Despite Loss Spartan Women Capture Big Ten Title
EAST LANSING (WWJ/AP) - MSU women's basketball ended their 20-game home win streak with a loss to Ohio State 54-53 but still take the Big Ten championship title Thursday at Breslin Center.
Jantel Lavender scored 24 points, and Ohio State spoiled Michigan State's Big Ten title celebration with a 54-53 win over the 10th-ranked Spartans.
Lavender's free throw with 1:50 remaining was the game's final point. Michigan State's last chance came after a shot clock violation with 10.5 seconds remaining, but Jasmine Thomas missed from about 18 feet under heavy pressure from Ohio State's Amber Stokes.
The Spartans (24-4, 12-3) already had clinched a share of the regular-season conference title but with post-game news that Purdue beat Penn State, the Spartan women clinched the Big Ten Championship title outright.
Ohio State (18-9, 9-6) had won at least a share of the last six regular-season Big Ten titles. The Buckeyes won't extend that streak, but they've now won five games in a row.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
