Michigan State University
Minnesota
Women's Basketball Beats Minnesota, 58-50
2/25/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 25, 2001
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State women's basketball ended the 2000-01 regular season with a 58-50 victory over Minnesota on Sunday afternoon (Feb. 25) before 2,939 fans at the Breslin Center. With the win, the Spartans improved to 10-17 overall, 4-12 in the Big Ten, while Minnesota drops to 8-19 overall, 1-15 in Big Ten play.
On Senior's Night in East Lansing, MSU jumped out of the gates early opening the game on a 14-0 run as seniors Erin Skelly and Christie Pung each added six points. The Spartan defense held Minnesota without a field until the 14:22 mark when Lindsay Lieser hit a three-point basket. However, the Spartans would answer right back hitting three straight three-point baskets to jump out to a 23-5 advantage.
The Spartans would take a 12-point advantage (33-21) into the locker room at the half, as MSU turned in a solid opening 20 minutes, shooting 50.0 percent (12-of-24) from the field and 53.3 percent (8-of-15) from the three-point line. MSU's defense held Minnesota to just 39.1 percent (9-of-23) shooting, including a 2-for-6 (.333) effort from the three-point line.
Michigan State would take a 43-28 lead on a three-point jumper by Pung with 12:18 remaining in the second half, and would open up an 18-point advantage (51-33) on a three-point play by Jennifer Callier. However, Minnesota would go on a 14-2 run to pull within six (53-47) on a Megan Kane jumper with 1:10 to go. But MSU would connect on five of its final eight free throw attempts to seal the victory.
Senior guard Christie Pung led MSU with a season-high 15 points. Vnemina Reese added 11 points and Maria Recker and Erin Skelly each chipped in eight. Minnesota was led by Kim Prince with 16 points and 11 rebounds.
The Spartans return to action this Thursday (March 1), at 4 p.m., in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament. MSU, the No. 9 seed, will face No. 8 seed Ohio State at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids. The winner will face No. 1 seed Purdue on Friday (March 2), at 2:30 p.m. The MSU-Ohio State game can be heard live on The Fan 730 AM - WVFN or at www.msuspartans.com.
Spartan Notebook
-- Five seniors (Becky Cummings, Nikki Davis, Donita Johnson, Christie Pung and Erin Skelly) were honored in a post-game ceremony today.
-- Senior center Erin Skelly tied her career high with five blocks vs. Minnesota. Skelly, who is second all-time at MSU in career blocks, now has 106 for her career.
-- MSU just missed the school record for career three-point field goals. MSU connected on 11 three-point attempts, and the school record is 12 set vs. Northwestern on March 5, 1993.
-- The Spartans did set a new school record for three-point field goal attempts with 26. It breaks the previous mark of 23, also set vs. Northwestern on March 5, 1993.
