No. 10 Michigan State beats Detroit, 71-62
Michigan State's Aisha Jefferson (22) looks for a shot against Detroit during the first half of their NCAA college basketball game on Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jerry S. Mendoza)
(Jerry S. Mendoza - AP)
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Sunday, November 15, 2009; 2:58 PM
DETROIT -- Aisha Jefferson scored 16 points to help No. 10 Michigan State beat Detroit 71-62 on Sunday for its first win of the season.
The Spartans (1-1) trailed 37-36 at halftime, but went on a 15-3 run early in the second half to take the lead for good. Courtney Schiffauer made consecutive 3-pointers to start the decisive stretch.
Lauren Aitch finished with 13 points and eight rebounds for Michigan State, which lost 77-74 at Dayton in its season opener on Friday night.
Brigid Mulroy had a career-best 27 points for the Titans (1-1).
The Spartans struggled against Detroit's perimeter shooters and trailed 39-36 a minute into the second half when Jefferson got the decisive run started with a field goal. Then Schiffauer's 3-pointers gave Michigan State a lead it never lost.
Detroit was 7 for 12 against the Spartans' zone in the first half, but managed just one more 3-pointer as the taller Spartans asserted themselves in the paint. Michigan State outrebounded the Titans 46-33 and corralled 19 offensive rebounds en route to their 11th straight win over Detroit.
Mulroy converted a three-point play with less than seven minutes to cut the lead to 60-56, but Schiffauer and Lykendra Johnson answered with consecutive 3-pointers to push the advantage back into double digits.
Jalesa Jones hit one of Detroit's seven first-half 3-pointers seconds before the halftime buzzer to give the Titans a 37-36 lead at intermission. She finished with 10 points and Demeisha Fambro added 13.
Schiffauer had 12 points, six rebounds and four steals for the Spartans, who open their home season Thursday against No. 4 Notre Dame.
