Women's Basketball To Battle Kent State Saturday
12/5/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 5, 2003
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No. 24 MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS (4-1)vs. KENT STATE GOLDEN FLASHES (2-1)When Saturday, Dec. 6, 2003, 2 p.m. ESTSite Kent, Ohio (Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center)Radio The Fan 730 AMTV TV2 (Kent State campus and Portage County only)Coaches MSU: Joanne P. McCallie (Northwestern, 1987) Overall: 217-117 (12th season); MSU: 50-44 (Fourth season) Kent State: Bob Lindsay (Massachusetts, 1976) Overall: 270-143 (15th season); KSU: 270-143 (15th season)Opening Tip
Michigan State looks to bounce back from its first loss of the season when the Spartans visit Kent State on Saturday. MSU raced to a 4-0 start this season, but slipped Tuesday at Oklahoma State in the Spartans' first road contest of the season. Likewise, Kent State is coming off its first loss of the year Wednesday at Wisconsin-Green Bay after a pair of home victories.
On The Rebound
Michigan State has typically performed well after a loss, as the Spartans posted an 8-3 record last season after a defeat. At one point last season, MSU won seven consecutive games after a loss, including three wins over nationally-ranked teams. Last year's 85-72 victory over Kent State was one of the seven straight wins after suffering a defeat.
Scoring In Bunches
This year's Michigan State team has the ability to be one of the highest scoring teams in Spartan history. Even after being held to just 60 points in MSU's last game, the Spartans are averaging 76.6 points per game, and had scored at least 74 points in each of their first four games. The MSU record for scoring average in a season is 76.8 points per game.
In each of head coach Joanne P. McCallie's years at MSU, her teams have improved offensively. In her first season, her team averaged 59.3 points per game in 2000-01, before averaging 64.5 points in 2001-02 and increasing the average again to 68.7 points last season.
Scouting The Golden Flashes
Kent State returns five letterwinners but just one starter from last year's team which finished 16-13 overall and 10-6 in the Mid-American Conference East Division for a second-place showing. The Golden Flashes opened with wins over Rice (61-55) and Rhode Island (69-64) before falling at UW-Green Bay (77-54). Despite having just one returning starter, Kent State was the preseason pick to win the East Division of the MAC.
The return of redshirt junior Andrea Csaszar, a 6-6 center, is one of the reasons for the lofty expectations. Csaszar missed last season due to injury, but is back this year and averaging 15.7 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks. Sophomore forward Lindsay Shearer, who started in Csaszar's place last season, has added 14.3 points and 8.7 rebounds, while sophomore guard Malika Willoughby, in her first year after transferring from Wisconsin-Milwaukee, is averaging 11.0 points and 5.7 assists.
While Shearer (.591) and Csaszar (.581) have shot well inside, Kent State has had its struggles from the outside, as the other eight players who have attempted at least one field goal combine to shoot 30.6 percent with no one over 38.5 percent. From three-point range, Kent State is shooting 28.6 percent. Turnovers have also been a problem, as the Flashes turn it over 21.3 times per game, although they also force 18 miscues per game.
Last Year's Meeting: Michigan State 85, Kent State 72
With a record crowd of 12,058 in attendance, the Michigan State women's basketball team (3-3) roared to an 85-72 victory over Kent State (1-4) 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.
Series Records
Last year's meeting was just the third between Michigan State and Kent State, and MSU holds a 2-1 edge. Prior to last season, both previous games were played in 1981. MSU earned an 83-49 victory in East Lansing Feb. 28, before Kent State earned revenge with a 74-69 home win Dec. 19.
Last Game: MSU Stumbles At Oklahoma State, 62-60
Michigan State started slow, came on strong, then couldn't make the plays it needed to down the stretch while falling at Oklahoma State, 62-60, Tuesday night for MSU's first loss of the year.
Michigan State, playing its first road game of the season, fell into a 15-point first-half deficit, then slowly worked its way back, taking a trio of leads late in the second half. But after the Cowgirls took a two-point lead at the free throw line in the closing seconds, Liz Shimek missed a short jumper, got her own rebound, then missed again at the buzzer.
Despite coming up short at the end, Shimek was MSU's top performer, scoring a season-best 17 points and adding eight rebounds and a pair of blocks. Lindsay Bowen was the only other Spartan to score in double figures, collecting 14 points.
In the first half, MSU scored the game's first basket, but from there things quickly went downhill. Missed defensive assignments allowed Oklahoma State easy baskets and open jumpers, and the Cowgirls took advantage, racing to a 29-14 lead after three straight three-pointers by Nikki Stone, who finished with 18 points.
The Spartans clawed their way back within five after a jumper by Patrice McKinney capped a 12-2 run that made it 31-26. But MSU could get no closer, and the lead was eight at the half, 39-31, in favor of Oklahoma State.
The Spartans were uncharacteristically sloppy in the opening period, committing 10 turnovers while forcing only four, and the Spartans' lack of aggressiveness offensively resulted in no free throw attempts for MSU during the opening period.
Two quick MSU baskets to start the second half cut the margin to 39-35, but the Cowgirls quickly pushed the lead back to 10. A basket by OSU's Trisha Skibbe, who finished with a game-high 20 points, gave the Cowgirls a 49-39 lead with 12:16 left, before MSU's defense clamped down.
The Spartans held Oklahoma State to just three points over the next eight-and-a-half minutes, while MSU finally started getting to the free throw line and converting off OSU turnovers. A pair of free throws by Bowen with 4:51 left tied the score at 52, and a jumper by Kristin Haynie gave the Spartans a 54-52 lead moments later. Rene Haynes added a pair of free throws with 3:59 left completing a 17-3 run and giving MSU a 56-52 lead.
Oklahoma State answered back, scoring twice to knot the score at 56, before a Shimek bucket put the Spartans back on top, 58-56, with 2:44 left. The Spartans had two chances to extend the lead, but misfired both times, and Stone hit another trey for OSU with 1:03 remaining, giving the Cowgirls a 59-58 lead.
Shimek was fouled with 47 seconds left and converted both foul shots, putting MSU back on top, but Stone answered with two free throws of her own with 26 seconds remaining. Haynie's entry pass to Shimek was then intercepted and the Spartans were forced to foul Kenzie Cole, who split a pair of free throws with 18 seconds left, setting the stage for Shimek's last ditch effort which came up short.
MSU held a 35-30 rebounding edge thanks to Shimek's eight and seven from McKinney, but the Spartans were outshot (45.3 percent to 41.4) and forced just 12 turnovers while committing 13.
Rank You Very Much
For the first time in seven seasons, Michigan State has cracked a national Top 25 poll. The Spartans are in this week's Associated Press Top 25, checking in at No. 24. It is the first time that MSU has earned a national ranking since the final poll of the 1996-97 season when MSU was ranked No. 21 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll and No. 24 in the AP poll. The Spartans just being ranked in the coaches poll, coming in at No. 26.
Balance The Key
Much of MSU's early season success can be attributed to the Spartans' balance. Five players average double-figure points and nine players are averaging at least 10 minutes per game. Opponents can't focus on one or two MSU players, as four different players have led the team in scoring in the first five games, and six players have had at least one game with double-digit points. Also, through five games, five different players have held or shared the team lead in steals, four players in rebounding and blocks and three players in assists.
Boarding School
Despite often playing with a three-guard lineup that includes no one over 6-1, MSU is off to another strong start on the boards. The Spartans have outrebounded each of their first five opponents, and have a +9.6 average rebounding margin. MSU outrebounded Notre Dame, 40-20, and did not allow an offensive rebound in the first half. Last year, MSU ranked 11th nationally with an average rebounding margin of +7.7. MSU is doing it with balance, as four players average between 6.6 and 4.4 rebounds per game, including three averaging 5.4 or more.
Tis Better To Give AND To Taketh Away
MSU's quick start has been fueled by unselfish play, aggressive defense, and an ability to take care of the ball. The Spartans have 79 assists in five games while committing only 65 turnovers. Conversely, Spartan opponents have just 61 assists while turning the ball over 88 times.
Shooting The Lights Out
Michigan State has been hot from the field this season, shooting 48.3 percent from the field in its first five games, including a season-high 58.2 percent against Temple. Surprisingly, it's not a post players that is shooting the highest percentage, but sophomore shooting guard Lindsay Bowen. Despite taking the vast majority of her shots from outside the paint, Bowen has canned 24 of her 44 field goal attempts (54.5 percent), including 11-of-23 from three-point range (.478).
Turning up the Defense
As always, Michigan State was one of the Big Ten's top defensive teams last season. The Spartans ranked second in the league in scoring defense, allowing just 60.7 points per game. MSU was also third in field goal percentage defense (.402).
This season, the numbers have gotten even better, as MSU is allowing just 59.0 points per game and opponents are shooting just .415 from the field. With more healthy bodies available and with increased athleticism, the Spartans are turning up the pressure on defense. More full-court pressure and trapping from the Spartans has resulted in 55 steals and 33 fast-break points.
Rest for the Weary
Last season, injuries took their toll on MSU's depth, and as a result, four MSU players averaged 32.8 minutes per game or more. This year, with 10 players available for each of the first five games, every player is averaging less than 32.8 minutes per game. Nine players are averaging at least 10 minutes per game for MSU, and only two (Lindsay Bowen - 32.6; Liz Shimek - 31.4) average over 30 minutes.
Beating The Best
Michigan State's victory over No. 17/20 Notre Dame Nov. 26 was fourth-year head coach Joanne P. McCallie's seventh victory over a nationally-ranked squad since taking over at MSU. Last year, MSU had a 3-4 record in games against ranked opponents, with victories over No. 7/6 Purdue (67-62), No. 10/10 Minnesota (74-71) and No. 22/24 Ohio State (65-64). The Spartans also had three wins against ranked teams in 2001-02. The most victories MSU has ever had over ranked opponents in a season was five during the 1996-97 Big Ten Championship campaign.
Fantastic Facts
There were several noteworthy achievements during MSU's 92-63 victory over No. 17/20 Notre Dame, including:
* It was the second-largest margin of victory ever for MSU over a nationally-ranked team, trailing only an 82-52 victory over No. 7/7 Vanderbilt Jan. 15, 1997.
* The 92 points scored by MSU were the most by the Spartans since a 101-52 victory over Chicago State Nov. 26, 2000, and the third most points ever scored by MSU against a ranked team.
* The 92 points was the most given up by Notre Dame since a 96-75 loss to Connecticut in the 1999 Big East tournament.
* MSU handed Notre Dame its worst regular-season loss since a 105-70 setback to No. 1 Tennessee Jan. 7, 1994.
* Other than Tennessee, no team has beaten Notre Dame by 29 points since Purdue defeated the Irish by 33 (74-41) Dec. 4, 1992. In 17 tries, Connecticut has never beaten Notre Dame by as many as 29 points.
Threes Company
MSU showed that it has several players who can hit from downtown when five Spartans connected for at least one three-point basket in a 78-40 victory over Temple Nov. 23. Julie Pagel sank a pair of treys, while Lindsay Bowen, Rene Haynes, Patrice McKinney and Liz Shimek each had one. The last time MSU had five different players make at least one three-point basket was March 19, 2002, in a 79-61 win in the quarterfinals of the WNIT against Alabama.
Seven of MSU's ten available players have made at least one three-point basket this season.
In addition, MSU has made at least one three-point basket in 41 consecutive games as a team, thanks largely to sophomore Lindsay Bowen, who has made at least one triple in 31 consecutive games. Bowen was 0-1 from three-point range against Toledo last season in the third game of her collegiate career, which is the only time as a Spartan she failed to connect at least once from downtown.
Make More Than They Take
Free throws continue to be a key to MSU's success, as the Spartans have made more free throws (73) than their opponents have attempted (65). The story was much the same last year, as MSU made 390 free throws, while opponents shot just 362. The Spartans made their free throws at a .783 rate last season, which was fifth best in the nation, and are shooting .785 from the stripe so far this season.
What's Up With That?
Speaking of free throws, last year Lindsay Bowen started her college career by making her first 37 free throws before a miss. This season, she missed her very first attempt. Bowen has actually already missed twice this season (13-of-15), after only missing three free throws her entire freshman season (63-of-66).
Overtime Troubles
Liz Shimek nearly sent MSU's game at Oklahoma State into overtime, narrowly missing two field goals just before the buzzer that would have tied the game. Perhaps its just as well that Shimek missed, as MSU has not fared well in extra periods. MSU has lost its last nine consecutive games that have gone into overtime, including three double overtime games. The Spartans have not won in overtime since an 80-78 victory at Texas Nov. 29, 1997. However, the Spartans have not played an overtime game since a 2002 Big Ten Tournament double overtime loss to Ohio State, meaning that only four of the 11 players on the current roster (Julie Pagel, Candice Jackson, Kristin Haynie and Kelli Roehrig) have taken part in an overtime game at MSU.
Tournament Tidbits
Senior Julie Pagel was named MVP of the Dean Trailways of Michigan Spartan Classic after averaging 11.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and shooting .571 in two games, while freshman Rene Haynes and sophomore Liz Shimek were also named to the All-Tournament team. Haynes averaged a team-best 15.0 points, while Shimek added 12.0 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game. MSU is now 25-7 all-time in the Spartan Classic and has won nine of the 16 tournament titles. The Spartans are 15-1 in first round games and 9-6 when playing in the championship contest.
Opening Act
By defeating Davidson 74-68 in the season opener, MSU improved to 20-12 all-time in season openers, including a 12-2 record when the opener is at home. The Spartans have now won five straight season-opening games.
Fresh Faces
For the second consecutive year, a freshman led MSU in scoring in its season opener. Rene Haynes poured in 19 points to lead MSU to a 74-68 victory over Davidson last Saturday, sinking seven-of-12 shots. Last season, Lindsay Bowen scored 26 points in her debut vs. Fresno State. Bowen went on to earn Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors.
MSU's five freshman combined to average 27.5 points and 13.0 rebounds in MSU's two victories in the Spartan Classic.
Useless Stat of the Game
Tuesday's game at Oklahoma State will be MSU's first game in the month of December. The Spartans are 18-9 all-time in their first game during the month of December, and have won their last two.
Our New Favorite Magazine
Michigan State is ranked No. 16 in the nation according to the Athlon Sports college basketball preseason magazine. The Spartans are the third-highest ranked Big Ten team of the five conference schools to make the list, joining No. 6 Penn State, No. 11 Purdue, No. 17 Ohio State and No. 21 Minnesota.
Playing The Best
Michigan State will likely play at least eight games against five teams that have earned Top 25 rankings. The Spartans play Penn State, Purdue and Ohio State twice each, and Minnesota once, and have already played No. 17/20 Notre Dame.
In addition, MSU opponents Cincinnati and Kent State are receiving votes for the Top 25 currently, and Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Pepperdine, Toledo and UCLA have also been listed among the "Others Receiving Votes".
Spartan Outlook
Michigan State expects its 32nd season of varsity competition to be one of its best ever. A young Spartan squad advanced to the NCAA Tournament last year for the first time since 1997 with a core of just six players. Five of those players return, and with added depth this season, MSU appears to be fully loaded.
Last year was a breakthrough year for the Spartans, who finished 17-12 overall and tied for fourth in the Big Ten with a 10-6 record. Expectations for this season are even higher, although MSU will still field a young team. Only one senior letterwinner, Julie Pagel, is on the roster, while seven of the 11 players on the roster are underclassmen.
However, players responsible for roughly three-fourth of the points, rebounds, assists and steals from last year are back, lending optimism that last year's NCAA Tournament appearance was a prelude to even better things this season.
Gimme Five
Michigan State has five players on its roster who have earned All-Big Ten honors during their careers. Junior Kristin Haynie and Kelli Roehrig and sophomores Lindsay Bowen and Liz Shimek all earned honorable mention all-conference honors last season, while senior Julie Pagel was honorable mention All-Big Ten after her freshman year.
Depth At Guard
Junior point guard Kristin Haynie and sophomore guard Lindsay Bowen will likely have to get used to something different this season - sitting on the bench from time to time. Injuries depleted MSU's backcourt last year and as a result, Bowen averaged a team-high 37.4 minutes, while Haynie played 34.4 minutes per night. In Big Ten games, those numbers increased to 38.6 and 37.2 minutes, respectively. This season, redshirt junior Candice Jackson and redshirt freshman Patrice McKinney return from ACL injuries, and a pair of newcomers will push for playing time, giving the Spartans much more depth.
Haynie excelled at the point last season, averaging 10.1 points and 5.0 assists to earn honorable mention All-Big Ten honors. Her 144 assists were the fourth most ever in a single-season by an MSU player.
Bowen was named co-Big Ten Freshman of the Year with teammate Liz Shimek after averaging 13.3 points and shooting the lights out. Bowen ranked fourth nationally making 46.4 percent of her three-point shots, and she led the Big Ten by making 63-of-66 (95.5 percent) from the free throw line.
Jackson was a starter before an injury in last season's second game knocked her out for the year. She also started the final 13 games of the 2001-02 season and provides leadership on the court, although she will miss the start of the season due to another injury.
McKinney was an all-state pick as a senior in high school and displayed tremendous athleticism before being injured in the preseason. Her quickness should provide immediate dividends this winter.
The newcomers include Rene Haynes and Victoria Lucas-Perry. Lucas-Perry, from Flint, Mich., was runner-up for Michigan Ms. Basketball last year and led Powers Catholic High School to two state championships. Haynes, a native of Columbus, Ohio, is a two-time first-team all-state pick who has twice been named her district's player of the year.
The Front Court
The Spartans may not have as much depth in the front court as the back court, but there is no lack of quality. Senior forward Julie Pagel, junior center Kelli Roehrig and sophomore forward Liz Shimek are a talented trio that should excel this year.
Pagel battled through nagging injuries to average 5.4 points and 4.7 rebounds, and unofficially led the team in knockdowns while setting screens. Her toughness on and off the court is invaluable and as the team's only scholarship senior, she will once again need to be a leader.
Roehrig averaged 11.8 points and 5.2 rebounds while ranking third in the Big Ten with a .582 field goal percentage last season. If she can continue to avoid foul trouble (she fouled out of only one game last year), she could post more dominating performances like her three outings with 25 or more points last year (27 vs. Minnesota, 25 vs. Ohio State and at Providence).
Shimek shared co-Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors with Lindsay Bowen last year after averaging 10.4 points and ranking second in the Big Ten by pulling down 9.1 rebounds per game. Although she is a tough, physical low-post player, Shimek has improved her outside game and may see time in the back court this year.
Added to the mix are freshmen Myisha Bannister and Katrina Grantham. Grantham, from Saginaw, Mich., was an all-state pick who led Heritage High School to the state title and finished fourth in the Ms. Basketball voting. Bannister, a Cleveland native, averaged 12.2 points, 8.2 rebounds 3.2 blocks and 2.3 steals as a senior and scored over 1,000 points in her career.
Shooting Stars
Michigan State was one of the nation's top shooting teams last season, and there's no reason to believe the trend won't continue this year. Last year MSU ranked third nationally in three-point field goal percentage (.397), fifth in free throw percentage (.783) and 30th in field goal percentage (.448). The returning players could improve those numbers, as they combined to shoot 42.6 percent from three-point range, 81.6 percent from the charity stripe and 46.8 percent from the field - all numbers that are significantly better than last year's figures.
Youth Is Served
Although MSU has a much more experienced squad this season, it is still a young team consisting largely of freshmen and sophomores. In fact, research completed by Sara Day of Loyola College indicated that at the time of the survey in September, Michigan State had tied for the eighth youngest team in the country with an average age of 19.2 years.
Jackson Sidelined....Again
Redshirt junior Candice Jackson's streak of bad luck continues this year, as she has suffered her third knee injury in four seasons. Jackson suffered a partial tear in her right knee ligament just prior to the start of practice, and is expected to be out through part of December. Jackson missed the final 15 games of her freshman season (2000-01) after tearing her left ACL, and redshirted last year after tearing the ACL again during the second game of the season.
Spartans Sign Four
Michigan State women's basketball coach Joanne P. McCallie has announced that four players have signed national letters of intent to join the Spartan women's basketball program in 2004-05.
The signees include Courtney Davidson (PG, 5-5, Youngstown, Ohio/Ursuline High School), Maggie Dwyer (G, 6-0, Grand Haven, Mich./Grand Haven High School), Laura Hall (C, 6-4, Temperance, Mich./Bedford High School) and Melanie Small (F, 5-10, Copley, Ohio/Copley High School).
Davidson was a Street & Smith honorable mention All-American in 2003, and is ranked as the No. 33 player in the nation by National Roundball Journal and the No. 43 player by All-Star Girls Report. As a junior in 2002-03, she averaged 19 points per game, was named first-team Division III All-State and the Northeast Ohio Player of the Year and was an all-conference selection. This past summer, she was named an adidas Top Ten Camp Upperclass All-Star, and was an AAU 16-Under All-American.
Davidson is already Ursuline's all-time leading scorer with 1,512 career points entering her senior season. She has averaged 19.7 points per game during her career, along with 8.7 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 3.5 steals. She is a career 41 percent three-point field goal shooter, and has sunk 82 percent of her free throws.
Dwyer has started all 84 games during her four-year high school career as of Nov. 10, and went over the 1,000 career point mark earlier this year. She was averaging 15.4 points, 12.2 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 3.8 steals per game as of Nov. 10. Dwyer, who moved to point guard this year after spending three seasons playing on the wing, led Grand Haven to a 19-3 record last season and the O-K Red Conference title.
Dwyer, ranked No. 161 nationally by All-Star Girls Report, was MVP of the all-state camp in Midland this summer, was an all-state special mention selection and a Detroit Free Press second-team all-state pick in 2002 and has been first-team all-conference every year of high school. She was a first-team all-area pick by the Grand Rapids Press last season, and has been named to the Muskegon Chronicle's all-area first-team every season. The Detroit News and Detroit Free Press both ranked her as the state's fifth-best player prior to her senior season.
Hall led Bedford to an 18-0 record and a No. 4 Class A ranking as of Nov. 10 by averaging 13.9 points and 7.0 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game while shooting 53 percent from the field despite double- and triple-team defenses. On Nov. 6, she became the first player in school history to surpass the 1,000 career point mark. Hall was named a Street & Smith's honorable mention All-American last season and is picked as the nation's 138th-ranked player by All-Star Girls Report. She was selected as the state's sixth-best player prior to her senior season by the Detroit Free Press, and the No. 9 player by The Detroit News.
Hall, a team captain, was named the Monroe Evening News Player of the Year as a junior after averaging 13.0 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game, while leading the Mules to a school-best 21-5 record, their first regional championship and first district title since 1983. She was named first-team all-conference as a junior and as a sophomore, when she averaged 11.1 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.4 blocks.
Small averaged 17.5 points and 8.5 rebounds while being named All-Northeast Ohio Inland District and special mention All-Ohio her junior season to help Copley earn a share of the Suburban League title. The Indians reached the district championship before ending their season with a 21-3 record. As a sophomore, she averaged 15.0 points and led Copley to a 19-4 record while being named to the Ohio Girls Basketball Magazine All-Sophomore team.
Small, who has been a starter since her freshman year, was one of 12 players named to the All-Sun team by Sun Newspapers as both a sophomore and a junior, and was a first team All-Suburban League selection as a freshman, sophomore and junior. All-Star Girls Report ranks Small as the No. 130 player in the nation.
On Deck
Michigan State continues its five-game road swing when the Spartans visit Toledo Saturday, Dec. 13, at 2 p.m. MSU will be looking to avenge last year's 58-55 Toledo victory in the Breslin Center. Toledo is 2-2 with games still to play against Youngstown State and Hampton before next Saturday's showdown.
