Cyclones' comeback ends Spartans' run
NCAA WOMEN'S TOURNAMENT HIGHLIGHTS
Alison Lacey's three-pointer from the top of the key with 23 seconds left capped a furious comeback, leading fourth-seeded Iowa State to a 69-68 victory over ninth-seeded Michigan State on Saturday night and a trip to the Berkeley Regional finals.
The Cyclones (27-8) trailed 68-61 after Aisha Jefferson's basket with 1:26 left and were poised to become the Spartans' next upset victim before scoring the final eight points.
Nicky Wieben scored her only basket on a putback, and the Cyclones turned up the pressure on defense. Heather Ezell banked in a three to cut the lead to two, and after a turnover by Michigan State (22-11), Lacey hit her biggest shot in a 29-point night.
The Spartans had one last trip, but Kalisha Keane missed a three-pointer and Jefferson and Lykendra Johnson missed shots from in close.
Jayne Appel scored 18 of her 25 points in the second half and pulled down 11 rebounds, dominating her low-post matchup with Big Ten player of the year Jantel Lavender, as the second-seeded Cardinal (32-4) advanced to play Iowa State.
Marissa Coleman scored a career-high 42 points, including the go-ahead basket with 27.9 seconds left, as the Terrapins rallied from 18 down to oust the Commodores.
The No. 1 seed in the Raleigh Regional, Maryland (31-4) used a late 15-3 run to erase an 11-point deficit.
Angel McCoughtry had 22 points and 12 rebounds to help the Cardinals advance to their first regional-championship game in school history.
AP