Michigan Drops League Match at Michigan State

Thursday, February 19

East Lansing, Mich.

7:00 PM

Michigan

10-16, 3-12

Michigan State

19-7, 12-3

MICHIGAN

Michigan State

2/19/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Site: East Lansing, Mich. (Breslin Center)
Score: Michigan State 52, Michigan 27
Records: Michigan (10-16, 3-12 Big Ten), Michigan State (19-7, 12-3 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Feb. 22 -- vs. Iowa (Crisler Arena), 2 p.m.

Boxscore | Notes & Quotes | Photo Gallery

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan State's Porsche Poole tallied a game-high 14 points of the bench to lead the Spartans to a 52-27 win over the University of Michigan women's basketball team on Thursday night (Feb. 19) in the Breslin Center.

Michigan was led by senior guard Jessica Minnfield(Toledo, Ohio/Central Catholic) and sophomore guard Veronica Hicks(Chicago, Ill./Thornwood), who each had seven points in the loss, while freshman forward Carmen Reynolds (Hilliard, Ohio) posted a game-high seven rebounds.

The Wolverine offense struggled from the outset but was able to keep it close in the first half with staunch defense, forcing the Spartans into 12 first-half turnovers to keep the MSU lead at intermission at nine points.

However, Michigan State outscored the Wolverines 30-14 in the second half, forcing them into 14.8 percent shooting from the floor and held them to a program-low 27 points in the loss.

Michigan State opened the second half with a 9-3 run to pull ahead, 32-16, before a three-pointer from Reynolds gave the Wolverines just their second field goal of the half with eight minutes off the game clock. The Spartans got valuable points off the bench from Mia Johnson and Porsche Poole, who with a combined seven straight points gave the Spartans a 39-19 lead midway through the half.

Hicks ended a nearly seven-minute scoring drought for the Wolverines with a bucket in the paint on a perfect dish from freshman guard Courtney Boylan(Chaska, Minn./Chaska) at the 7:34 mark, but it marked just one of only two U-M field goals in the final seven minutes as the Spartans picked up their fourth consecutive win and their fourth straight in the series.

Despite stifling the Spartans on the defensive end early in the game, MSU scored the first points of the game before the Wolverines went on a 9-0 run to take a 9-3 early lead after the first eight minutes of play behind two big baskets from Minnfield. However, seven unanswered points from Michigan State off back-to-back U-M turnovers gave the Spartans their first lead at the 10:17 mark. MSU extended its lead to 18-9 on the next two possessions and took a 22-13 lead into halftime.

The Wolverines return home for the 2008-09 home finale on Sunday (Feb. 22) when they take on Iowa at 2 p.m. in Crisler Arena. Michigan will honor the 2009 senior class with a ceremony following the game. The Wolverines will also honor the parents of the 2008-09 women's basketball team prior to the start of the game. Fans can catch the contest with a live webcast on BigTenNetwork.com and audio on WTKA AM 1050 with Matt Park and Nick Brandon on the call.

Contact: Jessica Poole (734) 763-4423