Michigan State University
Basketball Travelers (Exhib.)
MSU Women's Basketball Cruises In Exhibition Finale
11/17/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 17, 2002
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State women's basketball team easily defeated the Dominican Republic National Team Sunday at the Breslin Center, racing to a 77-48 victory. Five Spartans scored 12 or more points and MSU used a whopping 52-29 rebounding advantage to roll to victory.
Junior Candice Jackson (Lansing) and senior Syreeta Bromfield (Kingston, Jamaica) scored 15 points each to lead MSU, while freshman Liz Shimek (Empire) posted a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Freshman Lindsay Bowen (Dansville) also poured in 14 points, and sophomore Kristin Haynie (Mason) added 12 points, seven rebounds, and five assists for the Spartans, who played with only eight players. Sophomore center Kelli Roehrig (Papillion, Neb.) had 10 rebounds to go with five points for MSU.
"We worked hard and I love the offensive balance. We had a lot of people contributing," said MSU head coach Joanne P. McCallie. "We know we can play better. We're excited to work hard to get to that point."
Neither team shot the ball very well, as MSU made 22-of-65 shots for 33.8 percent while the Dominican team made 33.3 percent of its shots, but 25 MSU offensive rebounds allowed the Spartans to take 14 more field goal attempts. Michigan State also had a big advantage at the foul line, sinking 27 of its 35 attempts (77.1 percent), while the Dominican squad had only 10 free throw attempts, making nine.
Michigan State did a good job taking care of the ball, committing just eight turnovers, while the Dominican team had 15. Haynie and Bowen had three steals each for MSU, and Shimek blocked three shots.
MSU got off to a slow start, trailing 11-6 early on, but a pair of Shimek free throws gave the Spartans their first lead at 12-11, then Jackson followed with a trey. Shimek converted a three-point play to complete a 12-0 run that put MSU up 18-11, and MSU never looked back.
Five different players scored during an 11-0 run later in the first half that gave MSU a 32-17 cushion, and the lead grew to 42-25 by halftime. The Spartans made just 36.1 percent of their first-half shots, but held a commanding 29-11 rebounding edge at the break. Jackson scored 13 of her 15 points in the opening stanza to help put MSU in control.
In the second period, the Dominican team scored six of the first seven points to close within 12 points, but MSU answered with a 15-4 run capped by a Bromfield steal and layup with 12:29 left to give MSU a 58-35 lead. The Spartans made just nine of their 29 second half field goal attempts, but hit 16 of 20 free throws to seal the victory.
MSU held significant advantages in points off turnovers (20-3), points in the paint (20-6), second chance points (23-8) and fast break points (12-2).
The Spartans open the 2002-03 regular season with they host the Spartan Chevrolet Classic next Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 23-24. MSU will battle Fresno State Saturday at 2 p.m. in the tournament's opening game. Miami (Ohio) and Valparaiso will play Saturday at 4 p.m. MSU will also play Sunday at 2 p.m. against either Miami or Valparaiso.
