Kansas Defeated 58-54 by Michigan State in WNIT Third Round Action

March 27, 2008

Final Stats | Notes |

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Sophomore Danielle McCray led the Jayhawks with 18 points, nine rebounds and a career high eight steals, however, Michigan State topped Kansas 58-54 at the Breslin Center Thursday in the third round of the WNIT.

Freshman Krysten Boogaard chimed in with 10 points and five rebounds, while sophomore LaChelda Jacobs tied her career high with six assists and senior Taylor McIntosh grabbed 11 boards.

The Spartans opened the game with a 7-2 run, but a trey by Jayhawk freshman Nicollette Smith at the 14:28 mark sent the Jayhawks on a 5-0 run, tying the game at seven.

Kansas held Michigan State to 31 percent shooting in the first half as sophomore Danielle McCray battled for four first-half steals and led the Jayhawks with seven first-half points.

The Jayhawks entered halftime down 26-24 after holding the Spartans scoreless from the 6:05 mark to the six-second mark, when Michigan State’s Brittney Thomas hit two free throws.

Kansas opened the second half with an 8-2 run, battling past Michigan State, bringing the score to 32-28, but a 10-2 Spartan run put Michigan State ahead 38-34.

In a back and forth second-half battle, McCray recorded four more steals as Kansas forced 15 total Michigan State turnovers. Two free throws and a steel by sophomore Sade Morris brought Kansas within five points at the 2:30 mark. McCray added two points from the charity stripe to make the score 52-49, pulling the Jayhawks within three.

A jumper at the 19-second mark and two free throws by Michigan State’s Courtney Davidson would pull the Spartans ahead, 58-51. McCray’s last minute three wouldn’t be enough as the Spartans pulled off a 58-54 win.