Feb. 5, 2012

Box Score

Video Highlights

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Porsche Poole was again the star for the Michigan State women's basketball team, this time hitting the game-winning shot with 3.9 seconds left and scoring a game-high 23 points, helping the Spartans win 65-63 at Michigan on Sunday. The win was the 11th straight by the Spartans over the Wolverines.

The Spartans begin the game with the first 11 points, behind three different players hitting a 3-pointer. Michigan responded with a 21-4 run to open up its largest lead of the game at 21-15 with 7:44 to go in the first half. MSU bounced back with a 11-2 spurt of its own to regain the lead and eventually take a 30-28 advantage into the break.

Michigan scored the first six points of the second half, to begin a half that included 10 ties and nine lead changes. The Wolverines led by four (63-59) with 1:58 left, but the Spartans held them scoreless from that point on. Two free throws by Poole and a layup by Lykendra Johnson with 53 seconds left tied that game at 63.

A defensive stop by MSU, set up Poole's heroics. As the game clock and shot clock wound down, Poole dribbled right off a high ball screen, stopping at the foul line and hitting a pull-up jumper with 3.9 seconds left. Michigan missed a halfcourt heave at the buzzer, giving MSU the win.

In addition to her game-high 23 points, Poole added a career high nine rebounds, a game-high five assists and two steals. L. Johnson added her eighth double-double of the season with 16 points, all in the second half, and 11 rebounds. Sophomore Klarissa Bell scored a career high 13 points and added a season high six rebounds, five of which were offensive.

TEAM NOTES:
-MSU has won 11 in a row over Michigan, and 19 of the last 20 meetings.
- Michigan State has won four straight in Crisler Center, and eight of the last nine trips to Ann Arbor.
- The Spartans have won 34 of their last 35 game against in-state opponents.
- MSU had only one second half turnover. The Spartans have only 10 turnovers in the game, their lowest total since Jan. 13, 2011 vs. Iowa (9).
- The Spartans were +8 on the boards, outrebounding Michigan 33-25.

PLAYER NOTES:
-Bell went 3-for-4 from the 3-point line, after coming into the game just 2-for-14 this season.
- Bell played a career high 36 minutes.
- It was L. Johnson's 25th career double-double and her 37th career game with double-digit rebounds.