Defense Carries Spartans Past Wisconsin, 58-43

Feb. 6, 2003

MADISON, Wis. - The Michigan State women's basketball team continued its strong defensive play, and as a result earned its fourth-straight win with a 58-43 victory at Wisconsin Thursday night. The Spartans, who were allowing just 58 points per game over their last six contests, held Wisconsin to 18 second-half points to pull away from a 29-25 halftime lead while improving to 13-7 overall and 6-3 in the Big Ten.

Freshman Lindsay Bowen (Dansville) scored 15 points to pace the MSU offense, while sophomore Kristin Haynie (Mason) chipped in with 13 and sophomore Kelli Roehrig (Papillion, Neb.) added 10. Freshman Liz Shimek (Empire) contributed nine points and a game-high 11 rebounds, while senior Syreeta Bromfield (Kingston, Jamaica) totaled seven points, nine rebounds and a career-high seven assists. Junior Julie Pagel (Utica) also had a career-high in assists, dishing out six with no turnovers.

It was MSU's defense which stole the show, holding Wisconsin (6-15, 4-6) to 34 percent shooting (16-of-47), including 28 percent in the second half, and forcing 20 turnovers while allowing the fewest points in a Big Ten game for the Spartans this season. Wisconsin sank just four-of-16 three-point baskets and made only seven free throws.

"It was a well-fought game, a very physical defensive battle," said MSU head coach Joanne P. McCallie. "I'm proud of our team defense, particularly against Wisconsin's inside players, and our rebounding."

MSU jumped to a quick 8-2 lead after a Roehrig bucket less than five minutes into the game. Wisconsin kept things close in the first half, taking its first lead at 23-22 with 4:41 left in the half. The Badgers held one more lead, at 25-24, before MSU ended the first half with a three-point bomb by Bowen and a layup by senior Jennifer Callier (Indianapolis, Ind.) with 11 seconds left to earn a 29-25 lead at intermission.

The Spartans came out with more fire in the second half, building a 39-31 lead after a Haynie trey. A three-point basket by Wisconsin's Stephanie Rich, who led the Badgers with 16 points, cut the lead to 39-34. But Wisconsin's Lello Gebisa committed her third foul, then was called for a technical foul, with 13:08 left, leading to the decisive spurt. MSU hit three-of-four free throws after the fouls, then added a Bromfield bucket, a Bowen three-pointer and a Shimek basket to open a 49-34 lead with 8:30 remaining. Wisconsin never got closer than 13 the rest of the way.

MSU finished the game shooting just 39.3 percent (22-of-56), but held a 36-33 rebounding edge and committed just 14 turnovers while dishing out 17 assists. MSU shot 35.3 percent from three-point range (6-of-17), getting three three-pointers each from Haynie and Bowen. Bowen's three three-pointers giver her 54 for the season, which ranks as the third best single-season total in MSU history.

The Spartan defense also held Emily Ashbaugh, Wisconsin's second leading scorer, scoreless for the first time this season.

"We made a couple of adjustments at halftime, but the players made the biggest adjustment," added McCallie. "The turned up the intensity in the second half. I'm proud of how our players played, how aggressive we were and how we responded tonight."

Michigan State, which took over sole possession of fourth place in the Big Ten, hosts league-leading Penn State Sunday at 2 p.m.

Spartan Notebook:

* Michigan State won for the first time this season when shooting less than 40 percent and when scoring fewer than 60 points.

* Syreeta Bromfield surpassed the 800-career point mark, and now has 805 for her career.

* Wisconsin's 43 points were the second fewest allowed by MSU this season (39 - Oklahoma State), and the second fewest scored by Wisconsin this year (42 - Ohio State).

* Liz Shimek's nine points and 11 rebounds marked the eighth time this season she has missed a double-double by one point or one rebound.