Feb. 17, 2011
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Northwestern gave No. 10/11 Michigan State all it could handle at the Breslin Center, but came up on the short end of a 74-60 battle Thursday evening. The Wildcats, led by 25 points from Amy Jaeschke, hung with MSU until the very end when the Spartans showed why they are undefeated at home, exploding on a 14-4 run in the final 3:28 for the win.
Despite the unseasonably warm temperatures outside, both were cold from the field, combining to convert on just three field goals in the first four minutes. Michigan State located its rhythm first and found itself up 16-8 just over 12 minutes into the half. Jaeschke had an answer for the 'Cats, spearheading an 8-0 run to pull the tally even at 16 with 9:31 on the clock.
From that point forward, the half remained neck-and-neck as there were six ties, nine lead changes and a total of 37 points. Northwestern shot a sparkling 48 percent from the field in the frame, led by a 7-of-13, 16-point effort from Jaeschke. Jones added several momentum-changing buckets, including a lay-in off a backcourt steal and a banked-in three pointer with the shot clock expiring.
The Wildcats owned a 36-30 halftime advantage.
Michigan State emerged from the break with renewed chutzpah, composing a 10-2 run to take a 43-38 lead just three minutes into second-half action. But a triple from the top of the key by Jaeschke gave NU a shot of energy and made it a one-possession affair.
The score remained deadlocked at 45 for three minutes until a fastbreak lay-in from Beth Marshall to Brittany Orban put NU ahead by a bucket. Once again, MSU kept stride, responding with a score on the other end.
Neither team allowed more than a two-point lead until the 3:44 mark when Michigan State claimed a 60-56 upper hand. Twenty seconds later, a lay-in by Jaeschke once again made it a two-point affair. But Michigan State went on a 5-0 run to take a 65-58 lead. But the Wildcats refused to go away, and a lay-in by Orban on the other end cut it to five, 65-60 with 2:28 remaining.
Michigan State went on a 9-0 run to end the game and emerge with the win.
Northwestern returns to action at noon Sunday when it battles Minnesota for Senior Day. Alumnae of the program, including members of the 1990 Big Ten Championship team, as well as former mentor Don Perrelli will be honored during the game.
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