Michigan State University
Australian Sports Institution (Exhib.)
Women's Basketball Rolls In Exhibition Finale, 85-56
11/12/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 12, 2004
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The No. 15/16 Michigan State women's basketball team wrapped up the exhibition season Friday night in impressive fashion, roaring past Australian Institute of Sport, 85-56. Senior Kelli Roehrig (Papillion, Neb.) and junior Lindsay Bowen (Dansville) scored 21 points each to lead MSU.
AIS finished its eight-game tour with a 1-7 record, with six of the losses coming against Big Ten programs. However, MSU handed AIS its worst loss on its trip, surpassing a 23-point victory by No. 10/9 Ohio State, while three Big Ten teams earned wins by single-digit margins.
Roehrig hit 8-of-10 shots from the field and 5-of-6 from the charity stripe while grabbing 12 rebounds in only 23 minutes of play. Bowen scored 12 of her 21 from outside the 3-point arc, connecting on 4-of-7 behind the stripe, while adding three assists. The Spartans also had solid performances from a pair of sophomore guards, as Rene Haynes (Columbus, Ohio) collected 16 points, five rebounds and four steals, while Victoria Lucas-Perry (Flint) had 15 points and five boards. Freshman forward Maggie Dwyer (Grand Haven) chipped in 10 points and five rebounds for MSU, while senior guard Kristin Haynie (Mason) had six assists and six rebounds.
A pair of 3-pointers by Jenna O'Hea gave AIS an early 11-8 lead, but Roehrig scored seven points during a 9-0 run that put MSU on top 17-11. With MSU on top 23-19 later in the first half, Dwyer and Haynes both converted three-point plays during an 11-0 spurt that gave MSU a 34-19 edge. The Spartans took a 41-26 lead into the lockerroom at halftime thanks to 13 points from Bowen and nine each from Roehrig and Lucas-Perry.
Roehrig scored six points and Dwyer hit a trey during a 14-3 run early in the second half that gave the Spartans a commanding 57-31 lead. A Bowen triple started an 18-8 run later in the half that pushed the lead to 81-48. The lead grew as high as 34 at 83-49 on a Dwyer putback before MSU settled for the 29-point margin of victory.
Michigan State owned a 44-33 edge on the boards, including 18 off the offensive glass. The Spartans forced 25 turnovers while committing just 15, and collected 18 steals. MSU shot 46.7 percent from the field (35-of-75), including 42.9 percent from 3-point range (6-of-14), and sank 9-of-11 free throws (81.8 percent). AIS hit just 39.2 percent of its shots (20-of-51).
MSU dominated inside, owning a 40-20 edge in points in the paint, and had a whopping 21-6 edge in second-chance points. MSU also had a 12-0 advantage in fast-break points and a 24-14 lead in points off turnovers.
The Spartans will get the regular season underway next Saturday and Sunday (Nov. 20-21) when the Spartans host the Dean Trailways of Michigan Spartan Classic. MSU battles Central Connecticut State in the opener Saturday at 1 p.m., followed by No. 18/18 Boston College vs. Western Michigan at 3:30 p.m. The consolation game will be played Sunday at 1 p.m., with the championship game to follow at 3:30 p.m.
