Hartford 54, No. 23 Michigan St. 51

12/22/2007 3:58 PM

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) -Danielle Hood led the University of Hartford with 19 points as the Hawks defeated No. 23 Michigan State 54-51 Saturday.

The Spartans were led by Kalisha Keane's 20 points and 10 rebounds, while Allyssa DeHaan added 13 points for Michigan State.

Trailing 25-22 at the half, Hartford (10-2) tied the game at 31 six minutes into the second period. The Spartans pulled away to lead by as much as 40-33, but Hawks forward Katie Kelley hit back-to-back jumpers and a pair of free throws to make it 40-39.

Lisa Etienne hit one-of-two free throws and Kelley added another basket to tie the game at 42 with 5:46 to go.

Keane hit a jumper to retake the lead for Michigan State (8-4) at 44-42, but Hartford's Jaime McCabe responded with a three-point basket to the give the Hawks the game's final lead. Hood scored a lay-up to put Hartford up 47-44 and the two teams traded baskets down the stretch.

A three-point basket by Alissa Wulff with 48 seconds remaining pulled the Spartans within one at 52-51, but Erica Beverly made two free throws for Hartford and the Hawks' defense held on for the win.

Michigan State's DeHaan opened up the games scoring, but Hartford responded with an 8-0 run to take an early lead. The Spartans battled back to tie it at 8 with just over 15 minutes remaining in the first half, but the Hawks pulled away again to lead 15-8.

Keane hit a jumper with 8:25 to go into the opening half. A three-point basket by Wulff and a pair of baskets by Keane, including a three-point basket, gave Michigan State a 18-15 lead and put the team up for the first time since its opening possession.

The Spartans stretched their lead to 20-15, but the Hawks tied it at 21 with just over two minutes left in the first half. Back-to-back Michigan State baskets and a missed free throw by the Hawks sent the Spartans into the locker room with a 25-22 advantage.