Michigan State women's basketball has comeback fall short against No. 22 Illinois

Kamaria McDaniel played a big role as the Michigan State women’s basketball team gave itself a chance late.

But the Spartans just came up short in their latest quest to knock off a top-25 program.

MSU suffered a 86-76 loss to No. 22-ranked Illinois on Sunday evening at the State Farm Center.

The Spartans played the contest without coach Suzy Merchant, who didn’t make the trip after being involved in a minor one-car crash Saturday morning. Associate head coach Dean Lockwood led MSU in the absence of Merchant, who was released from Sparrow Hospital on Monday morning.

McDaniel had 16 of her team-leading 23 points in the second half to lead the Spartans (11-10, 3-7 Big Ten). Her layup helped the Spartans get a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit down to four with 49 seconds to play.

That was as close as the Spartans would get as the Illini finished the contest on an 8-2 run. Illinois was 20-for-20 from the free-throw line in the second half while bouncing back from a loss to Purdue.

Makira Cook had a game-high 26 points and Genesis Bryant added 21 points for the Illini (17-5, 7-4).

McDaniel was one of four players in double figures for MSU with Taiyier Parks added 13 points on 6 of 7 shooting from the field. Moira Joiner had 11 points and DeeDee Hagemann had 10 points and eight assists for the Spartans.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Michigan State women's basketball falls to No. 22 Illinois