Feb. 28, 2008

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EAST LANSING, Mich. - Courtney Davidson, one of two Michigan State graduating seniors along with Alisa Wulff, led the Michigan State women's basketball team to a 54-46 come-from-behind win over Illinois on Senior Night Thursday at the Breslin Center. Davidson scored a career-high 20 points as MSU rallied from a 12-point first-half deficit. The Spartans, who have won five of their last six games, close the regular season with an 18-12 overall record and a 10-8 mark in the Big Ten.

Trailing 24-12 with 8:41 remaining in the first half, Michigan State would go on an extended 32-8 run over the next 23:23 to open up its largest lead of the night at 44-32. During the span, the Spartans held the Illini to 3-for-25 shooting from the field and forced nine turnovers.

Illinois opened its initial lead by scoring the game's first 11 points and jumped out to a 13-2 lead in the first five minutes. The Fighting Illini kept a hold of the advantage until the Spartans' drawn out run began with nine unanswered points from 8:41 to the 2:20 mark in the first stanza to shorten the deficit and help bring the halftime score to 26-21.

The second half began with a 5-0 run by MSU to tie the game with 16:46 remaining for the first time since the opening tip. After an Illini basket, the Spartans scored the next four points to take their first lead of the game (13:10) and never trailed again.

Aside from Davidson's 20 points, freshman Brittney Thomas was only other Spartan in double-figures with 10 points, also adding seven rebounds and three assists. Fellow freshman Cetera Washington grabbed a career-high nine rebounds, and sophomore Allyssa DeHaan added seven points and five blocks.

Defense was the story of the game, as MSU held Illinois to 31.3 percent (15-for-48) shooting from the field, while the Spartans only managed a 32.7 percent (18-for-55) shooting night of their own. Michigan State also held a decisive 46-28 edge on the boards, including a 20-7 margin on the offensive end.

Prior to the game, MSU honored Davidson and Wulff, and would later celebrate them again after the win with a video tribute and some words from head coach Suzy Merchant.

Although MSU's regular season is complete, the Spartans will have to wait until Sunday night to find out its seed and opponent for the Big Ten Tournament, scheduled March 6-9 at Indianapolis' Conseco Fieldhouse. While Michigan State is idle Sunday afternoon, all of the other Big Ten teams will be in action.