Michigan State University
13-5, 3-2B1G
Rutgers
6-13, 3-3B1G
MSU Women's Winning Streak Halted at Rutgers Saturday
1/14/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State women's basketball had its two-game winning streak halted with a 62-58 loss to Rutgers at the RAC Saturday afternoon.
With 48 seconds remaining, Kandiss Barber of Rutgers connected with a fastbreak layup to put the Scarlet Knights up 57-56. The Spartans re-took the lead with 37 seconds to play on a pair of free throws by senior guard Tori Jankoska that gave MSU the slight edge, 58-57.
Rutgers scored the final five points of the game to seal the 62-58 win. The Scarlet Knights out-scored MSU, 21-13, in the final 10 minutes of the game, including 15-2 over the final five minutes.
Once again, Jankoska led the Spartans with 20 points, six rebounds and seven assists. Senior forward Taya Reimer added eight points, while junior guard Lexi Gussert and sophomore forward Jenna Allen both scored seven points off the bench.
Rutgers was led by 20 points from Shrita Parker, who also added seven rebounds. Barber added 15 points, including the go-ahead basket with 21 seconds remaining.
With the loss, MSU falls to 13-5 overall and 3-2 in Big Ten action. Rutgers improved to 6-13 overall and 3-3 in league play, winning three of their last five games.
After the Scarlet Knights got off to a fast start in the first quarter, Michigan State went on an 8-0 run to take a 14-9 lead with under five to play in the period. The quarter remained close with the Spartans leading 21-18 at the end of the period. Michigan State was shooting 67% from the field after the first 10 minutes.
The Spartans were hampered by 11 first-half turnovers, but took a 36-31 lead in to the locker room at half time. After 20 minutes, Jankoska was the Spartans' leading scorer with 13 points, while Allen added seven points.
Both teams started the second half slowly with only 13 total points scored through the first eight minutes of the quarter. Rutgers out-scored MSU, 10-9, in the third quarter.
The Spartans hit three-straight 3-pointers to start the fourth quarter and took a 54-44 lead with 7:44 left. The Scarlet Knights began to chip away at the lead from there. A layup by redshirt freshman Victoria Gaines with 5:44 remaining was the final field goal for MSU.
The Spartans conclude the two-game road trip on Tuesday, Jan. 17 against Northwestern at 9 p.m. (ET). The game will be televised on the Big Ten Network.
Postgame Notes
• The Spartans have had six different starting lineups in the first 18 games. Seniors Taya Reimer and Tori Jankoska along with freshman Taryn McCutcheon have started all 18 games so far this season. Redshirt senior guard Branndais Agee has started 12 games this season. Junior Lexi Gussert has started three games, while redshirt freshman Victoria Gaines has started seven games. Sophomore Jenna Allen has started a trio of games this season. Sophomore Hana Vesela has started two games, while freshman Nia Hollie has started six contests.
• Jankoska leads the way starting 97 games during her Michigan State career. Branndais Agee has the second most starts of any current Spartan with 45.
• Against Rutgers freshman guard Taryn McCutcheon dished out four assists. She now has 95 assists throughout her freshman campaign and has made her way into the top-10 in assists for freshmen. She passed Tori Jankoska (2013-14) who was sixth and concluded her freshman season with 79 assists. McCutcheon is now alone in sixth, just 11 helpers away from tying Kim Archer (1983-84) who had 106.
• With 20 points, Tori Jankoska adds to her MSU leading scoring total with 1,873 career points. This season, she is averaging 22.6 points per game. She is now just 127 points away from becoming the first Spartan to score 2,000 points.
• Jankoska leads the team with 10 20-point games. The Spartans are 7-3 when the senior scores 20 points this season.
