MI State gets over Bowling Green 72-62

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Aisha Jefferson scored 17 points to lead fifth-seeded Michigan State past 12th-seeded Bowling Green 72-62 in the opening round of the women's NCAA tournament on Saturday.

Jasmine Thomas and Brittney Thomas added 11 points each for the Spartans (23-9), who will face either fourth-seeded Kentucky or 13th-seeded Liberty in the second round on Monday night.

Two-time Mid-American Conference Player of the Year Lauren Prochaska led the Falcons (27-7) with 19 points but cooled off after a hot start. She made her first three shots but finished just 5 of 13 from the floor as Bowling Green struggled to contend with Michigan State's size advantage.

The Spartans outscored the Falcons 28-4 in the paint and forced 16 turnovers to pull away over the final 10 minutes.

Michigan State, making its seventh tournament appearance in the last eight seasons, relied on its experience after the Falcons pulled within 51-48 on a jumper by Tara Breske with 11:32 remaining.

Brittney Thomas followed with a 3-pointer and the Spartans held the Falcons to just one field goal over the next 8 minutes to build an 11-point lead they would never relinquish.

Bowling Green made 11 of 22 3-pointers, but went just 8 of 29 from the field otherwise.

Jefferson spent part of the first half on the end of a bench with a trash can in front of her, apparently ill. It didn't stop her from having her way in the lane. Jefferson finished with nine rebounds, part of the Spartans' relentless inside attack.

Michigan State shot just 41 percent from the floor, but outrebounded the Falcons 42-35 and had 12 second-chance points. Center Allyssa DeHaan, the leading shotblocker in women's Division I history, had eight points, 11 rebounds and one block in 20 minutes.

DeHaan struggled with back spasms during the Big Ten Tournament and was tended to by trainers when she was on the bench, but the Spartans were easily the better team when she was on the floor.

Tracy Pontius had 15 points — on five 3-pointers — for the Falcons as she and Prochaska put a scare into the Spartans during the first half. Bowling Green ripped off a 15-0 run after falling behind early and the teams battled to a 36-all tie at the break behind eight 3s.

The Spartans, however, scored the first five points of the second half to take a lead they never gave up.