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No. 25 Spartans sweep 2 games in Junkanoo Jam

November 29, 2009

Following an up-and-down start to the season, all it took was a little warm weather and sun for the MSU women’s basketball team to come to life.

Playing in the Junkanoo Jam in Freeport, Bahamas, the Spartans squashed George Washington 78-47 on Friday.

MSU came back with a huge 93-90 double overtime win against Oklahoma State to win the Lucaya Division of the Jam on Saturday, improving its record to 4-2 overall going into a crucial week of play.

Senior center Allyssa DeHaan was named the tournament MVP after posting 33 points, 12 rebounds and 10 blocks in the two games, including a near triple-double Saturday with 23 points, nine rebounds and eight blocks.

DeHaan came on strong in overtime Saturday, scoring eight of MSU’s 10 points in the first overtime.

Junior forward Kalisha Keane also came up big for the Spartans, totaling her best game of the season with 20 points and a career-high 13 rebounds to go with four assists, two blocks and two steals.

MSU was able to outlast Oklahoma State guard Andrea Riley, who scored 44 points on 14-of-42 shooting, the most points ever scored against the Spartans.

Riley banked in a wild 25-foot 3-pointer as time expired to send the game to a second overtime. She tried the same thing with 12 seconds left in double overtime but missed, allowing junior guard Brittney Thomas and Keane to put the game away with free throws.

Friday, against George Washington, the Spartans were down 11-2 early, but used a big second half to win 78-47.

MSU shot 58.6 percent in the second half and was led by freshman guard Jasmine Thomas, who came on strong, scoring 15 points with six rebounds and five assists. Keane (13 points) and DeHaan (10 points) also scored in double figures for MSU.

Things don’t get much easier for the Spartans, as they host No. 4 North Carolina on Thursday.

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