The undersized fourth-seeded Wildcats raced past bigger - and slightly slower - fifth-seeded Michigan State 70-52 on Monday in the second round of the NCAA women's tournament.Victoria Dunlap, the Southeastern Conference Player of the Year, shook off an upset stomach to lead Kentucky (27-7) with 21 points as the Wildcats moved into the round of 16 for the first time in 28 years.
Dunlap needed to be treated with IV fluids before the game and landed awkwardly on her right ankle late in the first half, not that it stopped her from making 9-of-13 field goals and snagging eight rebounds.
"I just believe that she was attacking," said Michigan State forward Lykendra Johnson. "She just kept attacking our post players and never stopped."
The Spartans were looking for their second straight trip to the regional semifinals and fourth in the last six years. Yet Michigan State had little answer for Kentucky's relentless pressure, which forced the Spartans into 18 turnovers and harassed them into 35 percent shooting.
Kalisha Keane led Michigan State with 10 points. The Spartans' point total was their lowest ever in the NCAA tournament. They scored 57 in a loss to Rutgers in 2007.
"The kids I thought really committed to pressuring the basketball and that's what we had to do," said Kentucky coach Matthew Mitchell. "I thought we could force Michigan State into taking some shots we don't normally take."
The last time the Wildcats made the round of 16 was 1982, when they advanced to the regional finals before falling to Louisiana Tech. Kentucky hadn't made it past the second round since the tournament expanded to 64 teams.
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