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Michigan State forward Taylor Alton, left, and Northwestern center Amy Jaeschke go for a loose ball in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the Big Ten conference tournament in Indianapolis, Friday, March 4, 2011. AP Photo/Michael Conroy) The Associated Press
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Michigan State guard Annalise Pickrel, left, shoots under Northwestern center Amy Jaeschke in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the Big Ten conference tournament in Indianapolis, Friday, March 4, 2011. Michael Conroy, Associated Press
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Michigan State guard Porsche Poole, left, shoots over Northwestern guard Beth Marshall in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the Big Ten conference tournament in Indianapolis, Friday, March 4, 2011. AP Photo/Michael Conroy) The Associated Press
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Northwestern center Amy Jaeschke, right, blocks the shot of Michigan State forward Kalisha Keane in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the Big Ten conference tournament in Indianapolis, Friday, March 4, 2011. AP Photo/Michael Conroy) The Associated Press

By Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS — Porsche Poole scored 11 points, and No. 11 Michigan State turned in a record-setting defensive performance to defeat Northwestern 56-25 in the Big Ten tournament quarterfinals Friday.

Brittney Thomas and Lykendra Johnson each scored 10 points for the top-seeded Spartans (26-4), who held the Wildcats to the lowest points total in the 17-year history of the tournament.

Michigan set the previous low, scoring 37 points in a quarterfinals loss to Iowa in 2008.

Amy Jaeschke and Allison Mocchi led Northwestern (18-13) with six points each. Jaeschke, who averaged 22 points per game, was held to single digits for the first time this season.

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Northwestern shot 22 percent from the field, committed 23 turnovers and missed all 16 of its 3-point shots. Michigan State barely missed posting the largest margin of victory in tournament history.

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