Up against a tough Illinois team that would not quit, the MSU women's basketball team needed a spark down the stretch to overcome the Fighting Illini.
Enter Rene Haynes.
During the last four minutes of the contest, the senior guard was everywhere. Getting to loose balls. Tough defense. Big shots.
This proved too much for Illinois to handle, and MSU pulled away for an 80-70 victory Sunday afternoon at Breslin Center.
"We knew that we wanted to end the last four minutes with us putting out all the hustle plays," Haynes said. "We had to leave it all out there on the court."
With the Spartans up just one, 65-64, Haynes drilled a 3-pointer that wobbled the Illini. She came back a minute and a half later to dart into the paint for a tough layup that would send Illinois down for the count. During that stretch, she forced a tie and recorded a steal.
"She hit the big three — that was a big lift to the team," MSU head coach Joanne P. McCallie said. "And her scrappiness defensively was so important. She was tying up the ball, getting all over the place. She has a lot of experience, and she's an excellent creator of action on the floor."
The game marked an offensive outburst for MSU, as the Spartans recorded 80 points or more for just the third time this season.
The two teams battled back and forth at the start of the game until MSU was able to pull away, taking an 11-point lead on a basket and a free throw by sophomore forward Aisha Jefferson, but Illinois immediately went on a 15-6 run to get within striking distance.
A key part of that run was Illini guard Lori Bjork, who made three straight 3-pointers for her team. She finished with 19 points.
"They found (Bjork) one too many times in the first half," McCallie said. "That was very disappointing to our team, all of us. We know all about her, and she's an excellent guard."
The Spartans took a 46-39 lead into halftime with sophomore guard Mia Johnson nailing a 3-pointer from the corner in the final seconds of the half.
Illinois tied the game at 54 with 14:34 to go, but MSU went on a 7-0 run to create some breathing room.
The final basket of that run — a fade-away baseline jumper by junior guard Courtney Davidson — was the last time MSU scored for five minutes.
For all of MSU's futility, the Illini couldn't capitalize, cutting three points off a seven-point deficit.
"Our team did a very good job of controlling the last three minutes of the basketball game to give us opportunity," McCallie said.
Johnson led all scorers with 22 points, and Jefferson had 19.
Illinois head coach Theresa Grentz said she thought her team had the game within its grasp.
"That was doable for us," she said. "Michigan State did what they needed to do down the stretch and won the game, but from our standpoint, that was very doable."
After a two-game losing streak, this win gives MSU a two-game winning streak. A two-game road trip is up next, starting at 8 p.m. Thursday at Northwestern.
"We have to keep winning," Jefferson said. "These are important games for us."
