IPFW Falls Short in Upset Bid to #25 Michigan State

Tuesday, November 15

East Lansing, Mich.

7:00 p.m.

Purdue Fort Wayne

0-3

Michigan State

2-1

IPFW

Michigan State

IPFW Falls Short in Upset Bid to #25 Michigan State

11/16/2011 12:08:00 AM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

BOX SCORE

EAST LANSING, Mich. – The IPFW women's basketball team held a four-point lead midway through the second half, but #25 Michigan State used its size down the stretch to climb back and down the Mastodons 62-56 Tuesday evening at the Breslin Center in East Lansing, Mich.

IPFW drops to 0-3 this season, while Michigan State improves 2-1. The Spartans are now 2-0 all-time against the 'Dons.

Coming into the game matched up against a taller Spartan squad, the Mastodons utilized its quick ball movement and hit early jump shots to take an early 4-3 advantage. The visitors gave up the lead on the following possession with a three-point basket from Spartan Lykendra Johnson, but the 'Dons stayed within striking distance, as Michigan State moved ahead 20-18 at the 7:13 mark.

The teams exchanged buckets until 37 seconds remaining in the first half, when Stefanie Mauk fed Amanda Hyde for a layup, taking the game into halftime, with the Spartans in front 29-25. Anne Boese had 11 first-half points to lead the Mastodons.

IPFW came out firing in second half and tied the contest at 31-31, before putting together a 6-0 run to take the lead at 42-38. Three-pointers from Boese and Erin Murphy ignited the Mastodon run with just over 10 minutes remaining in the up and down contest.

As soon IPFW started to build on its lead, the Spartans answered back with their biggest run of the game, managing a 15-4 run to regain the lead at 53-44. The Mastodons cut the deficit to four at 58-54 with 24 seconds remaining thanks to a pair of Hyde free throws.

With little time on the clock, IPFW was forced to foul, resulting in game-clinching free throws and a 62-56 Spartan win.

Boese and Hyde led the 'Dons with 14 points each. Johnson paced the Spartans with a double-double performance of 14 points and 20 rebounds. IPFW's bench outscored Michigan State 20-7, while the visitors scored 22 points off Spartan turnovers.

Head coach Chris Paul and the Mastodons will return to Fort Wayne and welcome Grace College to the Gates Center on Thursday, Nov. 17. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. EST.

~Dons~