Michigan State women's basketball holds off Nebraska in Big Ten tourney
Moira Joiner remembers glancing at DeeDee Hagemann ahead of the final quarter and noting the need for the Michigan State women's basketball team to build a cushion.
The Spartans had just retaken the lead in the final seconds of the third quarter and wanted to continue the build on the positive momentum they had established in recent weeks.
And MSU did that behind the duo.
Hagemann and Joiner keyed a big second-half run that was instrumental for the No. 9 seed Spartans as they held on for a 67-64 victory over No. 8 seed Nebraska in a second round Big Ten tournament contest Thursday afternoon at Target Center in Minneapolis.
MSU held on for the win as Nebraska missed two 3-pointers in the final seconds.
"We're very proud of this team (and) the grit and resilience," MSU acting coach Dean Lockwood said. "I think this team has really committed defensively here more in recent days and it's shown. (Joiner and Hagemann) are stalwarts for us defensively."
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MSU (16-13) led by as much as 13 while recording its third straight victory and fifth win in its last six games. The Spartans avenged a 71-67 road loss to Nebraska on Feb. 2 and won their third game by six points or fewer during their recent hot streak to advance to face top-seed Indiana in a Big Ten tournament quarterfinal Friday. The Spartans beat Indiana at home on Dec. 29.
Hagemann had a team-high 18 points and Joiner had eight of her 16 points in the final quarter to help the Spartans advance to Friday's quarterfinal. Kamaria McDaniel added 12 points and six rebounds for MSU.
Hagemann and Joiner led the Spartans in a 14-0 run, which included scoring the first 11 points of the fourth quarter. Both scored six points during that surge before then helping the Spartans fend off Nebraska's late push.
"I feel like our defense is what makes us," Hagemann said. "It's just us honing in on defense. Everybody is on the same page. I feel like that's how we became so consistent."
Jaz Shelley led Nebraska with 24 points.
Thursday's game was the ninth straight the Spartans played without coach Suzy Merchant, who has been away from the team since a medical incident suffered on Jan. 28.
More:MSU's Kamaria McDaniel struggled to run a year ago. Now she's an All-Big Ten player again
Contact Brian Calloway at bcalloway@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @brian_calloway.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Michigan State women's basketball edges Nebraska in Big Ten tourney
