Michigan State University
7-2
Alcorn State
1-6
No. 18 Michigan State Routs Alcorn State, 77-41, Tuesday
12/16/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
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EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Aerial Powers had 23 points, seven rebounds and five assists and No. 18 Michigan State dominated Alcorn State 77-41 on Tuesday night.
Tori Jankoska chipped in 17 points and Becca Mills had 10 with seven boards for the Spartans (7-2), who shot 48 percent from the field. Powers was 6 of 8 from the floor, 11 of 13 from the free-throw line and had four steals.
Alcorn State (1-6) was smothered by Michigan State, being held to 14-of-58 shooting (24.1 percent) with 21 turnovers. Norianna Haynes led the Braves with 16 points, but no other player had more than six.
The Spartans raced out to a 22-3 lead early as Powers had two jumpers and two layups. Alcorn State climbed right back however, cutting the deficit to just eight at halftime.
Michigan State opened the second half with a 17-5 run and pushed its lead to 30 with 9:16 left.
Post-Game Notes
• Michigan State has won 64 of its last 65 games when scoring at least 70 points in a game and the Spartans are now 81-5 (.942) under head coach Suzy Merchant when hanging at least 70 points on scoreboard.
• MSU limited its opponent to 45 or fewer points for the second game in a row and fourth time this season ... The Spartans are also 125-11 (.919) under Merchant when holding the opposition to 60 points or less.
• Michigan State has won 109 of its last 110 games (.991) when leading with five minutes left, including winning 60 in a row ... In Merchant's tenure, MSU is now 151-5 (.968) when holding a lead with five minutes to play.
• The Spartans entered the locker room with the lead for the seventh time this season, improving to 6-1 when leading at intermission.
• For the second time this season, all nine players that were in uniform scored, along with the Miami (Ohio) game on Nov. 30.
• Tuesday was the second-straight game and the fourth time this season that at least five players snared five or more rebounds, joining the Eastern Michigan (11/16), Notre Dame (11/19) and Loyola Chicago (12/14) games.
• Michigan State had season-highs for free throws made and attempted Tuesday with its 25-37 (67.6 percent) effort at the charity stripe.
• MSU had a +10 rebounding advantage (45-35) Tuesday, marking the Spartans' sixth game this season with a double-digit rebounding advantage, including the second in a row and fifth in the last six games.
• The Spartans have snared 40+ rebounds in seven of in their nine games this season.
• MSU held Alcorn State to just 19 points in the second half, for a season-low points allowed in the second half by the opponent, bettering the previous mark of 20 that the Spartans limited to Miami (Ohio) on Nov. 30.
• The Michigan State defense forced a season-high turnovers by the opposition with the 22 Alcorn State turnovers.
• MSU is now 158-89 (.638) all-time in the month of December, including 41-19 (.678) under Merchant ... The Spartans are also now 4-3 in known games played on Dec. 16.
• The Spartans started the same starting line-up on Tuesday that they had in their previous eight games consisting of sophomore guard Tori Jankoska, senior guard Anna Morrissey, freshman guard Jasmine Lumpkin, redshirt-sophomore forward Aerial Powers and senior forward Becca Mills ... Mills started for the 78th time in her career, while Powers made her 42nd career start and Jankoska started her 26th game of her career ... Morrissey and Lumpkin both made their ninth-consecutive starts of their careers.
• Powers has now scored in double figures in all nine games this season after matching her uniform with 23 points Tuesday ... Powers reached the 20-point mark for the fourth time this season and the 11th time in her career ... With five assists Tuesday, Powers has five or more helpers in the last two games and fourth in the last five ... Powers also had a career-high for free throws with her 11-13 effort Tuesday ... With a season-high tying four steals Tuesday, Powers has now swiped three of more steals in four games this season.
• Powers and Jankoska netted double-digit points for the ninth time this season in as many games, as well as the 32nd game in their careers with Powers' 23 points and Jankoska's 17 points.
• Jankoska logged her second game this season with multiple blocks with her two rejections Tuesday ... Jankoska has also dished out three or more assists for the more eighth time in the nine games.
• Mills posted double-digits for the second game in a row and fourth of the season, all in the last five games ... Mills netted a season-high two three-pointers Tuesday, which were the second and third treys of the season ... With seven rebounds Tuesday, Mills has snared a least five boards in all nine games this season ... Mills also had one rejection in the game, giving her 73 for her career and needing nine more to tie former teammate Annalise Pickrel for No. 8 on MSU's career blocks list with 82.
