Michigan State stuns No. 14 Minnesota women

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- In a season where it seemed they could do no wrong, Minnesota learned there are no guarantees.

Michigan State held high-scoring Lindsay Whalen without a point in the final 8:20 on Sunday, then rode the strong play of Vnemia Reese to win 80-72 before a Minnesota womens' college basketball record crowd of 12,142.

It was just the second home loss of the season for the Golden Gophers, who have lost two of three going into the Big Ten Conference tournament.

"This young team has got to start understanding you can't underestimate anyone," said Minnesota coach Brenda Oldfield. "Sometimes we just assume that we can walk in to our own home court and our crowd will get us into it. Games don't work that way."

The Spartans (16-11, 6-10) shot 54 percent, with Reese hitting 9 of 12 shots for a career-high 28 points.

"The ball was moved well by my teammates, basically it was opening things," said Reese. "At times they backed off on me, and coach always says take the opportunity, and that's what I did."

Whalen, averaging 22 points per game, scored just 14, making only 6 of 17 shots.

It was the second time in a month the Gophers drew a Minnesota record crowd for womens' college basketball.

MICHIGAN STATE 80, No. 14 MINNESOTA 72

MICHIGAN STATE (16-11)

Pagel 5-11 1-1 11, Reese 9-13 5-6 28, Callier 4-6 1-1 9, Haynie 3-6 1-3 7, Jackson 2-5 0-0 4, Bromfield 1-6 4-6 6, Recker 3-6 0-0 9, Salscheider 0-1 2-2 2, Roehrig 2-2 0-0 4. Totals 29-56 14-19 80.

MINNESOTA (21-6)

Von Wald 4-9 6-6 15, Andersson 3-12 4-4 10, McCarville 6-8 5-6 17, Whalen 6-17 2-2 14, Lieser 2-5 0-0 6, Hemberg 1-1 0-0 2, Prince 2-9 4-4 8, Hill 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-61 21-22 72.

Halftime--MSU 33-32. 3-Point Goals--MSU 8-17 (Reese 5-6, Recker 3-6, Bromfield 0-1, Haynie 0-2, Jackson 0-2), Minnesota 3-11 (Lieser 2-5, Von Wald 1-2, Andersson 0-1, Whalen 0-3). Fouled out--None. Rebounds--MSU 33 (Callier 8), Minnesota 34 (Von Wald, McCarville 7). Assists--MSU 20 (Reese 7), Minnesota 12 (Andersson 4). Total fouls--MSU 20, Minnesota 15. A--12,142.