Michigan State University
7-3
ETSU
6-7
Spartans Block Bucs in Overtime
12/16/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. - Michigan State women's basketball outscored East Tennessee State, 17-8, in overtime to grind out a 83-74 road win over the Buccaneers Saturday night in Johnson City, Tenn. The Spartans used a school record 15 blocks to help seal the hard-fought road win.
PDF Box Score vs. ETSU
MSU's previous school record was 13 blocks against Indiana on Dec. 28, 2006.
Michigan State has now won two-straight games, improving to 7-3, while ETSU falls to 6-7 this season.
Freshman forward Sidney Cooks and junior forward Jenna Allen both scored 16 points in the victory, while sophomore guard Taryn McCutcheon earned her second double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 assists. Senior forward Taya Reimer and senior guard Branndais Agee added four blocks each, while Cooks and sophomore forward Victoria Gaines swatted two apiece.
ETSU was led by 16 points from both Britney Snowden and Tianna Carter.
The Buccaneers got off to a fast start using the three ball to take a 10-3 lead. The Spartans battled back with an 8-0 run to take a 11-10 lead. In the first five minutes of action, six different MSU players scored. The Michigan State defense forced the Bucs to miss 10-straight shot and held them scoreless for almost four minutes.
Back-to-back treys from Agee and McCutcheon gave MSU its biggest lead of the quarter, 24-15, ending the period on a 6-0 run.
In the second quarter, the Spartans took their first 10-point lead at 31-21, before the tenacious Bucs came back. ETSU cut the lead to 36-34 using a 7-0 run. Despite the momentum shift, the Spartans entered the lockerroom with the two-point lead, 36-34. Michigan State was outscored in the second quarter 19-12.
The Spartans endured a nearly three minute scoring drought in the third quarter as ETSU took a 51-47 lead. Cooks stopped the streak with a jumper with 52 second left in the period to cut the lead to 51-49.
Michigan State re-took the lead at 53-52 after an Agee jumper with under eight to play in the final period. Allen continued to look strong in the second half, scoring 10 points in the second half alone.
The Bucs tied the score at 66-66 after a free throw from Snowden with 55 seconds left in the game. ETSU had the final shot of regulation with Tarter just missing, as MSU headed to overtime for the first time this season.
MSU dominated the extra period, outscoring ETSU, 17-8, leading by as many as nine points. The Spartans were solid from the charity stripe in overtime, making 12-of-14 to pull away and seal the victory for MSU. Redshirt-sophomore guard Shay Colley went 6-of-8 and added two steals in overtime.
The Spartans briefly return home to take on Quinnipiac on Monday, Dec. 18 at 9 p.m. The game is the second half of a doubleheader with the MSU men's team. Michigan State will then hit the road for its final non-conference games of the season at the New Orleans Shootout, Dec. 21-22.e steals.
MSU Notes vs. East Tennessee State
- Michigan State set a new school record with 15 blocks. The previous record was 13 against Indiana on Dec. 28,2006. The Spartans were led by seniors Taya Reimer and Branndais Agee who both had four blocks.
- The Spartans played its first overtime game of the season in the win over East Tennessee State. This was the first-ever meeting between the Spartans and the Buccaneers.
- Three Spartans scored in double figures - freshman forward Sidney Cooks (16), junior forward Jenna Allen (16) and sophomore guard Taryn McCutcheon (12). McCutcheon earned her second career double-double with 12 points and 10 assists. She has had three double-digit assist games this year.
- The combination of Taryn McCutcheon, Shay Colley, Lexi Gussert, Sidney Cooks and Jenna Allen was the starting five for the second time this season. MSU is 2-0 with this starting lineup.
- Michigan State out-scored East Tennessee State 17-8 in overtime, including going 12-of-14 from the charity stripe. Colley led the charge for MSU going 6-of-8 from the free throw line in OT.
- Sophomore forward Nia Hollie dished out a career-high four assists. Freshman forward Sidney Cooks scored a team-high 17 points and was 5-for-6 from the free line.
- Branndais Agee returned to the Spartan lineup after missing one game. She came back strong with nine points, nine assists and a season-high four blocks.
