ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Kalisha Keane and Brittney Thomas each scored 14 points, leading No. 25 Michigan State to a 59-51 victory over Western Kentucky in the first round of the UCF Thanksgiving Classic on Friday.
Jasmine Thomas added 12 for Michigan State (4-1), which hit 57 percent (13 of 23) of its shots in the second half after making only 34 percent (11 of 32) in the first.
The Spartans led 30-21 at halftime.
Senior guard Amy McNear collected 12 points and seven rebounds in her season debut for Western Kentucky (0-4) following a three-game suspension violating team rules. Janae Howard added 10 points and Arnika Brown had eight points and 10 rebounds for the Hilltoppers.
