Michigan State University
Toledo
MSU Women's Basketball Falls To Toledo, 58-55
11/26/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 26, 2002
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State women's basketball team held the lead for nearly 33 of the last 36 minutes of its game vs. Toledo Tuesday night, but Toledo led when it mattered most - at the final horn. Junior post player Julie Hillis, who had just two points to that point, drained the second three-point basket of her career with 12 seconds left, and Tia Davis swatted away a desperation three-pointer by sophomore Kristin Haynie (Mason) at the horn to preserve the victory.
In a game that was dramatically different from MSU's first two contests, which averaged 160 total points, defense ruled as both teams shot well under 40 percent from the field. MSU (1-2) sank just 19-of-53 field goals (35.8 percent), while Toledo (2-0) fared even worse, making 22-of-65 (33.8).
Haynie had team-highs of 13 points and nine rebounds to pace the undermanned Spartans, who dressed just eight players while playing their third game in four days. Senior Jennifer Callier (Indianapolis, Ind.) was the only other Spartan to reach double figures, scoring a season-best 12 points.
"It was a great defensive battle," said MSU head coach Joanne P. McCallie. "I'm proud of our team for our defense. We gave up 86 points the last game. We did a much better job this time. However, I don't think we played a sound team game, and the team was not competing with a positive spirit."
Both teams started ice cold, but Toledo was coldest. After taking a 4-2 lead with 17:05 left, Toledo would go 8:26 without a point. Unfortunately for the Spartans, they didn't exactly light it up during that time, but they did score 12 straight points to open a 14-4 edge after a three-point bomb by senior Syreeta Bromfield (Kingston, Jamaica) with 8:52 left in the half.
Toledo chipped away at the lead, and a pair of Rocket free throws in the final second of the first stanza narrowed the gap to 25-23 in MSU's favor at intermission. MSU shot 34.6 percent in the half, while Toledo made just 10 of its 30 shots and missed all five three-point attempts.
After a pair of ties early in the second half, back-to-back buckets by Callier gave MSU a 36-31 cushion with 14:13 remaining. Toledo answered, taking its first lead since 4-2 on Hillis' only other basket of the game, giving the Rockets a 41-40 edge with 10:09 left.
MSU appeared to take control with an 8-0 run to grab a 48-41 lead with 6:59 left. The lead was still five at 54-49 after a Haynie bucket with 5:03 remaining, but MSU would score just one point the rest of the way. On its next 10 possessions, MSU missed eight shots and had two turnovers as Toledo grabbed a 55-54 lead with 1:04 remaining.
Freshman Liz Shimek (Empire) grabbed her own miss and was fouled with 25 seconds left, but missed the first free throw. Shimek sank the second to tie the score, before Hillis' heroics.
MSU owned a 45-38 edge on the boards, including eight rebounds by Bromfield and six each by Shimek and sophomore Kelli Roehrig (Papillion, Neb.). The Spartans also shot 14 more free throws than Toledo, but made just 15 of its 24 attempts while the Rockets converted nine of their 10 chances. The Spartans also committed 16 turnovers while forcing just 12.
The Spartans also suffered a major blow today when it was learned that junior Candice Jackson (Lansing) suffered a torn left ACL and will miss the remainder of the season, leaving the Spartans with eight players currently available.
MSU will hit the road for the first time this season when the Spartans travel to Memphis for a Thanksgiving tournament. The Spartans play Mercer Friday, Nov. 29, at 8 p.m., and will play either Memphis or Tennessee State Saturday.
