Michigan State University
Notre Dame
MSU Slams No. 17 Notre Dame, 92-63
11/26/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov 26, 2003
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Lindsay Bowen and Kristin Haynie weren't a two-player team for Michigan State, but they were too much for No. 17 Notre Dame to handle.
Bowen had 26 points and backcourt mate Haynie added a career-high 23 in the Spartans' stunning 92-63 romp over the Fighting Irish on Wednesday.
They combined to shoot 16-for-21 from the field, 6-for-9 from 3-point range and 11-for 13 at the foul line for Michigan State (3-0) in a dominant all-around effort. Bowen and Haynie also had 11 assists, eight rebounds and three steals.
"We're out here to have fun, and whatever happens happens," said Bowen, who was 9-for-12 from the field, including 5-for-7 accuracy on 3s. "I don't really think rankings matter at this point. But I think this is a great confidence booster."
Haynie hit 7-for-9 from the field and 8-for-9 from the line while handing out seven assists. She also helped to control the game on defense, as the Spartans outscored Notre Dame by 12 points off turnovers and 12 more after offensive rebounds.
"We just came out ready to fight, ready to outhustle and outrebound our opponent," Haynie said of the Irish (2-2). "It didn't matter if they were ranked or not. Every game is big for us. And I don't really follow polls, so I don't care what we are."
Michigan State led for all but the first 20 seconds and outshot, outpassed and outrebounded Notre Dame by large margins. The Spartans shot .567 from the field, .545 from 3-point range and .818 at the foul line while compiling edges of 19-11 in assists and 40-20 in rebounds.
"I don't think, against any team, you expect that wide a margin," Michigan State coach Joanne P. McCallie said. "It's important to play in the moment. I think these players are really focused on their teammates. Obviously, Notre Dame is a very good team."
The Irish were led by Jacqueline Batteast and Courtney LaVere with 12 points. But the Irish failed to grab an offensive rebound in the first half and committed 19 turnovers for the night.
"I thought Michigan State just played a great game," Notre Dame coach Muffet McGraw said. "They came out with a lot of intensity and played harder than we did. Offensively, I thought they made every shot they took. They just had one of those games when everything went right for them. And we were flat-footed the whole game."
The Irish shot a respectable .480 from the field and .429 from long range but were never a factor on the boards.
"That's not something I would've imagined," McCallie said. "We just don't think that way. I didn't even realize that 'til you said it. You just worry about how you're going to contain their high-low game."
Michigan State led 45-29 at halftime behind .586 shooting from the field and 21-7 dominance in rebounds. Bowen had 16 points in the period and was perfect with three 3's.
"Kristin and Lindsay were due," McCallie said. "They gave great leadership, and that permeated the rest of the team. We got better. We grew. And we can enjoy this for a couple of hours before we move on to the next one (Friday at home against Eastern Michigan). This team deserves to enjoy that."
