GREEN & WHITE BASKETBALL

Michigan State women fall in Big Ten road opener

Lansing State Journal

Bridget Perry and Andreona Keys combine to try and steal the ball from Michigan State’s Tori Jankoska Wednesday, January 4, 2017, at Mackey Arena. Purdue defeated Michigan State 66-54.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Indiana – Tori Jankoska and the Michigan State women’s basketball team came up short Wednesday in its Big Ten road opener.

Purdue pulled away in the fourth quarter to post a 66-54 victory over the Spartans at Mackey Arena.

Jankoska had a team-high 16 points to lead the Spartans, who were without head coach Suzy Merchant.

Merchant didn’t attend the contest and hasn’t been with the team since fainting on the sidelines in the late stages of Sunday’s win over Illinois. A time frame for her return to the team is to be determined.

The Spartans (11-4, 1-1 Big Ten) got off to a slow start Wednesday, falling behind 9-0 in the game’s opening three minutes. MSU worked its way back and eventually pulled even with Purdue (10-4, 1-1) in the third quarter.

But Purdue finished strong and extended its lead to double-digits during a fourth quarter where it outscored the Spartans, 19-11.

Ashley Morrissette had a game-high 24 points and Bridget Perry scored 17 to pace the Boilermakers.

Victoria Gaines and Jenna Allen each had seven points for MSU, which returns to action Saturday when it hosts Nebraska at Breslin Center.