Michigan State head coach Suzy Merchant (left), center Allyssa DeHaan (center) and guard Taylor Alton react as their team defeats Duke 63-49 in second-round NCAA women's basketball tournament action in East Lansing, Mich., on Tuesday.
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Joanne P. McCallie squatted on the sideline, staring in disbelief as her top-seeded Duke Blue Devils fell apart in an arena where she was once adored.
Michigan State fans came to boo their former coach.
They ended up cheering as loud as they have in years, witnessing a rare second-round upset against a woman who bolted for her dream job two years ago.
Mia Johnson scored a season-high 17 points and Lauren Aitch had 15, lifting the ninth-seeded Spartans to a 63-49 win Tuesday night over mighty Duke.
“It was never about playing Coach P. It was all about us,” Michigan State forward Aisha Jefferson said. “A lot of people just look at the name ‘Duke’ and that’s the end of the game right there.”
Duke was doomed because it didn’t make a shot for the last 7 1/2 minutes as it was outscored 16-2, leading to fans – including men’s basketball players – rushing the court.
McCallie left MSU after she led the Spartans to the 2005 championship game.
Iowa St. 71, Ball St. 57: At Bowling Green, Ky., Nicky Wieben scored 18 points as fourth-seeded Iowa State (26-8) won.
Trenton Regional
Connecticut 87, Florida 59: At Storrs, Conn., Renee Montgomery scored 25 points and undefeated UConn (35-0) advanced.
Texas A&M 73, Minnesota 42: At South Bend, Ind., Sydney Colson had six steals to pace Texas A&M (27-7).
Raleigh Regional
Maryland 71, Utah 56: At College Park, Md., Marissa Coleman had 18 points and Maryland (30-4) won.
Baylor 60, South Dakota State 58: At Lubbock, Texas, Kelli Griffin hit a floater from outside the lane on the right side with 0.5 seconds remaining to lift Baylor (29-5).
Louisville 62, LSU 52: At Baton Rouge, La., Angel McCoughtry scored 28 points and Louisville (31-4) advanced.
Oklahoma City Regional
Oklahoma 69, Georgia Tech 50: At Iowa City, Iowa, Danielle Robinson scored 17 points and had seven assists, for the Sooners (30-4).