GREEN & WHITE BASKETBALL

Shay Colley scores 21, leads Michigan State women's basketball past Purdue, 82-68

Lansing State Journal

Miracle Gray of Purdue tries to steal the ball from Shay Colley of Michigan State Saturday, February 24, 2018, at Mackey Arena. Purdue fell to Michigan State 82-68.

Behind a game-high 21 points from sophomore guard Shay Colley, the Michigan State women’s basketball team stopped Purdue, 82-68, at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, Indiana, on Saturday on the final day of the regular season.

The Spartans have now won two straight to end the regular season. MSU improves to 17-12 overall and 7-9 in Big Ten action, while Purdue falls to 18-12 overall and 9-7 in league play.

MSU had four players in double figures, led by Colley’s 21. She also added six rebounds and four assists. Junior center Jenna Allen scored 15 points, while sophomore guard Taryn McCutcheon added 14 points and five assists. Senior forward Taya Reimer scored 11 points with five boards.

Purdue was led by 20 points from Dominique Oden, including 14 in the third period alone.

Michigan State forced two early Boilermaker turnovers with tough defense. Despite the early trouble, Purdue used a 6-0 run to take a 12-8 lead, which was halted by Colley’s first basket of the game. MSU responded nicely with a 9-0 run of its own to take an 18-12 advantage. Due in part to six points from McCutcheon, the Spartans led after the first quarter 20-14.

Tamara Farquhar of Purdue tries to keep the ball from Lexi Gussert of Michigan State Saturday, February 24, 2018, at Mackey Arena. Purdue fell to Michigan State 82-68.

In the second quarter, the Spartans kept up the defensive pressure, forcing 10 turnovers in the first half. After a laser pass from Agee, MSU took its first double-digit lead with a Reimer layup, 30-19. MSU kept Purdue off the scoreboard for over four minutes. The Spartans outscored the Boilermakers 15-8 in the second period.

Both teams came out fast in the second half. Purdue trimmed the Spartan advantage to 52-50 with 2:19 left in the third after a McLaughlin jumper, leading to a MSU timeout. The Boilermakers tied the score, but a pair of free throws by Colley put MSU back on top, 54-52. Agee closed out the quarter with a 3-pointer, giving MSU the 57-52 lead.

The determined Spartans used a 10-0 run to retake the double-digit lead, 67-54. Colley was solid in the final period, scoring six straight to help stretch the MSU margin. Colley scored 13 of her 21 points in the final 10 minutes of action.

The Spartans now await seeding in the upcoming Big Ten tournament in Indianapolis, Feb. 28-March 4.

- MSU Athletic Communications