Michigan State University
14-7, 4-4
Wisconsin
5-15, 0-7
Team Effort Guides Michigan State Women Past Wisconsin
1/25/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
MADISON, Wis. - Michigan State women's basketball used a complete team effort to snap a three-game losing streak with a dominating 81-57 win over Wisconsin at the Kohl Center in Madison on Wednesday.
Michigan State was led with season-high 18 points by redshirt senior Branndais Agee, who was also one rebound shy of a double-double. Senior guard Tori Jankoska added her sixth double-double of the season with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Senior Taya Reimer added eight points in the win.
Wisconsin had two players in double figures with Kendra Van Leeuwen leading the way with 12 points. Avyanna Young added 10 points for the Badgers.
With the win, Michigan State improves to 14-7 overall and 4-4 in Big Ten action. Wisconsin falls to 5-15 overall and 0-7 in league play.
MSU used an 8-0 run to take a 14-7 advantage midway through the first quarter. The Spartans spread the ball well early on with six players scoring in the first quarter alone. The Badgers responded with a 7-0 run that cut the lead to 16-14 before an Agee three put MSU up five.
In the second quarter, the Spartans had the hot hand from the field. MSU took a 35-25 lead after a three from freshman Taryan McCutcheon. Michigan State ended the half with a 7-0 run to take its biggest lead of the half, 48-32.
Junior forward Kennedy Johnson scored four-straight points in the third quarter to give the Spartans a 20-point lead, 63-43. Michigan State continued to share the ball really well, as all 11 Spartans in uniform had scored by the end of the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter Michigan State scored six points in 47 seconds to maintain the 20-point advantage. The Spartans earned their biggest lead of the game of 24 points after a Johnson jumper with one minute remaining.
The Spartans conclude the two-game road trip on Monday, Jan. 30 against Minnesota at 8 p.m. (ET) The game will be televised on the Big Ten Network.
Postgame Notes
- Tori Jankoska is looking to become the first Michigan State women's basketball player to reach 2,000 points. She became MSU's all-time leading scorer against Ohio State with 1,898 career points on Jan. 10. The senior guard needs just 73 to reach 2,000 points. Jankoska needs to average 9.1 ppg to reach 2,000 points by the end of the regular season.
- Taryn McCutcheon has 113 assists through 21 games. She is currently ranked fifth in the all-time freshman records and is just behind Kristin Haynie (2001-02) who had 117.
- The Spartans have had six different starting lineups in the first 21 games. Seniors Taya Reimer and Tori Jankoska along with freshman Taryn McCutcheon have started all 21 games so far this season. Redshirt senior guard Branndais Agee has started 17 games this season. Junior Lexi Gussert has started three games, while redshirt freshman Victoria Gaines has started 10 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 102 games during her Michigan State career. Branndais Agee has the second most starts of any current Spartan with 49.
- For the first time this season, MSU was perfect from the free throw line, going 10-for-10 from the charity stripe. MSU tied a school record with the 1.000 free throw percentage. The last time MSU was perfect from the free throw line was Feb. 3, 2016 (19-for-19).
- All 11 players that dressed scored for the Spartans. Nine players scored at least six points.
- In head coach Suzy Merchant's tenure, when two numbers on the scoreboard were achieved it typically has been a sign of a MSU win. Overall, MSU has scored at least 70 points nine times overall this season. MSU has won 100 of its last 106 games when scoring at least 70 points, and MSU is 117-13 under head coach Suzy Merchant when hanging at least 70 points on the scoreboard. This year, MSU is 11-0 when scoring at least 70 points.
