Michigan State University
Premier Sports International (Exhib.)
Women's Basketball Cruises In Exhibition Finale
11/14/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 14, 2003
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State women's basketball team closed out the exhibition season with a decisive 85-40 victory over the Premier All-Stars Friday night in the Breslin Center.
Freshman Victoria Lucas-Perry (Flint, Mich.) led four Spartans in double figures with 19 points while collecting five rebounds and three steals. Junior Kristin Haynie (Mason) added 15 points and six assists while sophomore Lindsay Bowen (Dansville, Mich.) and freshman Rene Haynes (Columbus, Ohio) contributed 13 points each.
The game was marred by a pair of lengthy delays caused by injuries to Premier players. As a result, the All-Stars had just five players available from the 14:23 mark on, so MSU responded by playing a lineup consisting of its five freshmen for the remainder of the game.
For the second straight exhibition game, MSU came out firing, sinking its first six shots en route to a quick 13-2 lead. Six different players scored the first six baskets, and MSU dominate inside while continuing to stretch the lead throughout the half. The Spartans, who outscored the All-Stars 20-4 in the paint in the first stanza, used an 18-7 run late in the half to pull away to a convincing 49-26 lead at the break.
Michigan State shot 60.6 percent from the field in the first period, including 17-of-25 (68.0 percent) shooting from the five starters.
MSU then scored the first 12 points of the second period to open a 61-26 lead at the time of the second Premier injury. Over the remainder of the contest, MSU's five freshmen outscored the remaining All-Stars, 24-14.
MSU finished the game shooting 47.7 percent (31-of-65) from the field, and an almost identical 47.6 percent (10-of-21) from three-point range. MSU forced 20 turnovers while committing just 14, and held a 47-40 edge on the boards. However, the Spartans did surrender 22 offensive rebounds to the All-Stars.
Freshman Myisha Bannister (Cleveland, Ohio) had a team-high nine rebounds and four blocks in 22 minutes off the bench, while freshman Katrina Grantham (Saginaw, Mich.) added eight rebounds. Sophomore Liz Shimek (Empire, Mich.) had nine points and six boards, while senior Julie Pagel (Utica, Mich.) had five assists along with four points in 16 minutes.
The Premier All-Stars dropped to 2-3 during their seven-game exhibition season. The All-Stars had defeated Bowling Green and Youngstown State while falling to Central Michigan and Kentucky.
Michigan State will open the regular season Nov. 22 when MSU hosts the Dean Trailways of Michigan Spartan Classic. MSU will play Davidson at 1:30 p.m., with Florida International and Temple battling afterwards. The consolation game is Nov. 23 at 12:30 p.m., with the championship game slated for 3 p.m.
