Mastodons Knock Off Nationally Ranked Michigan State 81-76

Sunday, December 1

East Lansing, Mich.

4:30 p.m.

Purdue Fort Wayne

4-4

Michigan State

5-2

IPFW

Michigan State

Photo by: Lucas Carter

Mastodons Knock Off Nationally Ranked Michigan State 81-76

12/1/2013 6:37:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

BOX SCORE | BOX SCORE (.pdf) | BOX SCORE (.htm)

EAST LANSING, Mich. - The IPFW women's basketball team got their first ever win over a Big Ten opponent as they defeated No. 21/18 ranked Michigan State 81-76. It was also the program's first victory over a nationally ranked team since moving to Division I.

Amanda Hyde led IPFW (4-4 overall) with 23 points and dishing out a team best seven assists. Four other players finished in double-digits as Rachel Mauk and Haley Seibert went for 14 points, Ariana Simmons had 12 and Mur Hagerman added 10. Simmons also led the Mastodons with eight rebounds and three blocks.

The Mastodons came out ready to go as they traded baskets with the nationally ranked Spartans in the early minutes. After MSU hit a basket at 17:56, the 'Dons answered with a three by Rachel Mauk to take their first lead with 17:37 to play. Seibert would hit her second three of the game at 17:07 to give IPFW a 10-5 advantage. The 'Dons would continue to hold the lead until the Spartans connected with 13:22 left to regain the lead.

MSU would then go on a 7-0 run to lead it 22-15 with just over 10 minutes to play. The Mastodons would respond by holding the Spartans scoreless for over four minutes as they went on a 10-0 stretch of their own to regain the lead at 29-24 and less than five minutes to play. The 'Dons held onto that lead in the final minutes as they led things 40-35 at the break.

After Rachel Mauk hit a three to open the second half, Michigan State would go on a 10-0 run to take back the lead since midway through the first half. The 'Dons weren't out of things yet as they hit back-to-back baskets to take a 57-53 lead and forcing the Spartans into a timeout.

The IPFW defense would come up big once again as Simmons made several key blocks and steals down the stretch. The 'Dons held MSU scoreless for nearly five minutes as they built to a 12-point lead, 65-53 with 8:09 to play in the game. Michigan State would put up a fight till the end, but the Mastodons were able to keep the Spartans offense at bay in the final minutes.

MSU cut the 'Dons lead down to five with 2:49 left, but Rachel Mauk came up with a key steal and Simmons drove to the basket for the layup. Seibert and Hyde would each hit a pair of free throws to push the IPFW lead to nine with under a minute to play. The Spartans would score six points in the final 24 seconds, but it would be Hyde who would cement the game hitting a pair of free throws with three seconds left.

The Spartans connected on more shots from the floor (30-to-29) but the 'Dons connected on 13 3-point baskets to just seven for MSU. The Mastodons finished the night shooting a season-high 56.5% from behind-the-arc and connected on a season-best 13, 3-pointers. The 'Dons also made a season-high six blocked shots.

The win also marks the first time a current Summit League member has defeated the Spartans and it was MSU's first non-conference loss at home since falling to then ranked No. 24 Texas on December 10, 2011.

IPFW will have a short break as they head back out on the road to take face Evansville on December 4 for an 11:00 a.m. game.

~ Feel the Rumble ~