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Sports | Women's Basketball

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

MSU: 10th-straight season with 20 wins or more

Stephen Brooks
February 20, 2013

There were two records on Suzy Merchant’s mind heading into Wednesday’s home matchup with Northwestern – one evoked nerves while the other evoked pride. The first, the Wildcats’ losing record on the season, made the sixth-year MSU women’s basketball coach nervous because she knew the number wasn’t indicative of how good Northwestern was. The second was the fruit of MSU’s 54-45 victory Wednesday night, which marked the Spartans’ 10th-straight season of 20 wins or more. “Those are always important numbers and you know how important it is to get there,” Merchant said.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Women's team falls to Michigan on road

Stephen Brooks
February 16, 2013

_Ann Arbor, Mich. – _Now that was how a rivalry game should be. Despite 21 points in a heroic effort from guard Jasmine Thomas in the senior’s final regular season match up with archrival Michigan, it wasn’t enough to end her Spartan career undefeated against the Wolverines. Michigan (19-6 overall, 8-4 Big Ten) broke its 12-game losing streak to MSU on Sunday afternoon with a dramatic 70-69 win in front of a sellout crowd at Crisler Center.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Defending Their Court

Stephen Brooks
February 4, 2013

The MSU women’s basketball team welcomed first-year Michigan coach Kim Barnes Arico to the in-state rivalry in overwhelming fashion Monday night. Once the Spartans overcame a poor shooting stretch at the beginning the game, the rout was on. MSU (18-4 overall, 6-3 Big Ten) took advantage of an explosive run in the second half to down rival Michigan (16-6, 5-4) for the 12th consecutive time, 61-46. “I think Michigan State is the program that sets the bar, obviously, for the state of Michigan,” Barnes Arico said. “They have a great fan base.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

MSU beats U-M at Breslin: “Get off my court”

Josh Mansour
February 4, 2013

It was supposed to be close. Identical conference records. Overall records separated by just a game. One of the mainstays of the Big Ten’s elite against a program on the rise, with a new head coach and coming off its first NCAA Tournament berth in 11 years. But when Kiana Johnson stood with the ball in her hands, arms crossed as the final seconds ticked off the clock, an authoritative message of dominance was sent. “Get off my court,” Johnson said was the thought on her mind as she stood near midcourt.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

The Mittens come off

Stephen Brooks
February 3, 2013

Pink jerseys, Breslin Center, arch rivals. The last time those three factors for the MSU women’s basketball team came together was Feb. 13, 2011, and culminated in a 69-56 victory against Michigan in front of the first sellout crowd in program history.