Michigan State University
Team Concept Basketball (Exhib.)
Women's Basketball Races To Exhibition Victory
11/8/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 8, 2003
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State women's basketball team won its exhibition opener Saturday at the Breslin Center, racing past Zala Volan, a Hungarian touring team sponsored by Team Concept Basketball, 83-55. MSU roared to a 49-27 halftime lead, withstood a spurt by Zala Volan early in the second half, and pulled away for the decisive victory.
Sophomore Lindsay Bowen (Dansville, Mich.) led all scorers with 25 points, while sophomore Liz Shimek (Empire, Mich.) added a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Junior Kelli Roehrig (Papillion, Neb.) had 12 points and six boards for MSU, while freshman Victoria Lucas-Perry (Flint, Mich.) added 10 points - all in the first half - six rebounds and four assists.
Michigan State controlled the glass, owning a whopping 49-25 edge on the boards, and forced 23 turnovers, including four steals by Shimek. The Spartans shot 43.1 percent from the field (28-of-65), including nine-of-18 from three-point range, while holding Zala Volan to 35.2 percent shooting (19-of-54).
"I thought we got better as a team today, and that is the most important thing," said MSU head coach Joanne P. McCallie. "It was a great experience to get a big lead and see what that felt like, then to get challenged and respond well to the challenge."
MSU dominated from the outset, scoring the game's first 11 points while holding Zala Volan scoreless until a pair of free throws at the 14:40 mark of the first half. Zala Volan was within seven points at 23-16, before MSU ran off 14 straight points to open a commanding 37-16 lead. Bowen scored the last eight points during the run, including a pair of three-point baskets. The lead grew to 25 when Bowen sank another trey with just 18 seconds left in the half to make it 49-24, before a three-pointer just before the buzzer cut the lead to 49-27 at intermission.
After the big offensive first half, points were harder to come by in the second period for MSU, as the Spartans scored just three points during the first four-and-a-half minutes, and just nine points over the first 10:55 of the half as Zala Volan cut the lead to 58-51.
A putback by redshirt freshman Patrice McKinney (Lansing, Mich.) and another three-point bomb by Bowen pushed the lead back to 12 points at 63-51. After a Zala Volan triple, MSU ran off 13 straight points and scored 20 of the game's last 21 points to pull away for the big victory. A Roehrig basket started the stretch, then a steal and basket by junior Kristin Haynie (Mason) gave MSU breathing room. A three-pointer by Haynie made the lead 70-54 and the rout was on.
Michigan State, which had 19 offensive rebounds, had a 15-0 advantage in second-chance points, and the Spartans scored 21 points off turnovers. Six of the eight Spartans who played had five or more rebounds, and Haynie had a team-high six assists.
"I thought we played strong and hard and we responded well when they made their run," said McCallie. "We have a lot to work on to get better, but it was good to have a good fight today and to see our team get better."
Michigan State will play its final exhibition tune-up when the Spartans host Premier Sports International Friday at 7 p.m. in the Breslin Center. The regular season opens 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.
