisconsin
6-14, 2-8
Powers powers No. 18 Michigan State over Wisconsin 77-54
1/31/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
MADISON, Wis. (AP) Aerial Powers scored a season-high 30 points with nine rebounds and No. 18 Michigan State rolled past Wisconsin 77-54 on Sunday.
Powers was 9 of 18 from the field and made 10 of 11 free throws, finishing five points shy of her career high. She had 21 by halftime. This was her first 30-point game of the season.
Jasmine Hines added 15 points and nine rebounds with Tori Jankoska posting 12 points and 11 rebounds for her fourth double-double this season. She now has 11 double-doubles for her career.
Michigan State led by two after one quarter before outscoring the Badgers 26-12, with 14 points from Powers, for a 45-29 halftime lead. Wisconsin got as close as nine in the third quarter.
The Spartans (16-4, 7-2 Big Ten), winners of four straight, are a game back of co-leaders Maryland and Ohio State. MSU was dominating on the boards, out-rebounding the Badgers, 46-20. Michigan State held Wisconsin to only nine boards in the first half.
Nicole Bauman scored 19 points and Dakota Whyte 16 for the Badgers (6-14, 2-8), who have lost six in a row.
The Spartans now prepare for a hectic, hosting on in-state rival Michigan on Wednesday, Feb. 3 at 7 p.m. MSU will then travel to No. 5 Maryland on Friday, Feb. 5. The Spartans will finish the week at Iowa on Sunday, Feb. 7.
Post-Game Notes vs. Wisconsin (Jan. 31)
● The starting lineup of Aerial Powers, Tori Jankoska, Branndais Agee, Akyah Taylor and Jasmine Hines started for the fourth-straight game. MSU is now 4-0 with that starting lineup.
● Junior guard Aerial Powers matched a season-high with 21 points in the first half. She also scored 21 points in the second half against Iowa on Jan. 16. She ended the games with a season-high 30 points.
● The Spartans dominated on the boards out-rebound Wisconsin 23-9 in the first half. For the game, Michigan State out-rebounded the Badgers, 46-20. All five starters had at least five rebounds (Jankoska - 11, Hines - 9, Powers - 9, Taylor - 6, Agee - 5).
● The 20 rebounds by Wisconsin were the least in a conference game this season. The fewest rebounds by an opponent this season was 19 against Oakland on Dec. 13.
● With the win, Michigan State has now won four-straight games. The Spartans improve to 16-4 overall and 7-2 in league play. MSU has matched the win total from last season as the Spartans ended the 2014-15 season with a 16-15 overall record and a 7-11 league mark.
● With a season-high 30 points, Powers now has 1,475 career points in three seasons. She is now 19 points from passing Kristen Rasmussen (1996-00) for eighth on the all-time Spartan scoring list.
● Junior guard Tori Jankoska netted 11 points and added 12 rebounds for her third double-double of the season and 11th of her career. The 12 rebounds ties a career high for Jankoska who also had 12 boards twice last season.
● Michigan State shot 17-of-18 from the charity stripe, including a perfect 6-6 in the fourth quarter, good for a season-high 94.4 percentage.
● The Spartans allowed only eight points in the fourth quarter against the Badgers. This was the second game that MSU has allowed only eight points in the final period, also allowing eight points against Rutgers on Jan. 19. The least amount of points allowed in a single quarter this season by MSU was seven in the fourth quarter against Detroit on Dec. 21.
