Women's Basketball 11/27/2007 5:00:00 AM MEAC Media Relations

Delaware State Falls to #18 Michigan State, 65-62

The Delaware State women’s basketball team gave nationally-ranked Michigan State all it could handle before falling 65-62 in Memorial Hall Monday evening.

The outcome wasn’t decided until DSU’s Ashlee Burbage missed the potential game-tying three-point shot at the final buzzer. Michigan State is ranked 18th in the latest ESPN/USA Today poll and number 20 in the Associated Press poll of Top 25 teams.

The Lady Hornets led by six points midway through the second half and by three with six minutes left before the Spartans rallied for their third straight win. Michigan State is now 5-1 on the season. The loss snapped a two-game win streak for Delaware State, which fell to 2-3. The game featured five ties and 10 lead changes. Michigan State led 11-2 before the Lady Hornets mounted a rally.

Delaware State scored the next 10 points, and took its first lead, 12-11, on a jumper by Keyhana Wakefield with 13:35 left in the first half. The Lady Hornets opened up a 19-15 lead when Katreem Palmer nailed a three-pointer with 11:25 left in the half. Michigan State answered with a 13-5 run, and pulled ahead 28-24 when Kalisha Keane hit a three-pointer with 4:44 left in the half. The Spartans led 33-30 at the break. Delaware State scored the first six points of the second half, and opened up a 36-33 lead on a layup by Jameka Smith with 17:54 left to play. The Lady Hornets held their biggest lead of the game, 47-40, after a layup by Wakefield with 11:54 remaining.

Delaware State led 50-44 when Ashlee Burbage drilled a three-pointer with 9:55 left. Michigan State answered with an 11-4 run, and regained the lead for good, 55-54, on two free throws by Keane with 5:01 to play. After Delaware State pulled to within 59-58 on two free throws by Thea Littlepage with 33 seconds left, the Spartans hit six-of-six at the line to seal the win. Delaware State’s Raquel Collier led all players with 19 points.

Littlepage recorded her first career “double-double” for the Lady Hornets, scoring 11 points and leading all players with 10 rebounds. She was four-for-four from the field and three-for-four at the free throw line.

Keane led four Michigan State players in double figures with 18 points.
Davidson and Allysa DeHaan added 15 points each for the Spartans. Davidson was six-for-six from the line, while the 6-9 DeHaan also contributed five blocks and four assists. Delaware State won the rebound battle 38-29, and forced the Spartans to commit 25 turnovers. The Lady Hornets turned the ball over just seven times.

The contest marked the first time DSU played host to a nationally ranked team. The Lady Hornets return to action on Saturday (Dec. 1) at home against Army. The tip-off time has been moved up to 3:00 p.m.