Spartan Women's Basketball Visits Oakland Thursday
12/4/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 4, 2002
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MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS (3-3)VS. OAKLAND GRIZZLIES (2-1)When Thursday, Dec. 5, 2002 - 7 p.m.Site Rochester, Mich. - Athletic Center "O"rena (4,005)Radio The Fan 730 AMTelevision NoneCoaches MSU: Joanne P. McCallie (Northwestern, 1987) Overall: 199-107 (11th year); MSU: 32-34 (Third year) Oakland: Eileen Shea-Hilliard (Michigan State, 1991) Overall: 2-1 (First year); OU: 2-1 (First year)TIP-OFF: Michigan State concludes a hectic schedule of seven games in 14 days to open the season as the Spartans travel to Rochester, Mich., to battle Oakland Wednesday night. MSU is off to a 3-3 start, with the three losses coming by a combined eight points. Four of MSU's first six games have been at home, with the only contests outside of the Breslin being played in Memphis, Tenn., at the Lady Tiger Thanksgiving Classic. The Spartans went 1-1 on that road trip, defeating Mercer before falling to Memphis.
SPARTANS VS. FORMER SPARTAN: A familiar face to Spartan fans will be on the opposing bench Thursday as Oakland head coach Eileen Shea-Hilliard has taken over the reigns of the Grizzly program. Shea-Hilliard was a three-time All-Big Ten performer for the Spartans and was named MSU's Athlete of the Decade for women's basketball. She was twice named the team's MVP and led the Spartans three times in scoring. She also excelled in the classroom where she was a three-time academic All-American as well as a three-time academic All-Big Ten selection. Shea-Hilliard was also awarded the Big Ten Medal of Honor and won a gold medal at the U.S. Olympic Festival.
Shea-Hilliard played professionally in Europe after her career at Michigan State, playing four years in Horsholm, Denmark and one in Jonkoping, Sweden. She led her league in scoring in three of her five season and was named the Player of the Year in Denmark once and was chosen as Sweden's MVP in her lone season there.
Prior to taking over at Oakland, Shea-Hilliard had been an assistant coach at Michigan the past six seasons.
SCOUTING OAKLAND: Oakland returns nine letterwinners, including three starters, from last year's team which finished 17-15 overall, and won the Mid-Continent Conference Tournament to advance to the NCAA Tournament, where the Grizzlies lost to Vanderbilt in the opening round, 63-38. Oakland is off to a 2-1 start this season.
Heading the list of returners for Oakland is three time All-Mid Con first team performer Katie Wolfe, who is averaging 19.5 points and 4.0 assists this season. Wolfe had 28 points in Oakland's last outing - a 94-68 victory against Pikeville Nov. 30. Freshman guard Anne Hafeli is the only other player averaging double-digit points, averaging 10.7. Sophomore forward Amanda Batcha averages 14.7 rebounds per contest.
Oakland opened its season with a 65-58 victory against Detroit Nov. 22, before falling at Central Michigan, 61-39, Nov. 26.
SERIES RECORDS: Michigan State leads the all-time series with Oakland, 6-4, although the teams have only met once since 1983. That one meeting was a barn-burner last year in East Lansing, which the Spartans won 55-53. Julie Pagel and Vnemina Reese scored 12 points each and the Spartans made just enough free throws down the stretch to hold off Oakland, which was led by Katie Wolfe's 19 points.
SPARTANS THUMP KENT STATE IN FRONT OF RECORD CROWD: With a record crowd of 12,058 in attendance, MSU roared to an 85-72 victory over Kent State Tuesday afternoon in the Breslin Center. The crowd, which consisted largely of local fourth and fifth-grade students plus their teachers and administrators as part of the "When I Grow Up" program, easily smashed the previous attendance record for a Michigan State women's basketball home game of 7,733, which was set Feb. 20, 2000 vs. Michigan.
Syreeta Bromfield established career-highs of 30 points, eight steals and six assists and MSU used a 15-0 run late in the first half to spark the victory. Bromfield, who had twice scored 28 points in a game during her career including Nov. 24 vs. Miami (Ohio), made 10-of-17 shots and was 8-of-9 from the foul line, and also added seven rebounds.
Lindsay Bowen added 13 points for MSU, as did Kelli Roehrig. Julie Pagel, making her first start of the year, contributed 12 points and six rebounds for Michigan State, which shot 50 percent from the field (30-of-60). Liz Shimek had a team-high nine rebounds to go with six points, while Kristin Haynie added seven points and a season-high eight assists.
The game was tied at 31 with 5:40 left in the first half when MSU started its decisive run with a Pagel three-point play. Two free throws from Haynie followed, before buckets by Bromfield and Bowen stretched the lead to 40-31. A steal and layup by Bromfield pushed the margin to 42-31, before baskets by Pagel and Jennifer Callier capped the streak.
A Bromfield three with nine seconds left in the first half sent the teams to the lockerroom with MSU leading 53-34, and MSU scored the first five points of the second half to give the Spartans a 58-34 edge and increase the scoring run to 27-3. MSU shot a blistering 62.5 percent from the field in the first half, making 20 of 32 shots.
The Spartans soon cooled off as Kent State made a run to get back in the game. The Spartans missed 10 of 11 shots during a 12-2 run that allowed Kent State to close within 63-51 with 11:52 left, but a Bowen trey capped a 7-0 Spartan spurt that pushed the lead back to 19.
Kent State answered again, slicing the deficit to nine at 72-63 with 6:31 remaining, but baskets by Roehrig and Bromfield and a pair of Haynie free throws gave MSU a 78-63 lead with 4:02 left. Kent State never got closer than the final margin of 13 points the rest of the way.
MSU shot a season best 90.5 percent from the foul line, draining 19 of 21 shots. The Spartans also won the rebounding battle for the sixth straight game, holding a commanding 38-20 edge on the boards. Kent State actually outshot MSU, making 51 percent of its shots, including 10 three-point bombs. Both teams committed 23 turnovers.
WOMAN OF STEAL: Syreeta Bromfield's eight steals vs. Kent State tied for fifth most in a single game in MSU history, and were the most by a Spartan since Jamie Wesley set the school record by recording 12 steals vs. Minnesota Feb. 2, 1996.
SPEAKING OF STEALS: Michigan State, which led the Big Ten in steals last season by averaging 11.3 per game, had more steals Tuesday vs. Kent State (18) than in its previous three games combined (15).
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARDS: Last season Michigan State outrebounded its opponents by 4.3 rebounds per game. This year the Spartans are off to an even better start. MSU has outrebounded its opponents by an average of 14.8 rebounds per game through six games, which leads the Big Ten. MSU has been particularly impressive on the offensive boards, as MSU has more offensive rebounds (113) than its opponents have defensive rebounds (109). MSU outrebounded Mercer on Nov. 29 by a whopping 62-30 margin.
JUST SHOOT ME: The Spartans appear to have improved their shooting touch during the offseason, as MSU has hit 43.9 percent of its shots during the first six games, including 37.5 percent from three-point distance. Last year, MSU shot 41.7 percent from the field and 30.4 percent from downtown. MSU also sank 74.3 percent of its free throws in the opening six games - an improvement from last year's 69.4 percent.
PUTTING IN OVERTIME: Michigan State's injuries and subsequent lack of depth have forced players into playing more minutes than they otherwise might have. Freshman guard Lindsay Bowen has been on the court for 215 of a possible 240 minutes already this season, averaging 35.8 minutes per game. Senior Syreeta Bromfield has averaged 31.0 minutes, while freshman Liz Shimek is averaging 30.3 minutes. Sophomore guard Kristin Haynie, who played just 13 minutes in the opener after recovering from an illness, has averaged 30.4 minutes in the last five games.
THE DEFENSE RESTS: From the "Maybe defense doesn't always win games" department, Michigan State is 3-1 this year when allowing more than 60 points, and 0-2 when the Spartans surrender fewer than 60 points.
FAB FRESHMEN: Michigan State has received big boosts from its freshmen this year. Lindsay Bowen scored 26 points against Fresno State in her Spartan debut Nov. 23, and is averaging 12.8 points while sinking 15-of-34 three-point shots (44.1 percent). Liz Shimek has posted double-doubles in three contests, and leads the Big Ten averaging a team-best 11.3 rebounds, including 16 in 24 minutes vs. Mercer, while adding 9.8 points per game.
OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION: Michigan State started its season by scoring 82 points in the season opener against Fresno State, then 84 points vs. Miami (Ohio). Last season, it took 27 contests before the Spartans scored 80 or more points in a game. MSU had not started a season with two games of 80+ points since 1994. The Spartans added a season-best 85 points Tuesday vs. Kent State.
AND THEN THERE WERE NINE: Michigan State had been down to eight players due to a rash of injures just three games into the season. Junior guard Candice Jackson was the latest casualty, tearing her left ACL Nov. 24 against Miami (Ohio). The Spartans, who started with a roster of 12 players, had already lost senior Maria Recker and freshman Patrice McKinney to injuries, and junior transfer Caroline Nixon from Australia was not cleared to play by the NCAA. As a result, the Spartans turned to Michigan State's Final Four field hockey team for help, as junior guard Theresa Pusateri was added to the roster in time for the Thanksgiving trip to Memphis. Pusateri played in 17 games for the field hockey squad this fall, scoring one goal and adding an assist.
ON THE REBOUND: Freshman Liz Shimek's 16 rebounds Nov. 29 against Mercer are the most by a Spartan since Kristin Rasmussen pulled down 17 vs. Central Michigan Dec. 8, 1999. Shimek has pulled down double-digit rebounds in four of MSU's five games this season.
ALL-TOURNAMENT HONORS: Liz Shimek and Syreeta Bromfield were named to the Lady Tiger Thanksgiving Classic All-Tournament team Nov. 30. Shimek averaged 12 points and 14 rebounds in two games, including career-highs of 16 rebounds vs. Mercer and 15 points vs. Memphis. Bromfield had a double-double vs. Mercer with 13 points and 12 rebounds.
Bromfield and Kelli Roehrig were named to the Spartan Chevrolet Classic All-Tournament team Nov. 24. Bromfield averaged 19.5 points and seven rebounds in two games, including 28 points and nine boards Nov. 24 vs. Miami (Ohio). Roehrig had 20 points on 9-of-11 shooting vs. Fresno State before adding 13 points vs. Miami. Joining the Spartans on the All-Tournament team were tournament MVP Heather Cusick and Jana Butler from Miami (Ohio), Jeanette Gray from Valparaiso and Lindsay Logan from Fresno State.
CALLIER'S BIG NIGHTS: Senior Jennifer Callier had just five points and two rebounds in MSU's first two games combined, but then exploded for 12 points on five-of-eight shooting and added four rebounds and a block vs. Toledo. In her next game, she matched a career-high with 15 points vs. Mercer and added five rebounds and a career-best four assists.
BROMFIELD LIGHTS IT UP: Syreeta Bromfield has had two great all-around games this season. Tuesday vs. Kent State she had career-highs of 30 points, eight steals and six assists and added seven rebounds. Nov. 24 vs. Miami (Ohio) the senior scored 28 points, and established a new career-best by sinking six three-point baskets in nine attempts. Bromfield also added nine rebounds, dished out five assists and added a block and an steal.
OPENING ACT: By defeating Fresno State 82-68 in the season opener, MSU improved to 19-12 all-time in season openers, including an 11-2 record when the opener is at home. The Spartans have now won four straight season-opening games.
DOUBLE TROUBLE: Freshman Liz Shimek proved that it was no fluke that she was named Ms. Basketball for the state of Michigan last year. Shimek started her MSU career with two double-doubles, scoring 10 points against both Fresno State and Miami (Ohio) while grabbing game-high rebounds total of 14 vs. Fresno State and 11 vs. Miami. She added her third double-double vs. Memphis Nov. 30, scoring a career-high 15 points with 12 rebounds.
USELESS STAT OF THE WEEK: Michigan State's all-time record against schools that have the letter "k" in the school name is 19-9. The Spartans have played games against Akron (3-0), Arkansas State (2-0), Drake (1-0), Duke (0-1), Kent State (2-1), Kentucky (2-1), Northern Kentucky (1-0), Oakland (6-4), Oklahoma State (0-1), Western Kentucky (1-1) and Wisconsin-Milwaukee (1-0).
INJURY BUG: Michigan State has seen its depth depleted by injuries already this season. Junior guard Candice Jackson was the latest casualty, going down with a torn left ACL Nov. 24 vs. Miami (Ohio). Jackson is expected to be out for the season.
Freshman guard Patrice McKinney suffered a torn ACL in her right knee during an individual workout Oct. 3, and is expected to redshirt this season. Senior forward Maria Recker has had a lingering shoulder injury since her freshman season that will keep her out of action this year.
Junior guard Caroline Nixon (hamstring) was held out of the game against Athletes In Action, while junior forward Julie Pagel has been suffering from a back injury, which kept her out of the second exhibition contest.
In addition, sophomore center Kelli Roehrig fractured a bone in her left (non-shooting) thumb in late October, but did not miss any action. Sophomore guard Kristin Haynie suffered from mononucleosis this summer, and an illness kept her out of the Oct. 26 Green-White scrimmage.
THE BACK COURT: Sophomore Kristin Haynie is a returning starter at guard, while senior Syreeta Bromfield returns at the wing. Haynie set MSU freshman records with 177 assists and 77 steals last year and was named to the All-Big Ten Freshman team. She averaged 7.8 points, 3.7 assists and 2.4 steals last year, ranking seventh in the Big Ten in steals and 11th in assists. Bromfield was MSU's leading scorer (15.6 ppg) and rebounder (6.5 rpg) last year, while earning second-team All-Big Ten honors.
One newcomer who is seeing plenty of action is freshman Lindsay Bowen. Bowen was a four-time class C all-state pick at Dansville High who is the third leading scorer in Michigan High School history. Bowen was runner-up to current teammate Liz Shimek for Michigan Ms. Basketball honors last season.
THE FRONT COURT: The Spartans return forward Julie Pagel and centers Jennifer Callier and Kelli Roehrig from last year's team. Pagel ranked second for MSU averaging 9.6 points and 5.8 rebounds. Callier started 13 of the 31 games in which she played and averaged 3.3 points and 3.2 rebounds, while Roehrig poured in 8.2 points and grabbed 3.7 boards while starting 16 games.
A pair of freshmen have been added to the mix. Liz Shimek, a 6-1 forward from Empire, Mich., was named Michigan's Ms. Basketball last year after averaging 24.0 points and 15.0 rebounds for Maple City-Glen Lake. Megan Osmer, a 6-2 center, joins the Spartans after leading Bellevue (Wash.) High to four league titles and two district championships.
LIKE A FINE WINE: If players, like wine, get better with age, MSU should show continued improvement this season. A year ago the Spartans had seven first-year players on their 12-player roster. This season, MSU has seven players returning who combined to start 109 games last season. Players who scored 77 percent of MSU's points and hauled down 79 percent of MSU's rebounds return this season.
BROMFIELD LEADS THE WAY: Syreeta Bromfield had an impressive first season for Michigan State, and looks to continue her production in 2002-03. Last year, Bromfield led MSU in scoring 15 times and in rebounding 15 times, while also posting a team-best four double-doubles.
EUROPEAN VACATION: Junior Julie Pagel was a member of the 2002 Big Ten Foreign Tour squad during the summer, travelling to the Netherlands and Belgium during her 10-day visit. Pagel averaged team-highs of 11.0 points and 8.6 rebounds while leading the Big Ten team to a 5-0 record.
SECRETARIES OF DEFENSE: One of the cornerstones of McCallie's teams is a stingy defense. Last season MSU ranked second in the Big Ten in scoring defense (62.7 ppg), after ranking first in McCallie's initial season. In addition, the Spartans led the Big Ten by averaging 11.3 steals per game last year.
More of the same should be expected for this season. MSU returns its top three ball thieves from last year, all of whom ranked in the top 13 in the Big Ten in steals. Kristin Haynie, who ranked seventh in the Big Ten in steals, narrowly edged Syreeta Bromfield, who ranked ninth, for the team lead (77 steals to 75). Julie Pagel was third on the team and 13th in the conference with 59 steals.
LOOK, I'M ON TELEVISION: The Spartans will make a minimum of eight appearances on television in 2002-03. Two MSU contests will be featured by FOX Sports Chicago, including a Jan. 30 home game against Michigan and a Feb. 20 game at Purdue. Also, FOX will broadcast all of the Big Ten Tournament games with the exception of the championship, which will air on espn2, meaning at least one more Spartan contest will be on FOX Sports.
In addition, five MSU home games will be televised by AT&T Broadband. Games scheduled to be televised include the Dec. 3 game vs. Kent State, Jan. 23 vs. Minnesota, Feb. 9 against Penn State, Feb. 13 vs. Ohio State and Feb. 24 vs. Illinois.
All of MSU's games will be broadcast live on the radio (The Fan 730 AM) and on the internet at www.msuspartans.com.
THE SCHEDULE: The Spartans face a challenging schedule in 2002-03. MSU will play 12 games against teams that competed in the 2002 NCAA Tournament, and four more against 2002 WNIT teams. NCAA Tournament teams include Georgia, Oakland, Kent State, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Penn State, Purdue and Wisconsin. The WNIT post-season tournament participants include Illinois, Michigan and Valparaiso.
In the Big Ten schedule, the Spartans will face Indiana, Michigan, Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State and Purdue twice and Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin once.
SPARTANS SIGN FOUR: MSU head coach Joanne P. McCallie signed four players to national letters of intent to join the Spartans women's basketball program in 2003-04. The signees include Myisha Bannister (C, 6-3, Cleveland, Ohio/Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School), Katrina Grantham (C, 6-1, Saginaw, Mich./Heritage High School), Lorenda "Rene" Haynes (G, 5-10, Columbus, Ohio/The Wellington School) and Victoria Lucas-Perry (F, 5-11, Flint, Mich./Powers Catholic High School).
Bannister earned Division III All-Ohio honorable mention honors as a junior by averaging 11.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.7 blocks and 2.5 steals per game. She helped guide Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School to the district championship and her team, which started five juniors, advanced to the regional finals before falling.
Grantham was a second-team all-state selection in 2001 by The Detroit News and Detroit Free Press after leading Heritage to the state championship game. She is currently in her third season as a captain and has twice been named first-team All-Saginaw Valley.
Haynes has been named team MVP, first team all-league and first-team all-district each of her first three years at The Wellington School. She was named first-team all-state and district Player of the Year as a junior after averaging 27.8 points, 9.2 rebounds 3.8 steals and 2.4 assists per game. Haynes was the league MVP and second-team all-state as a sophomore after averaging 23.2 points, 8.6 rebounds, 6.1 steals and 4.1 assists.
Lucas-Perry was averaging 22.2 points and 8.2 rebounds per game this season. She has led Powers Catholic to two straight Class B state championships, plus a state runner-up finish. She was a first-team all-state pick as a junior, and was one of 48 juniors in the country to be invited by USA Basketball to play in an Olympic festival last June.
