Feb. 11, 2004
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No. 17/15 MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS (18-4, 8-3 Big Ten)
vs. MICHIGAN WOLVERINES (11-13, 4-7 Big Ten)
When
Thursday, Feb. 12, 2004, 7 p.m. ET
Site
Ann Arbor, Mich. - Crisler Arena (13,571)
Radio
The Fan 730 AM
TV
None
Coaches
MSU: Joanne P. McCallie (Northwestern, 1987)
Overall: 231-120 (12th season); MSU: 64-47 (Fourth season)
Michigan: Cheryl Burnett (Kansas, 1981)
Overall: 330-149 (16th season); UM: 11-13 (First season)
Opening Tip
Michigan State plays its second game of the season against its instate rival when the Spartans travel to Ann Arbor to battle Michigan Thursday at 7 p.m. MSU is looking for its 19th win of the season and ninth road win. The Spartans are 8-2 on the road this year including a 4-1 mark in Big Ten road contests. Michigan is 7-4 at home this year, including 2-3 in league home games.
State Domination
Michigan State continued its recent trend of dominating the instate competition Jan. 18 vs. Michigan with a 67-33 win. The Spartans have now won seven straight games against teams from the state of Michigan dating back to 2002, and all seven games have been decided by at least 11 points. MSU is 3-0 this season against Michigan schools, defeating Eastern Michigan, Detroit and Michigan, and went 4-0 against instate schools last season, defeating Michigan twice and Oakland and Detroit once each. MSU's last loss to an instate school was a 68-45 loss at Michigan Jan. 2, 2002.
Bench Production
Michigan State's bench scored 24 points in each game last week and ate up plenty of minutes, allowing the starters to rest. In fact, no starter played more than 25 minutes vs. Northwestern, and only Lindsay Bowen (30 minutes) played more than 25 minutes vs. Wisconsin. MSU's bench has now scored 17 or more points in 14 games this season, and has outscored the opponent's bench in 15 of 22 games, including a 28-1 edge at Dec. 6 at Kent State. Michigan State's bench has been responsible for 415 of MSU's 1463 points this season (28.4 percent).
Scouting The Wolverines
Michigan, under the direction of first-year coach Cheryl Burnett, is 11-13 overall and 4-7 (tied for seventh) in the Big Ten. The Wolverines have dropped six of their last eight games, with both wins during the stretch coming against Wisconsin. Michigan halted a four-game losing skid with a 75-55 thumping of Wisconsin on Sunday.
Michigan has relied heavily on three players, as the trio of Jennifer Smith, Tabitha Pool and Stephanie Gandy has accounted for nearly three quarters of Michigan's points and more than half of its rebounds. Smith, a 6-4 senior center, tops the team and ranks third in the Big Ten averaging 21.3 points and grabs 7.4 rebounds per game. Pool, a 6-1 junior guard/forward, contributes 14.0 points and a team-best 7.8 rebounds per game, while Gandy, a 5-10 senior forward, adds 11.3 points and 3.5 rebounds per game.
However, those three players, along with junior guard Sierra Hauser-Price (3.8 ppg) and freshman forward Kelly Helvey (3.7 ppg) have had to do nearly all the work lately, as in Michigan's two games last week, its four reserves who saw action combined for zero points and four rebounds in 60 minutes.
Michigan outrebounds its opponents by an average of 1.1 boards per game, but commits an average of 1.2 more turnovers per game. The Wolverines are shooting .405 from the field while allowing opponents to shoot 43.0 percent.
Burnett took over the reigns of the Michigan program after having previously served as the head coach at Southwest Missouri State for 15 seasons. She led the Lady Bears to a 319-136 record during that span, including 11 NCAA Tournament appearances and two Final Fours.
Series Records
Michigan State leads the all-time series, 44-14, and has won the last three meetings. However, Michigan had won seven of the previous nine games, including four of the last five in Ann Arbor. MSU is 17-8 vs. Michigan in Ann Arbor, and Joanne P. McCallie is 3-2 during her MSU career vs. Michigan.
Last Time Vs. Michigan:
Michigan State 67, Michigan 33 (Jan. 18, 2004 - East Lansing, Mich.)
Michigan State wanted to hold Michigan to 38 points, and did so with five points to spare, in a 67-33 Sunday mismatch that was the biggest blowout in the series in 30 years.
The Spartans didn't allow a basket for the first 13:25 of the second half. By that time, they had scored 23 points on the Wolverines and stretched a 17-point halftime lead to 37.
Michigan had just four baskets in the second half and shot 13.8 percent from the field as the Spartans built a 40-point lead with impressive depth and balance.
Michigan center Jennifer Smith was held to six shots from the field and seven points - 15.1 below her average - by the Spartans' matchup zone. But the Spartans' occasional full-court pressure also caused problems for the Wolverines.
Liz Shimek had 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Spartans, who shot 65 percent in a 37-20 first half. Bowen also had 14 points. Rene Haynes added 11 off the bench while Roehrig had 10 points. And Julie Pagel provided an emotional lift with eight rebounds and extra effort, including a high-impact collision with the scorer's table.
McCallie was happiest that her team committed just 12 turnovers. But she could have been equally thrilled by a 45-33 rebounding edge or Michigan's 22.2 percent accuracy from the field.
It was the lowest scoring output for a Michigan State opponent since a 66-33 win over Calvin on Feb. 20, 1979, and the most lopsided score in the series since a 38-point win by the Spartans on Jan. 24, 1974, just the third of the teams' 55 meetings.
Going Way Back
Michigan State held Michigan to 22.2 percent field goal shooting and just 33 points Jan. 18 during a 67-33 Spartan victory. The 33 points was the fewest allowed in a game by MSU since a 66-33 victory over Calvin Feb. 20, 1979.
Last Trip To Crisler Arena:
Michigan State 82, Michigan 55 (Feb. 16, 2003 - Ann Arbor, Mich.)
Michigan State played a nearly flawless first ten minutes, racing to a 26-point lead in the first 10:19 and rolling past Michigan 82-55 to sweep the season series.
Kristin Haynie had a career-high 22 points and Syreeta Bromfield had 19 to lead the Spartans, and Liz Shimek added 13 points and nine rebounds.
MSU had plenty of bite at the outset, racing to a 17-2 advantage. The Spartans grabbed 15 of the first 19 rebounds and led 32-6 in a 42-24 first half. Michigan State was even hotter in the second half, shooting .762 from the field against the Wolverines.
The one Wolverine who played hard and well was center Jennifer Smith, who had game highs of 27 points and 12 rebounds. But those numbers were nearly half her team's totals, as Michigan's only edge was a 17-8 lead in free throws.
But it was Haynie who stole the show, shooting 10-for-14 from the field with eight assists, six rebounds and three steals in her team's third straight road win.
Last Game: MSU Buries Northwestern, 70-46
Lindsay Bowen led a balanced offense with 14 points and Kristin Haynie sparked a strong effort by several defenders as Michigan State beat Northwestern 70-46 Sunday.
Ten players got double-figure minutes and no one played more than 27 minutes for the third-place Spartans, who won for the eighth time in the last nine games.
Victoria Lucas-Perry added 12 points off the bench and Haynie had 10 points, four assists and no turnovers for Michigan State, which overcame a rough start to take a 65-32 lead.
The Wildcats were led by Michelle Zylstra with a game-high 18 points, including 4-for-5 three-point accuracy. Sarah Kwasinski added 17 points, including eight in the first 7:18 when her team held a 17-11 lead.
The Spartans took control thereafter and more than doubled Northwestern's score with a 54-15 stretch, including a 14-0 run for 7:34 of the first half.
Michigan State outshot the Wildcats 45.5 percent to 38.6 percent from the field, had a 35-24 edge in rebounds and committed just 11 turnovers to Northwestern's 19.
That overall dominance helped the Spartans allow less than 50 points for the 11th time this season and demonstrate clear superiority over a team they beat in overtime on Jan. 22.
18 And Counting
Michigan State won its 18th game Sunday vs. Northwestern, and has won 17 or more games in three consecutive seasons for the first time in school history. MSU has already surpassed its win total from all of last season when the Spartans finished 17-12. With five regular season games left plus postseason action, Michigan State is in position to have one of the winningest seasons in school history if not the winningest. Michigan State has had four 20-win seasons during its history, with the record for wins in a season being 23 in 1976-77 (23-6). MSU finished 22-8 in 1996-97, 21-7 in 1977-78 and 21-8 in 1990-91.
Defense On Display
Michigan State's defense was stellar again Sunday, as MSU limited Northwestern to 46 points. MSU's defense has now held 11 teams under 50 points, which is the most sub-50 games in a single season since the 1973-74 team held 14 of its 17 opponents below 50 points. The 1973-74 team was just MSU's second varsity squad, and the average score of the Spartans' games that season was 52.4-38.4.
Handle With Care
Michigan State has done an excellent job of taking care of the ball in recent games. After averaging 16.8 turnovers per game over the first 17 games of the season, MSU has averaged just 12.6 turnovers per game in the last five contests, including a season-low nine vs. Iowa Feb. 1.
Balancing Act
Much of MSU's success this season can be attributed to the Spartans' balance. When Kelli Roehrig scored a game-high 19 points and Patrice McKinney added a career-best 10 points Thursday vs. Wisconsin, it improved MSU's numbers to eight players who have scored in double figures this season and six different players who have led the team in scoring.
Also, six players average at least 6.3 points and nine players are averaging at least 8.0 minutes per game. And it's not just the scoring that's balanced, as seven different players have held or shared the team lead in rebounding, six in blocks and steals and four in assists.
Boarding School
Michigan State outrebounded Northwestern Sunday, 35-24. The Spartans have now outrebounded 19 of their 22 opponents, and are second in the Big Ten with a +7.1 average rebounding margin. MSU, which ranks 21st nationally in rebound margin, outrebounded Notre Dame, 40-20, and did not allow an offensive rebound in the first half. The Spartans had a 50-24 edge on the boards at Toledo. Last year, MSU ranked 11th nationally with an average rebounding margin of +7.7.
A Second Chance
MSU dominated the boards vs. Northwestern Sunday, and as a result had a 19-6 edge in second-chance points. The Spartans have now outscored 14 of their 22 opponents in second-chance points. This season, MSU has outscored its opponents in second-chance points, 312-210, including a 25-2 edge at Toledo Dec. 13.
Moving On Up
Kristin Haynie had two steals Sunday vs. Northwestern, giving her 212 for her career, which is second best in school history and just 12 steals shy of the school record set by Kim Archer. Haynie, whose four assists vs. Northwestern moved her career total to 353, which ranks seventh at MSU, is one of five Spartan players to rank in MSU's top ten in both assists and steals, and she is on pace to finish her junior season as the only Spartan to rank in the top five in both categories.
Defending The Three
Part of the reason for Michigan State's defensive success has been improved perimeter defense. In the first eight games of the season, MSU opponents shot 39.2 percent (49-of-125) from three-point range. In the last 14 games, Spartan opponents have made just 25.5 percent (66-of-259) of their three-point attempts. As a result, MSU has climbed from last in the Big Ten in three-point field goal percentage after eight games to sixth currently (.299).
Sharp Shooters
When one thinks of MSU's three-point shooting, one typically thinks of Lindsay Bowen, who already ranks fourth on MSU's career three-point baskets list (125) as a sophomore. Three other Michigan State guards have also made at least nine three-pointers each this season. However, two of MSU's top long-range gunners in terms of percentage are two players who do most of their work inside. Liz Shimek, who ranks third in the Big Ten averaging 8.4 rebounds per game, sank all three of her three-point attempts Jan. 8 vs. Purdue, and is currently 14-of-32 this season (43.8 percent). Julie Pagel, MSU's third-leading rebounder (4.0), has made two treys in three different games and is 9-of-17 (.529) this season.
Roehrig's Revival
Junior center Kelli Roehrig appears to be returning to the form that made her an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection last season. After averaging just 6.0 points and 3.0 rebounds while shooting .449 from the field in her first 14 games, Roehrig is averaging 10.8 points and 5.0 boards while shooting 67.9 percent (36-of-53) during her last eight games.
Turning Up The Heat On Defense
As usual, Michigan State was one of the Big Ten's top defensive teams last season. The Spartans ranked second in the league in scoring defense, allowing just 60.7 points per game. MSU was also third in field goal percentage defense (.402).
This season, the numbers have gotten even better, as MSU leads the Big Ten and seventh nationally in scoring defense (54.0 points per game), and MSU also leads the league and ranks 24th nationally in field goal percentage defense (.367). With more healthy bodies available and with increased athleticism, the Spartans are turning up the pressure on defense. More full-court pressure and trapping from the Spartans has resulted in 10.0 steals per game and 110 fast-break points.
A Class Act
Despite having four returning starters from last season, MSU is still a young team, with five freshmen and two sophomores among the 12 players on the roster. And the youngsters are contributing heavily, as MSU gets almost two-thirds of its points and rebounds from its two youngest classes, with the sophomores holding an edge in scoring and rebounding over the freshmen. A look at MSU's production from the four classes so far this season:
Points Rebounds
Seniors 138 (9.4%) 90 (11.7%)
Juniors 383 (26.2%) 190 (24.8%)
Sophomores 539 (36.8%) 244 (31.8%)
Freshmen 403 (27.5%) 243 (31.7%)
The More The Merrier
Last season, injuries took their toll on MSU's depth, and as a result, four MSU players averaged 32.8 minutes per game or more, including two who averaged 34.4 minutes or more. This year, with 12 players now available, the most any one player is averaging is 33.0 minutes. Nine players are averaging at least 8.0 minutes per game for MSU, and only three (Lindsay Bowen - 33.0; Liz Shimek - 32.2; Kristin Haynie - 30.5) average 30 or more minutes.
Rank You Very Much
For the first time in seven seasons, Michigan State is in the Top 25, and the Spartans' current ranking of No. 15 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll is MSU's highest ranking ever, surpassing the No. 17 ranking from the final poll of the 1977 season. The Spartans first jumped into the Dec. 1 Associated Press Top 25 poll, checking in at No. 24, and are 17th this week. MSU entered the coaches poll for the first time Dec. 30, at No. 22, and are now 15th in that poll. The Dec. 1 ranking was the first time that MSU had earned a national ranking since the final poll of the 1996-97 season when MSU was ranked No. 21 in the coaches poll and No. 24 in the AP poll.
Useless Stat of the Game
MSU's record this season when an even number of players score an even number of points is 11-0, but MSU is 7-4 when an odd number of players score an even number of points. MSU is 10-2 when an even number of players score an odd number of points, and 8-2 when an odd number of players score an odd number of points.
Bouncing Back
Michigan State answered its Feb. 1 loss to Iowa with a 72-47 win over Wisconsin, improving MSU's record to 11-4 over the past two seasons after a defeat, including 3-1 this season. At one point last season, MSU won seven consecutive games after a loss, including three wins over nationally-ranked teams.
Doing It All
Lindsay Bowen, MSU's leading scorer, showed that she is much more than just a shooter Thursday night vs. Wisconsin. Bowen had a career-high seven assists (with just one turnover), tied a career high with four steals and drew two charges defensively, while still managing to score 10 points.
That 70s Show
Michigan State has been accomplishing a lot of things this season that haven't been done at MSU since the 1970s. The Spartans raced to their best start (10-1) since the 1973-74 season, have held seven or more teams (currently 11) below 50 points for the first time since 1973-74, beat Michigan by the widest margin (34 points) since 1974, earned their highest national ranking (No. 18) since 1977 and held a team to the fewest points allowed (33 - Michigan) since 1979.
Threes Company
MSU has shown that it has several players who can hit from downtown as three times this season (Nov. 23 vs. Temple, Jan. 8 vs. Purdue and Feb. 5 vs. Wisconsin) MSU has had five different players sink at least one three-point basket. Previously, the last time MSU had five different players make at least one three-point basket in a game was March 19, 2002, in a 79-61 win in the quarterfinals of the WNIT against Alabama. Seven MSU players have made at least one three-pointer this season.
In addition, MSU has made at least one three-point basket in 58 consecutive games as a team, thanks largely to sophomore Lindsay Bowen, who has made at least one triple in 48 of her 51 career games. Bowen was 0-of-5 from downtown Dec. 6 at Kent State, stopping a string of 31 straight games with at least one made three-point basket.
Make What They Take
Free throws continue to be a key to MSU's success, as the Spartans have made exactly as many free throws (317) as their opponents have attempted. The story was much the same last year, as MSU made 390 free throws, while opponents shot just 362. The Spartans made their free throws at a .783 rate last season, which was fifth best in the nation, and are shooting .757 from the stripe so far this season, which ranks 17th nationally.
What's Up With That?
Speaking of free throws, last year Lindsay Bowen started her college career by making her first 37 free throws before a miss. This season, she missed her very first attempt. Bowen has actually already missed more than three times as many free throws this season (11 - 66-of-77) as she did her entire freshman season (three - 63-of-66), but is still shooting 85.7 percent from the stripe, which ranks fourth in the Big Ten. Bowen, who had made 20 straight free throws prior to a miss last Thursday vs. Wisconsin, has also done a better job of getting to the line more often as she has already attempted 11 more free throws than season than she did all of last season.
Winning Ugly
Want proof that Michigan State is able to win when playing less than its best? MSU is 6-0 when scoring fewer than 60 points and 4-1 when shooting less than 40 percent from the field.
If You Build It, They Will Come
Head coach Joanne P. McCallie is building a strong program at Michigan State, and the fans are responding by coming out in droves. MSU ranks 17th nationally as of Feb. 9, averaging 4,966 fans, with some of MSU's top home games still to come. The Spartans have already had six of the top 25 crowds in school history this year, including a season-high 7,923 for the Michigan game Jan. 18. Last year MSU averaged 5,211 fans.
Comeback Kids
Michigan State's three-game road sweep Jan. 22-29 (at Northwestern, Minnesota and Illinois) was made even more impressive when one considers that the Spartans trailed at halftime in all three games before rallying to win late. In fact, MSU trailed with just over two minutes to go in all three games before making the plays down the stretch to win.
Streaking Spartans
Michigan State had a six-game winning streak for the second time this season prior to the loss to Iowa Feb. 1. The last time MSU won six or more games in a row twice in the same season was during the 1996-97 Big Ten Championship season when the Spartans had streaks of six and seven games en route to a 22-8 overall record and 12-4 league mark. Also, with a four-game winning streak in the books to start the season, this is the first time MSU had three winning streaks of four or more games in one season since the 1990-91 season, when MSU finished 21-8 overall and 13-5 (tied for second) in the Big Ten.
Road Warriors
Michigan State's win at Illinois Jan. 29 gave MSU an 8-2 road record, with both losses coming by just two points. The eight road wins is already the most in a season for MSU since the 1990-91 Spartans won nine road games en route to a 21-8 record.
Also, prior to this season, MSU had not won four straight road games since the 1990-91 season. MSU has now accomplished the feat twice this season. More impressively, MSU had not won four straight road games with no home games in between since the 1977-78 season - a feat MSU accomplished Dec. 6-19 of this season.
Beating The Best
Michigan State's victory over then-No. 9 Minnesota Jan. 25 was fourth-year head coach Joanne P. McCallie's ninth victory over a nationally-ranked squad since taking over at MSU, and third this season. Last year, MSU had a 3-4 record in games against ranked opponents, with victories over No. 7/6 Purdue (67-62), No. 10/10 Minnesota (74-71) and No. 22/24 Ohio State (65-64). The Spartans also had three wins against ranked teams in 2001-02. The most victories MSU has ever had over ranked opponents in a season was five during the 1996-97 Big Ten Championship campaign and during the 1990-91 season.
One For The Books
Michigan State's victory at Jan. 25 at Minnesota marked the first time MSU has ever beaten a Top Ten team on the road. Michigan State has earned nine previous victories over Top Ten teams, including two last season, but all nine were at home. The highest-ranked team MSU had ever beaten in a road game was No. 15/13 Wisconsin, which fell to MSU, 58-57, Jan. 30, 2002. The highest-ranked team MSU has beaten in any game was a 71-63 win over No. 4/4 Penn State Jan. 23, 2000 in the Breslin Center.
Streak Busters
Michigan State snapped its second long home-court winning streak with a win at then-No. 9 Minnesota Jan. 25. The Gophers had not lost at home since MSU's last appearance in Williams Arena two seasons ago, winning 19 straight games in the process. In fact, since returning to Williams arena in 2001, Minnesota is 0-2 against MSU at home and 25-0 against everyone else. Two weeks earlier, MSU snapped Ohio State's 24-game home court winning streak.
Five Alive
Michigan State had five players score in double figures Jan. 25 vs. Minnesota, with Lindsay Bowen (18), Kelli Roehrig (13), Liz Shimek (11), Rene Haynes (10) and Kristin Haynie (10) all reaching double digits. In marked the first time five MSU players have scored in double figures since last year's game vs. Illinois.
Overtime Jinx Snapped
Michigan State's overtime win Jan. 22 at Northwestern proved once again that the fortunes of MSU women's basketball have changed. MSU had lost its last nine consecutive overtime contests, including three double overtime games, and had not won in overtime since an 80-78 victory at Texas Nov. 29, 1997. However, the Spartans had not played an overtime game since a 2002 Big Ten Tournament double overtime loss to Ohio State, meaning that only four of the 12 players on the current roster (Julie Pagel, Candice Jackson, Kristin Haynie and Kelli Roehrig) had taken part in an overtime game at MSU.
Rebounding Rarity
Kristin Haynie, Kelli Roehrig and Liz Shimek helped MSU accomplish a rare feat Jan. 15 at Ohio State. All three players had double-digit rebounds, with Haynie and Roehrig grabbing 12 each and Shimek collecting 10. The last time three players from either team had double-figure rebounds in a Michigan State game was March 11, 1999, when Pernille Dalgaard, Kristen Rasmussen and Becky Cummings each had 10 rebounds during a 76-65 victory over Akron in a WNIT opening round game.
100 And Counting
The Jan. 2 game vs. Indiana was Joanne P. McCallie's 100th game as the Spartans' head coach. McCallie, who is 231-120 overall in her 12th season as a head coach and 64-47 at MSU, was 56-44 during her first 100 games. Ironically, the opposing coach that night, Indiana's Kathi Bennett, had an almost identical record with the Hoosiers. Bennett entered the game with a 57-44 record in 101 games as the Hoosiers' coach, and was also 56-44 in her first 100 games with Indiana.
Four Score And 30 Years Ago
MSU's 59-41 win over Indiana Jan. 2 gave the Spartans a 10-1 record - something that had not happened at Michigan State since MSU's second varsity squad started 12-1 during the 1973-74 season (which was played entirely in 1974). The 1973-74 team did it without leaving the state of Michigan, with all 13 games during the streak being played against instate schools. MSU's current record of 17-4 is the Spartans' best after 21 games since the 1996-97 Big Ten championship team was also 17-4.
The victory over the Hoosiers was also MSU's sixth-straight win. The last time MSU had won six or more games in a row was when the 1999-2000 team won their first seven games to start the season.
On The Rebound
Liz Shimek posted a career-best 19 rebounds in MSU's 71-55 victory at Pepperdine Dec. 17, becoming one of just eight players in MSU history to record 19 or more rebounds in a game. The 19 rebounds was tied for the ninth-best single-game rebounding total in Spartan history, and was the most for any Spartan since Kristin Rasmussen grabbed 20 boards vs. Penn State Dec. 30, 1997. Shimek surpassed her previous career high of 16 rebounds, which she had accomplished twice previously. She followed that performance with another double-double, totalling 14 points and 11 boards two nights later at UCLA.
Jackson Back In Action
Redshirt junior Candice Jackson made her return to the court for the first time since Nov. 24, 2002, during the Dec. 13 victory at Toledo. Jackson, who scored the Spartans' last bucket of the game, has suffered three knee injuries in four seasons. Jackson suffered a partial tear in her right knee ligament just prior to the start of practice, forcing her to miss the first six games. Jackson missed the final 15 games of her freshman season (2000-01) after tearing her left ACL, and redshirted last year after tearing the ACL again during the second game of the season. Prior to the Toledo game, Jackson had missed more games due to injury during her career (48) than she had played (47).
Look Who's Back
For the second straight season, Theresa Pusateri joined the Spartan squad in mid-season after completing the field hockey season. Last season, Pusateri joined the MSU squad as a walk-on after a series of injuries left MSU with only eight available players. This season, after completing her senior season on the field hockey team and taking some time off over the holidays, Pusateri was back on the bench for the first time during the Cincinnati game Dec. 29.
Fantastic Facts
There were several noteworthy achievements during MSU's 92-63 victory over then-No. 17/20 Notre Dame Nov. 26, including:
* It was the second-largest margin of victory ever for MSU over a nationally-ranked team, trailing only an 82-52 victory over No. 7/7 Vanderbilt Jan. 15, 1997.
* The 92 points scored by MSU were the most by the Spartans since a 101-52 victory over Chicago State Nov. 26, 2000, and the third most points ever scored by MSU against a ranked team.
* The 92 points was the most given up by Notre Dame since a 96-75 loss to Connecticut in the 1999 Big East tournament.
* MSU handed Notre Dame its worst regular-season loss since a 105-70 setback to No. 1 Tennessee Jan. 7, 1994.
* Other than Tennessee, no team had beaten Notre Dame by 29 points in the regular season since Purdue defeated the Irish by 33 (74-41) Dec. 4, 1992. In 18 tries, Connecticut has never beaten Notre Dame by as many as 29 points.
Tournament Tidbits
Julie Pagel was named MVP of the Dean Trailways of Michigan Spartan Classic after averaging 11.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and shooting .571 in two games, while Rene Haynes and Liz Shimek were also named to the All-Tournament team. Haynes averaged a team-best 15.0 points, while Shimek added 12.0 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game. MSU is now 25-7 all-time in the Spartan Classic and has won nine of the 16 tournament titles.
Fresh Faces
For the second consecutive year, a freshman led MSU in scoring in its season opener. Rene Haynes poured in 19 points to lead MSU to a 74-68 victory over Davidson Nov. 22, sinking seven-of-12 shots. Last season, Lindsay Bowen scored 26 points in her debut vs. Fresno State. Bowen went on to earn Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors.
MSU's five freshmen combined to average 27.5 points and 13.0 rebounds in MSU's two victories in the Spartan Classic.
Our New Favorite Magazine
Michigan State was ranked No. 16 in the nation according to the Athlon Sports college basketball preseason magazine. The Spartans were the third-highest ranked Big Ten team of the five conference schools to make the list, joining No. 6 Penn State, No. 11 Purdue, No. 17 Ohio State and No. 21 Minnesota.
Playing The Best
Michigan State will likely play at least eight games this season against nationally-ranked. The Spartans have already played games against nationally-ranked teams Notre Dame, Penn State, Purdue, Ohio State and Minnesota, and play Penn State, Purdue and Ohio State once more, although the Buckeyes are not currently ranked.
In addition, MSU opponents Cincinnati, Illinois, Iowa, Kent State, Michigan, Toledo, Pepperdine and UCLA have all been listed among the "Others Receiving Votes" for the Top 25 this season.
Spartan Outlook
Michigan State entered its 32nd season of varsity competition expecting it to be one of its best ever. A young Spartan squad advanced to the NCAA Tournament last year for the first time since 1997 with a core of just six players. Five of those players returned, and with added depth this season, MSU is fully loaded.
Last year was a breakthrough year for the Spartans, who finished 17-12 overall and tied for fourth in the Big Ten with a 10-6 record. Expectations for this season were even higher despite a still young team. Only one senior letterwinner, Julie Pagel, is on the roster, while seven of the 12 players on the roster are underclassmen.
However, players responsible for roughly three-fourth of the points, rebounds, assists and steals from last year are back, lending optimism that last year's NCAA Tournament appearance was a prelude to even better things this season.
Gimme Five
Michigan State has five players on its roster who have earned All-Big Ten honors during their careers. Junior Kristin Haynie and Kelli Roehrig and sophomores Lindsay Bowen and Liz Shimek all earned honorable mention all-conference honors last season, while senior Julie Pagel was honorable mention All-Big Ten after her freshman year.
Youth Is Served
Although MSU has a much more experienced squad this season, it is still a young team consisting largely of freshmen and sophomores. In fact, research completed by Sara Day of Loyola College indicated that at the time of the survey in September, Michigan State was tied for the eighth youngest team in the country with an average age of 19.2 years.
Spartans Sign Four
Michigan State women's basketball coach Joanne P. McCallie has announced that four players have signed national letters of intent to join the Spartan women's basketball program in 2004-05.
The signees include Courtney Davidson (PG, 5-5, Youngstown, Ohio/Ursuline High School), Maggie Dwyer (G, 6-0, Grand Haven, Mich./Grand Haven High School), Laura Hall (C, 6-4, Temperance, Mich./Bedford High School) and Melanie Small (F, 5-10, Copley, Ohio/Copley High School).
Davidson was a Street & Smith honorable mention All-American in 2003, and is ranked as the No. 33 player in the nation by National Roundball Journal and the No. 43 player by All-Star Girls Report. As a junior in 2002-03, she averaged 19 points per game, was named first-team Division III All-State and the Northeast Ohio Player of the Year and was an all-conference selection. This past summer, she was named an adidas Top Ten Camp Upperclass All-Star, and was an AAU 16-Under All-American.
Davidson is already Ursuline's all-time leading scorer with 1,512 career points entering her senior season. She has averaged 19.7 points per game during her career, along with 8.7 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 3.5 steals. She is a career 41 percent three-point field goal shooter, and has sunk 82 percent of her free throws.
Dwyer has started all 84 games during her four-year high school career as of Nov. 10, and went over the 1,000 career point mark earlier this year. She was averaging 15.4 points, 12.2 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 3.8 steals per game as of Nov. 10. Dwyer, who moved to point guard this year after spending three seasons playing on the wing, led Grand Haven to a 19-3 record last season and the O-K Red Conference title.
Dwyer, ranked No. 161 nationally by All-Star Girls Report, was MVP of the all-state camp in Midland this summer, was an all-state special mention selection and a Detroit Free Press second-team all-state pick in 2002 and has been first-team all-conference every year of high school. She was a first-team all-area pick by the Grand Rapids Press last season, and has been named to the Muskegon Chronicle's all-area first-team every season. The Detroit News and Detroit Free Press both ranked her as the state's fifth-best player prior to her senior season.
Hall led Bedford to an 18-0 record and a No. 4 Class A ranking as of Nov. 10 by averaging 13.9 points and 7.0 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game while shooting 53 percent from the field despite double- and triple-team defenses. On Nov. 6, she became the first player in school history to surpass the 1,000 career point mark. Hall was named a Street & Smith's honorable mention All-American last season and is picked as the nation's 138th-ranked player by All-Star Girls Report. She was selected as the state's sixth-best player prior to her senior season by the Detroit Free Press, and the No. 9 player by The Detroit News.
Hall, a team captain, was named the Monroe Evening News Player of the Year as a junior after averaging 13.0 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game, while leading the Mules to a school-best 21-5 record, their first regional championship and first district title since 1983. She was named first-team all-conference as a junior and as a sophomore, when she averaged 11.1 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.4 blocks.
Small averaged 17.5 points and 8.5 rebounds while being named All-Northeast Ohio Inland District and special mention All-Ohio her junior season to help Copley earn a share of the Suburban League title. The Indians reached the district championship before ending their season with a 21-3 record. As a sophomore, she averaged 15.0 points and led Copley to a 19-4 record while being named to the Ohio Girls Basketball Magazine All-Sophomore team.
Small, who has been a starter since her freshman year, was one of 12 players named to the All-Sun team by Sun Newspapers as both a sophomore and a junior, and was a first team All-Suburban League selection as a freshman, sophomore and junior. All-Star Girls Report ranks Small as the No. 130 player in the nation.
