Keane scores 27 to lead MSU over Illinois 70-57

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Kalisha Keane scored 27 points to help No. 12 Michigan State beat Illinois 70-57 Sunday.

Lykendra Johnson added 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Spartans (13-1, 1-0 Big Ten), who are off to the best start in school history.

Michigan State was 12-2 in 1973-74 and 2004-05, the season it lost to Baylor in the NCAA final.

An 11-game winning streak also ties the second-longest run in school history.

Keane was 10 for 14 from the field and made 3 of 6 3-pointers.

She had 18 points in the first half as the Spartans sprinted to a 19-3 lead, then saw the Fighting Illini (6-9, 1-1) cut it to 36-32 at the break.

Karisma Penn had 23 points and Centrese McGee scored 12 for Illinois, which trimmed a 13-point margin to five in the second half.