Michigan State Women's Basketball Knocks Off No. 19/16 Purdue 89-73
Women’s Basketball Knocks Off No. 19/16 Purdue 89-73
Powers has sixth double-double to lead five Spartans in double figures.
EAST LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan State women’s basketball team picked up its third victory over a ranked team this afternoon, knocking off No. 19/16 Purdue, 89-73 at the Breslin Center. MSU utilized a balanced and efficient offensive effort, as five Spartans scored in double figures and the team shot 50.0% from the field.
The Spartans (15-7) remain alone in second place in the Big Ten at 7-2, while the Boilermakers fall to 15-7 overall and 5-5 in conference play.
Redshirt freshman Aerial Powers led the attack with her sixth double-double, posting 19 points and 11 rebounds, while also tying her season-high with five assists. Off the bench, junior Jasmine Hines had a season-high 16 points in 23 minutes, while senior Klarissa Bell and freshman Tori Jankoska each poured in 15 points. Jankoska also added a season- and game-high six assists, six rebounds and three steals. Redshirt freshman Branndais Agee had 10 points and a career-high three steals.
The Spartan offense was stagnant early, trailing 16-9 in the first seven minutes, while hitting just four of their first 13 shots. From there, Michigan State hit five of its next six shots to put together a 10-2 run in a two-minute spurt and take the lead. The game would go back-and-forth with four ties and five lead changes in the next six minutes, putting the score at 30-all with 4:15 on the clock. The Spartans would score the next five points, but a 3-pointer at the buzzer by KK Houser made it a one-point game at the half, 39-38.
Early in the second half, Michigan State put together a 14-4 run to go ahead 55-44. The Boilermakers got back within eight (59-51) with 10 and a half minutes left, but that was as close as they got. The Spartans answered with eight unanswered points and held a double-digit lead the rest of the way.
Michigan State shot 50.0% from the field, and held a 39-27 edge on the glass.
The Spartans hit the road on Wednesday to face Illinois at 8 p.m. ET.
POST-GAME NOTES:
- The Spartans’ 7-2 start in Big Ten play is tied for the second-best in program history. The 1996-97 team won eight of its first nine games.
- The attendance of 13,172 was a season high and was the eighth-most in Spartan history.
- MSU's 89 points were its most in a Big Ten regular season game since scoring 101 vs. Northwestern on Feb. 3, 2005.
- MSU’s 89 points were also its most ever in a game against Purdue.
- Michigan State has scored at least 80 points in 10 games this season, the third-best total in program history. The 1999-00 and 1996-97 teams reached that number 11 times.
- MSU has shot 50% or better in seven games this season, the most since the 2004-05 team did it seven times.
- The Spartans have 13 double-doubles this season, the most in a season since the 2006-07 team also had 13.
- Powers’ six double-doubles are tied for the fourth-most by a Spartan freshman.
- Powers is now seventh on the Spartan freshman points list with 303, while Jankoska is 12th on that list with 267 points.
- Hines’ eight field goals are a career high.
- Bell’s 15 points were her most in a Big Ten game this season.
- Powers went 9-for-10 from the free throw line, setting a new season high for makes.
- The Spartans had 50 points in the paint today, their second most this season (54 vs. Rice).
- Today was the first time that MSU won while shooting less free throws than its opponent.
