Spartan women avoid upset in 1st round, 69-66

With all three teams eliminated from the men's side, the state of Michigan's last hope are in the hands of the women of Michigan State. And their road to the Final Four is already showing that it's not going to be an easy one.

Four Spartans scored in double figures as #4 Michigan State survived the #13 Northern Iowa Panthers, 69-66, in the first round of the NCAA women's tournament in the Dallas region. Kalisha Keane led MSU with 17 points and 6 assists while Taylor Alton added 14 points, including four 3-pointers. Also contributing to the Spartan win was Lykendra Johnson, who had 12 points & Cetera Washington with 11 points.

Up next for MSU are rivals of the Detroit Titans & Horizon League champions, the #5 Phoenix of Green Bay, who narrowly escaped with a 59-55 win over #12 Arkansas-Little Rock. The Spartans (27-5) will face Green Bay (33-1) in the 2nd round of the NCAA tournament this Tuesday night at 9:40 pm in Wichita, KS.

Also advancing to the second round are Connecticut, Louisville, Miami, Maryland, Purdue, Xavier, Oklahoma, Georgetown, Texas A&M, West Virginia, Florida State, Rutgers, Baylor, Georgia.