Jankoska helps MSU women upset No. 20 Michigan
ANN ARBOR - Tori Jankoska has made it clear her desire to get a young Michigan State women's basketball team into the NCAA tournament.
And the senior guard made sure the Spartans strengthened their case for a spot in the field Sunday.
Jankoska had a game-high 28 points as MSU put together a strong showing in an 86-68 road victory over No. 20-ranked Michigan in front of a Crisler Center-record women's basketball crowd of 12,707.
The win was the second straight for the Spartans, who picked up their second victory over a ranked team this season.
"This was huge," said Jankoska, who was 10 of 16 from the field, made five 3s and helped MSU limit Michigan leading-scorer Katelynn Flaherty to four points.
"(This was) probably one of the more important games we've played all season, and I said that before the game. They are ranked, it's a good win and those are things that the selection committee looks for. It's important for us. We've got to make sure we can take care of business for the last time at home and go on the road and finish out strong."
Branndais Agee and Taya Reimer each added 15 points to aid MSU (18-9, 8-6 Big Ten) in the resume-boosting victory.
"I think (the wins) are all big," said MSU coach Suzy Merchant, whose program has won six of its last eight meetings against Michigan. "This time of year you're fighting for something. You're fighting for seeding, you're fighting for different things. They had a great crowd, and it's as big of a rival game as you could get."
Hallie Thome had 21 points to lead Michigan (21-7, 10-4), which dropped its second straight since a six-game winning streak that vaulted them into the national rankings.
"Michigan State and Indiana right now are fighting for their lives to try to make the NCAA tournament," Michigan coach Kim Barnes Arico said of the Wolverines' recent two losses. "They came out and played incredibly tough and incredibly hard and were really able to make a lot of shots and made it difficult for us to come back,"
MSU started the second half on a 14-4 run to take control. Michigan pulled within six in the final minute of the third quarter after a pair of made free throws by freshman Kysre Gondrezick. But Jankoska answered with a 3 and the Wolverines never got closer than eight points the rest of the way while suffering their first home loss of the season.
"(Jankoska) has kind of put her team on her shoulders because she's a senior and she wants to make sure she has an opportunity to play in the NCAA tournament her senior year," Barnes Arico said. "She's great. I thought once we settled in, we did a better job on her. She was able to really attack us at the start of the game and did a great job. And that was knowing the scouting report and really knowing what she did and she was still able to do it. I think that's a sign of a really great player."
Contact Brian Calloway at bcalloway@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @brian_calloway.
Gondrezick sisters will have to wait for MSU-Michigan rivalry matchup