KALAMAZOO, Mich.- Western Michigan nearly upset No. 21 ranked Michigan State Friday evening at University Arena, taking the Spartans into overtime before falling 68-64.

"For the most part, I am happy with the way we played tonight," WMU head coach Shane Clipfell said. "In the past we have struggled with quality teams like Michigan State but this team has a different mental edge and confidence in themselves this year. Michigan State is a good team and they capitalized on our mistakes down the stretch."

WMU (1-1) came out swinging, building a 16-9 advantage to open the game. The Broncos outscored the Spartans in three of the four quarters of regulation.

Michigan State (4-0) used a big 14-5 second-quarter surge to take a 28-21 lead into halftime. The Spartans continued to go up by as many as 11 with 8:36 left in the third.

Seniors Meredith Shipman and Marley Hill refused to let the Broncos back down however and rallied Western Michigan late in the game. Hill tallied seven of her 15 points in the third quarter and Shipman started to heat up from long range. Down 10 with 2:02 left in the third, WMU cut the deficit to two headed into the fourth. Junior Najee Smith, Shipman and sophomore Meredith Miller all buried three's during that stretch, Miller's coming at the third quarter buzzer.

Western Michigan carried the momentum into the fourth quarter, and sophomore Deja Wimby stepped up to provide a spark. The game was tied at 53-53 with 3:29 remaining and Wimby scored five-straight points, converting a layup-and-one and another pair of free throws over the next two minutes to put the Broncos ahead, 58-53 with just over a minute remaining.

The Broncos couldn't put the Spartans away however and an untimely foul and a pair of turnovers proved costly. MSU's Jenna Allen was sent to the line and knocked down both free throws then a WMU turnover led to a game-tying three by Michigan State's Tori Jankoska. The Broncos coughed up the ball again and Jankoska raced to the other end to give MSU a 60-58 lead with 12 seconds remaining in regulation. Western Michigan sophomore Breanna Mobley forced overtime, dropping in a layup with nine seconds left. MSU didn't get another shot off at the end of regulation.

Western Michigan had several good looks in overtime, but couldn't get shots to fall, going 2-for-8 from the field. The Broncos also never made it to the free throw line in the final five-minute stanza. The Spartans only connected on one of their five field goal attempts but were able to get to the line for six free throws, where they knocked down five for the win.

Shipman fouled out with 38.9 seconds left in overtime and was the game's leading scorer with 21 points. She also had nine rebounds and four assists. Wimby tallied two career highs with 12 points and 10 rebounds, registering her first career double-double. Hill finished with 15 points and Mobley had eight.

"It was a tough battle in the post. Mobley and Marley stood their ground against some quality Michigan State players," Clipfell said. Down the stretch Shipman and Miller hit big three pointers for us that were big momentum changers."

Jankoska and Allen were the leading force for Michigan State, each totaling double-doubles. Jankoska had 17 points and 12 rebounds while Allen had 13 points and 11 rebounds. Branndias Agee pulled down 15 boards.

WMU will take its shot at Michigan Monday, facing the Wolverines in Ann Arbor at 7 p.m.