Michigan State University
Temple
MSU Crushes Temple, 78-40, To Win Spartan Classic Title
11/23/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 23, 2003
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State women's basketball team won the Dean Trailways of Michigan Spartan Classic in impressive fashion, defeating Temple, 78-40, Sunday at the Breslin Center.
Senior Julie Pagel (Utica, Mich.), who had 12 points, five rebounds, three assists, a block and a steal, was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player. Two other Spartans also made the all-tournament team: freshman Rene Haynes (Columbus, Ohio), who had 11 points, three boards and three assists, and sophomore Liz Shimek (Empire, Mich.), who had 13 points, four rebounds, three blocks and two assists.
MSU stormed to a 41-23 halftime lead, then kept on rolling, outscoring Temple 37-17 in the second half to pull away to the 38-point victory, which was the largest margin of victory in the 16-year history of the Spartan Classic. MSU shot 58.2 percent from the field (32-of-55), including a blistering 64.3 percent (18-of-28) in the first half, and outrebounded Temple 37-29, including a 23-11 edge in the second half.
"I'm really proud of our team defense, our balance and our aggressiveness," said MSU head coach Joanne P. McCallie. "We got better on the boards as the game went on, and I'm so proud of Julie (Pagel). It's always good to see a senior step up like that."
Junior Kristin Haynie (Mason) had team-highs of 16 points, six assists and five steals, and got the Spartans going early. After an early 5-0 deficit, Haynie scored 10 of MSU's first 16 points as the Spartans rebounded to take a 16-12 lead.
With the lead at 21-19 with 5:50 left in the half, Shimek scored consecutive baskets that started a 12-0 run. After a Temple basket, sophomore Lindsay Bowen (Dansville, Mich.) hit a three-point basket and Pagel followed with a bucket to extend the run to 17-2 and give MSU a 38-21 lead.
Temple hit two free throws with 11 seconds left in the first half, but Pagel banked in a three-pointer from 25 feet away just before the horn, sending the Spartans to the locker room with a 41-23 lead.
Temple never got closer than the 18-point halftime deficit in the second half, as MSU limited the Owls to just five points over the first 13:42 of the second half. By that time, the lead had grown to 69-28, and it was just a matter of determining the final score.
A basket by freshman Katrina Grantham (Saginaw, Mich.) gave MSU its biggest lead of 74-32, before MSU settled for the 78-40 victory.
MSU held Temple to just 27.3 percent shooting (15-of-55), as the Owls shot less than 30 percent in each half. The Spartans had a whopping 36-12 edge in points in the paint, and had 10 fast break points to just two for Temple. MSU also forced 17 turnovers, collecting 11 steals, while committing just 12 miscues.
Pagel averaged 11.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, had a steal and a block and was the team's emotional leader en route to earning tournament MVP honors. Haynes, who had a team-high 19 points in yesterday's victory over Davidson, averaged 15.0 points and 3.5 rebounds, while Shimek averaged 12.0 points, 6.5 boards and 2.0 blocks per game.
Joining MSU's trio on the all-tournament team were Candice Dupree of Temple, Emily Callahan of Davidson and Milena Tomova of Florida International. Davidson defeated Florida International in the consolation game, 62-55.
Michigan State will host No. 20/16 Notre Dame Wednesday, Nov. 26, at 7 p.m. at the Breslin Center.
Spartan Notebook
? MSU is now 25-7 all-time in the Spartan Classic, and has won the tournament title nine times. The Spartans improved to 9-6 all-time when playing in the championship game.
? Michigan State handed Temple its worst-ever loss under fourth-year head coach Dawn Staley. The Owls' previous worst loss was a 23-point decision vs. Notre Dame.
? Julie Pagel made two three-point baskets for the first time in her career.
? Five different players made at least one three-pointer for MSU.
? Lindsay Bowen has now made at least one three-point field goal in 28 consecutive games.
