Women's Basketball Opens Big Ten Play Entertaining Indiana
12/25/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 25, 2001
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This Week's Action
Michigan State (9-1 overall) vs. INDIANA (6-5 OVERALL)When Sunday, Dec. 30, 2001, 2 p.m. ESTSite East Lansing, Mich. (Breslin Center)Radio The Fan 730 AMTelevision AT&T Cable (Lansing/East Lansing)Coaches MSU: Joanne P. McCallie (Northwestern 1987) Overall: 186-92 (10th year), MSU: 19-19 (2nd year) IND: Kathi Bennett (Wisconsin-Green Bay 1986) Overall: 250-120 (14th year), IND: 26-16 (2nd year)
Tip-Off - Michigan State (9-1 overall) opens the Big Ten Conference schedule on Sunday (Dec. 30), facing the Indiana Hoosiers at the Breslin Center. MSU carries a five-game winning into the contest. Indiana (6-5 overall) has dropped two straight games. The Hoosiers open Big Ten play against Ohio State in Bloomington on Dec. 28 before making the trek to East Lansing.
Notes of the Day
For Big Ten Openers - Michigan State opens Big Ten Conference play against Indiana Sunday. Since the Big Ten Conference sanctioned play in 1981-82, MSU has finished first (tied), once (1996-97), second, three times (1976-77, 1978-79 and 1990-91) and third, once (1977-78) in the standings.
The Spartans look to improve on their 2000-01 Big Ten record where MSU finished with a 4-12 slate.
Big Ten Openers II - The Spartans own a 9-11 all-time mark in Big Ten openers since the start of play in 1981-82. MSU is 7-4 at home and 2-7 on the road. MSU has lost four straight Big Ten openers including a 71-54 setback at Indiana in 2000-01.
The 2001-02 season will mark the third time MSU has faced Indiana in Big Ten openers. MSU beat IU 62-54 on Dec. 28, 1996 and lost to IU 81-63 in Bloomington on Dec. 28, 1997 and lost 71-54 on Dec. 31,2000.
The last time the Spartans won their Big Ten opener was on Dec. 28, 1996 when MSU beat Indiana 62-54 at the Breslin Center.
Scouting Michigan State - Michigan State carries a 9-1 record into the Big Ten opener. The Spartans have won five- straight games after beating Providence, 64-47, on Dec. 21.
The Spartans are led by junior forward Syreeta Bromfield, who is averaging 17.2 points and 7.9 rebounds. Sophomore forward Julie Pagel is averaging 9.2 points and 6.7 rebounds, while junior guard Vnemina Reese is averaging 8.1 points and 2.7 assists.
MSU is averaging 61.7 points per game, while allowing 56.2 points. MSU is connecting on 40.1 percent (220-of-459) of its shots from the field. In addition, the Spartans hold a 38.2-to-33.9 edge on the boards.
MSU Head Coach Joanne P. McCallie - McCallie is in her second season at the helm of the MSU basketball program. McCallie was named to the position on March 27, 2000 becoming just the fourth coach in MSU women's basketball history. She is in her 10th year overall as a head coach, compiling a 186-92 (.669) overall mark. Prior to her arrival at MSU, McCallie spent eight years as the head coach at Maine, guiding the Black Bears to a 167-73 mark including six straight NCAA Tournament appearances.
Last Time Out - Michigan State won its fifth straight game, a 64-47 victory over Providence Dec. 21 at the Breslin Center. The Spartans shot 44.1 percent from the field and converted 27 Providence turnovers into 25 points. Freshman center Kelli Roehrig led MSU with a season-best 24 points, while Syreeta Bromfield finished with 17.
This Week's Opponent
Indiana Hoosiers
Indiana, under the direction of second-year coach Kathi Bennett, carries a 6-5 overall mark into the game. The Hoosiers have dropped two straight and will host Ohio State Dec. 28, before making the trip to East Lansing.
Ones To Watch - Three Hoosiers are averaging in double figures, led by senior center Jill Chapman. Chapman, a 2000-01 All-Big Ten honoree, is averaging 17.3 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.9 blocks. Senior guard Heather Cassady (14.5 ppg) and senior forward Erin McGinnis (11.3 ppg) are the other Hoosiers averaging in double digits.
Series History - Michigan State and Indiana meet for the 45th time in school history. MSU holds a 26-18 advantage in the all-time series. However, Indiana has won two straight, including a 71-54 win on Dec. 31 and a 52-50 win on Feb. 11, 2001.
Below is a look at the last five meetings. See page 62 of the 2001-02 MSU basketball guide for complete series scores
Date Location MSU-Opp2/22/98 East Lansing L, 75-832/26/99 Indianapolis, Ind. W, 88-691/13/00 East Lansing W, 78-5612/31/00 Bloomington L, 54-712/11/01 East Lansing L, 50-52MSU leads all-time series, 26-18
Spartan Notebook
The Streakers - Michigan State has won five straight games heading into the Dec. 30 Indiana game. It is MSU's longest winning streak since the Spartans opened the 1999-2000 season with seven consecutive victories.
The school record for the longest winning streak is 11 games, set from Feb. 17, 1977 to March 12, 1977.
Roehrig's Day - Freshman center Kelli Roehrig scored a career-best 24 points in the win over Providence. Roehrig was 11-of-16 (.615) from the field. She also grabbed seven rebounds in a season-best 35 minutes.
In her previous six games, she had a combined four points. Roehrig's previous high was 12 points at Arkansas State Nov. 20.
The Papillion, Neb., native is averaging 5.0 points and 2.3 rebounds in 11 games. She leads the team in field goal percentage at 61.5 percent (24-of-39).
In Case, This Sounds Familiar - Junior forward Syreeta Bromfield recorded her eighth game in double figures with 17 points against Providence. She has now posted double-figure scoring in eight of her last nine games.
Bromfield currently ranks seventh in the Big Ten in scoring (17.2 ppg) and sixth in rebounding (7.9 rpg). Both marks lead the Spartans.
She arrived at MSU after leading Tallahassee Community College to a third-place finish at the Junior College National Basketball Championships in March 2001. She closed her career at TCC's all-time leading scorer (1,055 points) and rebounder (529 boards).
Upcoming - MSU heads to instate-rival Michigan on Jan. 2 with a 7 p.m. tip-off in Ann Arbor. The Spartans return to the Breslin Center on Saturday, Jan. 5, at 2 p.m., when they face Georgia.
In The Polls - MSU received seven votes in the Dec. 24 Associated Press poll and 14 votes in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll. The last time the Spartans made an appearance in the national polls was during the 1996-97 season. MSU was ranked 24th by AP and 21st by USA Today in the final poll of the 1996-97 season.
The Defense Is Getting It Done - The Spartan defense continues to hold opponents to under 60 points per contest. MSU currently ranks second in the Big Ten in scoring defense, allowing a measly 56.2 points per game. It marks the second-straight season that the Spartans have been ranked near the top of the Big Ten standings in scoring defense.
In MSU's nine wins, the Spartans' defense is allowing just 54.8 points. MSU's defense held Providence to 47 points, the second-lowest points allowed by the defense this season.
Getting Defensive II - In addition, opponents are shooting just 38.2 percent (198-of-518) from the field. MSU has forced 199 turnovers and recorded 126 steals.
Out Of The Gate - MSU's 9-1 record marks the second best start in school history. The 1973-74 squad holds the school record for the best start with a 12-1 slate.
After the first 10 games of the 2000-01 season, MSU was 5-5.
Turnovers Into Points - Through the first 10 games, the Spartans have converted 199 opponent turnovers into 165 points - an average of 16.5 points per game.
In the win over Providence, MSU took 27 Friars' turnovers and scored 25 points.
Approaching Milestones -
* Maria Recker needs five more three-point field goals to moved into sixth place on MSU's all-time three-point chart. Recker has 38 career threes, tying for eighth all-time at MSU.
* Julie Pagel needs 95 more points to reach 500 for her career.
* Abby Salscheider needs 45 more points to reach 400 for her career. She enters this week's action with 355 career points in 94 games.
Stealing The Show - The Spartans pace the Big Ten, averaging 12.6 steals per game. MSU has posted double-figure totals in steals in all but two games this year, including a season-best 17 against Providence.
Jackson On The Court - Sophomore guard Candice Jackson continues to improve for the Spartans. After scoring a season-best 12 points at UWGB, Jackson added five points, three rebounds and five assists vs. Providence.
The Lansing, Mich., native is averaging 3.0 points, 1.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists through the first 10 games.
Spartan Quick Shots -
* MSU is outscoring its opponents 350-to-304 in the second half.
* MSU is a perfect 4-0 at the Breslin this season.
* Michigan State had a season-best 2,662 fans in the win over Providence.
* The Spartans need just one more win to equal their entire win total from the 2000-01 season. MSU finished with a 10-18 mark.
* The Spartans are already 5-1 on the road this season with wins over Arkansas State (70-59), Monmouth (60-52), Detroit (62-61), Marquette (65-63) and Wisconsin-Green Bay (68-53).
Pagel's Game - For the season, Julie Pagel is averaging 9.2 points and 6.7 rebounds. She is second on the team in field goal percentage at 52.8 percent (28-of-53) and second in free throw percentage at 75.0 (36-of-48).
She had her string of four-straight games in double-figure scoring snapped against Providence.
Improvement From The Field - Over the past two games, Michigan State has improved its shooting from the field. MSU has connected on 49.1 percent (53-of-108) of its shots, including a season-best 55.1 percent (27-of-49) at UWGB.
In the previous eight games, MSU shot just 37.9 percent (167-of-441) from the field.
MSU ranks 10th in the Big Ten in field goal percentage at 40.1 percent (220-of-549).
Stealing The Show - Freshman guard Kristin Haynie continues to pace the Spartan attack in steals with 32, an average of 3.2 per game. That mark ranks third in the Big Ten Conference.
The 32 steals already ranks tied for eighth with Maxann Reese (1996-97) on MSU's freshman records chart. Vnemina Reese (1999-2000) holds MSU's freshman record for steals with 65.
From The Line - Michigan State continues to be inconsistent from the free throw line. MSU connected on just 57.1 percent (8-of-14) of its shots from the charity stripe vs. Providence. In comparison over the previous four games, MSU connected on 72.3 percent (68-of-94) of its shots.
For the season, MSU is connecting on 68.5 percent (137-of-200) of its shots from the charity stripe. This mark ranks ninth in the Big Ten.
Individually, Kristin Haynie leads MSU from the line at 78.0 percent (39-of-50), while Julie Pagel is second at 75.0 percent (36-of-48).
Ellis' Return - Freshman guard Cortne Ellis returned to the Spartan lineup against Providence. Ellis finished with eight points, two short of her season-best 10 set vs. UCLA.
Ellis has played in six games and is averaging 5.0 points. She is a threat from the three-point line, connecting on 43.8 percent (7-of-16) of her shots.
Young Squad Too - MSU will carry a young roster this season. The Spartan team will feature one senior, four juniors, three sophomores and four freshmen. In all, seven of the 12 players will be in their first season at MSU.
The Threes - MSU is shooting just 28.6 percent (40-of-140) from the three-point arc. Individually, sophomore guard Candice Jackson (.467, 7-of-15) and freshman guard Cortne Ellis (.438, 7-of-16) lead MSU from the three-point arc.
In 2000-01, Michigan State shot 31.4 percent (120-of-382) for the year.
Look, I'm On Television - The Spartans will make seven appearances on television in 2001-02. MSU entertains Georgia as part of the Big Ten-SEC Challenge on Jan. 5. The game will be shown on CBS television as part of a women's basketball tripleheader. The early game features Penn State at Vanderbilt at noon, followed by MSU-Georgia at 2 p.m. and UConn at Tennessee at 4 p.m.
In addition, MSU will appear on Fox Sports Chicago twice - vs. Northwestern (Jan. 27) and at Indiana (Feb. 3) - and on AT&T Cable four times - Indiana (Dec. 30), Penn State (Jan. 20), Purdue (Feb. 1) and Iowa (Feb. 20).
All of MSU's games will be broadcast live on the radio (The Fan 730 AM) and over the internet at www.msuspartans.com.
The Schedule - The Spartans face a challenging schedule in 2001-02. Twelve teams that the Spartans will face in 2001-02 made a post-season appearance in either the NCAA or WNIT. NCAA Tournament teams include Georgia, Penn State, Wisconsin, Liberty, Iowa, Michigan and Final Four participant Purdue. The WNIT post-season tournament participants include Florida International, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio State and Wisconsin-Green Bay.
In the Big Ten cluster schedule, the Spartans will face Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Penn State and Wisconsin twice and Michigan, Northwestern, Ohio State and Purdue once.
