Women's Basketball Entertains Vermont Tuesday
12/20/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 20, 2004
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No. 11/11 Michigan State Spartans (9-1)vs. Vermont Catamounts (3-3)When Tues., Dec. 21, 2004 • 6:30 p.m.Site East Lansing, Mich. (Breslin Center: 14,759)Radio WVFN - 730 AM (Michael Sinnott -- play-by-play)TV NoneCoaches MSU: Joanne P. McCallie (Northwestern, 1987) MSU: 77-53 (Fifth season); Overall: 244-126 (13th season) Vermont: Sharon Dawley (St. Anselm, 1983) Vermont: 17-16 (Second season); Overall: 154-79 (10th season)
Opening Tip
Michigan State plays its last game before taking a break for Christmas when the Spartans host Vermont Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. MSU is 4-0 at home this season, while Vermont owns a 1-1 road record. The game is part of a doubleheader, with an MSU's men's game vs. UCLA to follow at 9:00 p.m.
Streaky And Freaky
This is the second straight year and third time in the last four years that MSU's season has started in an eerily similar way. This season, last season and in 2001-02, MSU started with a 4-0 record, lost a game away from home, then won five straight contests. During the 2001-02 season, MSU took its 9-1 record into the Big Ten opener at home against Indiana, but lost. Last year, MSU was again 9-1 entering the Big Ten opener, but won at home against the Hoosiers.
Threemendous Feat Snapped
Michigan State 0-for-7 from 3-point range Sunday vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, snapping a string of 76 consecutive games as a team that MSU had sank at least one trey. The last time MSU failed to sink at least one 3-pointer was a 62-59 overtime loss at Penn State Feb. 24, 2002. The streak was intact thanks largely to junior Lindsay Bowen, who did not sink a 3-pointer for just the fifth time in 70 career games and first time this season. In fact, Bowen, who was playing despite an injury to her right quad suffered earlier in the week in practice, did not make a single 2-point or 3-point field goal Sunday for the first time in her career. She scored six points, all from the free throw line.
Scouting The Catamounts
Vermont is off to a 3-3 start this season and returns three starters from last year's team that finished 14-13 overall and 8-10 in the America East Conference. Vermont is 1-1 on the road, winning at Colgate (80-63) but falling at Niagara (84-76).
Senior forward Lani Boardman leads the Catamounts with a 16.2 scoring average including a 26-point performance vs. Colgate, and adds 6.5 rebounds per game. Senior forward Katie McNamara adds 11.8 points and a team-best 7.5 rebounds per game, while junior guard Ashleigh Cuncic adds 9.7 points with a team-high 15 3-point baskets.
As a team, rebounding has been a strength as Vermont owns a +6.7 average rebounding margin. The Catamounts have struggled at times from the field, shooting 39.4 percent, but have used the free throw line to their advantage, sinking 86-of-114 (75.4 percent), while their opponents have made only 90 trips to the line, sinking 69.
Series Records
Michigan State won the only previous meeting between the two teams, earning a 71-58 victory Dec. 29, 1993 in the first round of the CMU/Comfort Inn Classic in Mt. Pleasant, Mich.
Last Game: Michigan State 62, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 56
Liz Shimek finished with a career-high 25 points and a season-high 15 rebounds as Michigan State escaped with a 62-56 victory over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Shimek and Kristin Haynie keyed a 12-3 run to end the game as MSU rallied from a 53-50 deficit in the final four minutes to improve to 9-1.
Down three, Shimek scored in the paint to cut the lead to one, before Haynie made a steal and layup with 2:08 left to give the Spartans the lead for good. Linsday Bowen sank four free throws to put MSU up five before a 3-point bomb by TAMU-CC's Lindsey Van Dorn, her fourth of the game, cut the lead to 58-56 with 42 seconds left. With the shot clock winding down, Haynie hit a jumper with 15 seconds left to give MSU a four-point cushion, then added two free throws with four seconds left for the final margin.
Shimek finished with nine of MSU's season-high 27 offensive rebounds, as the Spartans owned a 52-39 rebounding edge over the nation's No. 3-ranked rebounding team. Haynie collected 14 points, seven rebounds, six assists and five steals in her first game back in the lineup after missing two games with an injured left thumb. Kelli Roehrig chipped in 13 points and eight rebounds for MSU.
The Spartans did most of their damage inside, owning a 44-22 edge in points in the paint. In fact, only six MSU points were not scored in the paint or at the free throw line. The Islanders stayed close by sinking nine 3-point baskets while MSU was 0-for-7 from 3-point range.
On The Rebound
Michigan State is off to another great start in the rebounding department, having outrebounded nine of its first 10 opponents and holding a +10.5 average rebounding margin, which is second in the Big Ten and 10th nationally. Michigan State ranked second in the Big Ten last season in rebounding margin (+5.3) and led the league in 2002-03. Liz Shimek, who is on pace to become the first player in MSU history to grab 1,000 career rebounds, leads the team with a 9.4 average, while Kelli Roehrig, who has four double-doubles, averages 8.7 rebounds. The guards have also contributed, as Kristin Haynie averages 6.4 rebounds and Victoria Lucas-Perry adds 4.6 rebounds per game.
Threes Not Kind To Spartans
If MSU has shows a weakness so far this season, it could surprisingly be 3-point shooting, which had been a strength in recent seasons. MSU ranks 10th in the Big Ten this year, sinking just 25.8 percent of its 3-point attempts (32-of-124). Last season, MSU ranked fourth in the league by shooting .350 from long range, which ranked 47th nationally, and just two seasons ago, MSU led the Big Ten and ranked third nationally with a 3-point percentage of .397. In addition, MSU is 10th in the Big Ten in 3-point field goal percentage defense, as opponents have sank 37.4 percent (67-of-179) of their 3-point opportunities.
Grace Under Pressure
Michigan State is a solid free-throw shooting team, hitting 74.5 percent of its shots which ranks fifth in the Big Ten. But in the clutch, the Spartans really shine, sinking 87.8 percent of their attempts in the final two minutes of overtime plus close games (margin in single digits). MSU's starting backcourt of Lindsay Bowen (18-19) and Kristin Haynie (9-10) take and make the most shots. See the chart at right for more detailed information.
Useless Stat of the Game
Michigan State's all-time record in its last game before Christmas is 20-8. MSU has won its last five games played just before the holiday, and 11 of the last 12. The Spartans are 10-3 when the last game is played at home, 8-4 when the last game is a road contest and 2-1 when the game is played at a neutral site.
Going Out With A Bang
Kelli Roehrig is looking to make her senior season a memorable, as she has shown dramatic increases in points and rebounds this year. Roehrig averaged 9.1 points and 4.4 rebounds last season, had three double-doubles and scored a season-best 19 points vs. Wisconsin. This season, she already has four double-doubles, is averaging 15.8 points and 8.7 rebounds and has twice surpassed the 20-point mark. Roehrig has climbed to 11th on MSU's career scoring chart with 1,034 points and is third in MSU history with 96 career blocks.
Ms. Versatility
Senior guard Kristin Haynie is the only player in the Big Ten who is listed among the league leaders in scoring (22nd - 11.6), rebounding (13th - 6.4), assists (tied for third - 462), steals (first - 4.12), field goal percentage (15th - .500) and free throw percentage (sixth - .900).
Rank You Very Much
Michigan State is currently ranked 11th in both national polls, which is the highest ranking in Spartan history and the highest ever for any Michigan Division I school. Prior to this season, the highest MSU had ever climbed in the rankings was when the Spartans were No. 15 in the coaches poll Feb. 9, 2004.
Having A Grand Time
Kelli Roehrig became the 13th player in MSU history and the first since the 2000-01 season to reach the 1,000 career point mark during a Dec. 9 game vs. Eastern Illinois. At least two other Spartans and possibly three could reach the mark this season. Lindsay Bowen (956) and Kristin Haynie (914) are not far from the milestone. Liz Shimek is next with 794 points, and if she maintains her current scoring average will reach the century mark near the end of this season.
Defense On Display
Despite holding two teams below 50 points this year, the Spartans have surrendered more points thus far this season than last, allowing 61.2 points per game. Last season, MSU ranked first in the Big Ten and 14th nationally allowing just 56.1 points per game. The Spartans, who also led the league in field-goal percentage defense (37.9), held 10 teams below 50 points in a game last season, including limiting Michigan to a Breslin Center record low 33 points.
Point Production
Michigan State has scored 73 or more points in eight of its 10 games this season, with the only exceptions being a 56-54 victory over Utah Nov. 26 in Hawaii and a 62-56 win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Dec. 19. The consistent point production is a welcome addition to this year's team, as last season, MSU only scored 73 or more points five times all season. In fact, during head coach Joanne P. McCallie's previous four seasons, the most 73-point games MSU has had in a season was 11 during the 2002-03 season. This year's total of eight is already the second best total since McCallie's arrival.
Haynie Misses First Games
Kristin Haynie missed MSU's games Dec. 9 vs. Eastern Illinois and Dec. 11 at Detroit after injuring her left (non-shooting) thumb during practice Dec. 8. They were the first games that Haynie missed during her MSU career after playing in 99 consecutive games, including 95 starts.
Haynes Steps Up
Rene Haynes filled Kristin Haynie's spot in the starting lineup during the two games Haynie missed with an injury, and responded in a big way. Haynes had 18 points, eight rebounds and four steals in MSU's victory over Eastern Illinois, and followed that with 16 points and four steals vs. Detroit. Haynes had been averaging 6.6 points per game prior to the two-game explosion.
Road Rage
Michigan State's victory at Detroit gave the Spartans a perfect 3-0 record in road games this season. The last time MSU won its first three road games of the year was during the 1999-2000 season.
Stopping The Slump
Victoria Lucas-Perry came out of a mini-slump in a big way vs. Eastern Illinois Dec. 9, collecting 15 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. Lucas-Perry, who started the first five games this season, had struggled in her previous three games, totaling just three points, seven rebounds and one assist in games vs. TCU, Notre Dame and Cincinnati.
Bowen Named Big Ten Player of the Week
Lindsay Bowen was named Big Ten Player of the Week Dec. 6 following road victories at Notre Dame and Cincinnati. Bowen averaged 25.5 points in the two games, pouring in 23 points including a game-tying 3-point basket with 13.6 seconds left Dec. 2 at Notre Dame, and torching Cincinnati for 28 points including 18 during a second-half comeback Dec. 4. In her previous game Nov. 28 vs. TCU, Bowen scored a career-high 33 points with a career-best six 3-pointers, giving her an average of 28.0 points per game over the three-game stretch, which ironically was her career high prior to the TCU game.
Oh Shoot!
It's not often that you see three third- or fourth-year players set career highs in field goal attempts in the same game, but that's exactly what happened Dec. 4 at Cincinnati. Lindsay Bowen attempted a career-high 20 field goals, while Kelli Roehrig (19) and Liz Shimek (17) also both set career highs for field goal attempts. Those three players combined for 64 of MSU's 77 points in the game (Bowen - 28; Roehrig - 18; Shimek - 18). Just three games later, Shimek surpassed her career high with 19 field goal attempts vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
Road Warriors
For the second straight season, Michigan State played five consecutive games away from home, going 4-1 during the stretch from Nov. 26 to Dec. 4. Last year, MSU played five consecutive road games in December, falling at Oklahoma State before winning games at Kent State, at Toledo, at Pepperdine and at UCLA.
MSU set a school record last season by winning 10 road games, including six in the Big Ten. MSU had road winning streaks of five and four games, and snapped Ohio State's 24-game home winning streak and Minnesota's 19-game home winning streak.
Overtime Overdrive
Michigan State is 2-0 in overtime game this season and 4-0 over the past two seasons. MSU claimed an 82-78 victory over then-No. 18/17 Boston College Nov. 21, and an 82-73 win at then-No. 3/3 Notre Dame Dec. 2. MSU, which went 2-0 in overtime games last season with wins at Northwestern (67-57) and Indiana (60-51), had lost its last nine consecutive overtime games prior to the current four-game streak, including three double-overtime games. In its last four overtime periods, MSU has outscored its opponents 47-15 (12-3 vs. Notre Dame, 12-8 vs. Boston College, 14-4 vs. Northwestern and 9-0 vs. Indiana).
Beating The Best
Michigan State's victory over No. 3 Notre Dame Dec. 2 marked the highest-ranked team that MSU has ever beaten. Previously, the highest-ranked team the Spartans had beaten was No. 4/4 Penn State, 71-63, Jan. 23, 2000 in East Lansing. MSU improved to 2-0 this season against nationally-ranked teams, having previously defeated then-No. 18/17 Boston College Nov. 21 in the championship game of the Spartan Classic. MSU has won 11 games against nationally-ranked teams in the past four seasons, with five of the 11 wins coming on the road.
Homewreckers
If you've got a lengthy home-court winning streak, Michigan State is not the team you want to see coming to town. In the last two seasons MSU has snapped three long home-court winning streaks, including a Dec. 2 victory at Notre Dame that snapped the Irish's 25-game home winning streak. Last year, MSU snapped Ohio State's 24-game home winning streak and stopped Minnesota's 19-game home winning streak.
Dynamite Debut
Freshman Maggie Dwyer made her first career start Dec. 2 at Notre Dame, and although she played only 15 minutes, she answered the call with a career-high nine points. Dwyer is one of four players on the Spartan squad who averages at least 11 rebounds per 40 minutes played, joining Liz Shimek, Kelli Roehrig and Laura Hall.
Bowen Breaks 30 Barrier
Lindsay Bowen scored a career-high 33 points Nov. 28 vs. TCU, including 20 in the first half. Her 33 points were the sixth most in a single game in MSU history, and she became the first Spartan to score 30 or more points in a game since Syreeta Bromfield lit up Kent State for 30 points Dec. 3, 2002. Bowen's six 3-pointers were tied for fourth-best in a game in Spartan history, and the most since Bromfield hit six vs. Miami (Ohio), Nov. 23, 2002.
Milestone Maker
Kristin Haynie reached the 400 career assist mark Nov. 27 vs. Santa Clara, and currently has 422 assists. She is just the fourth Spartan to reach 400 career assists, and is now just 38 assists shy of the MSU career record held by Chris Powers. Haynie became MSU's career steals leader last season, and has 262 for her career. She is also just 86 points shy of reaching 1,000 career points and has 420 career rebounds.
Two Spartans Named To All-Tournament Team In Hawaii
Lindsay Bowen and Kelli Roehrig were both named to the All-Tournament team at the conclusion of the Rainbow Wahine Classic. Bowen scored 33 points in the championship game, sinking six 3-point baskets, and averaged 17.7 points during the three games. Roehrig had two double-doubles, totaling 23 points and 12 rebounds vs. Santa Clara and 22 points and 12 boards vs. TCU. She averaged 17 points and 11 rebounds for the tournament.
Three Spartans Named To Spartan Classic All-Tournament Team
Three members of the MSU team were named to the All-Tournament team following MSU's victory at the Spartan Classic. Kristin Haynie was named MVP after averaging 15.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 5.5 steals and 3.5 assists while shooting 58.9 percent from the field and sinking all eight free throws. Liz Shimek made the team by averaging 17.5 points and 9.5 rebounds while adding six blocks. Kelli Roehrig rounded out MSU's selections after averaging 14.5 points and 4.0 rebounds.
Ironwomen
Three Spartans logged 40 or more minutes Dec. 2 at Notre Dame, including a career-high 45 minutes by Lindsay Bowen. Liz Shimek equaled a career-high with 43 minutes played, while Kristin Haynie played 40 minutes.
Moving On Up
• Head Coach Joanne P. McCallie needs six more wins to reach 250 victories during her career, which is in its 13th season.
• Kelli Roehrig (1,034 points), Lindsay Bowen (956) and Kristin Haynie (914) have all cracked the top 25 on MSU's career scoring list, and Liz Shimek (794) should break into the top 25 later this season.
• Lindsay Bowen, who has averaged 71.5 three-point baskets during her first two seasons, needs just two more to take over second on MSU's career charts and 60 to equal Maxann Reese's record of 218.
• Liz Shimek currently ranks 13th in career rebounds at MSU with 609 in just over two seasons, and needs just 38 more to move into the top 10.
• Kristin Haynie, who ranks third currently with 422 career assists, needs 38 more to tie Chris Powers' MSU record of 460.
• Kelli Roehrig ranks third in Spartan history with 96 career blocks, and needs 11 more to move into second.
Spartans Garner National Respect
In the preseason Top 25s of various publications, MSU received a good deal of national respect. The Spartans were ranked No. 11 by Athlon Sports, No. 12 by Street & Smith's and No. 21 by Lindy's College Basketball Annual in their preseason publications. On ESPN.com's women's college basketball preview, both Nancy Lieberman and Charlie Creme picked the Spartans as the best team in the Big Ten. In addition, Liz Shimek was named a preseason honorable mention All-American by Street & Smith's.
Big Ten Coaches Pick MSU Second
The Big Ten coaches picked Michigan State to finish second in the Big Ten preseason poll, which was released Oct. 13. The Spartans were picked behind Ohio State and ahead of 2004 Final Four participant Minnesota in the coaches poll. The coaches also honored junior Lindsay Bowen, who was picked for their five-player preseason All-Big Ten team.
Gimme Five
Michigan State has five returning starters from last season who were also the five leading scorers on the team last year. Juniors Lindsay Bowen (13.5 points per game) and Liz Shimek (10.8) led the team, followed by seniors Kelli Roehrig (9.1) and Kristin Haynie (8.9) and sophomore Rene Haynes (8.2). MSU also returns its top three rebounders, its top four in steals and top two in assists.
Schedule Strength
Michigan State's 2004-05 regular season schedule includes 13 games during the regular season against teams that were in the 2004 NCAA Tournament. The Big Ten schedule includes two games each against tournament teams Minnesota, Ohio State and Iowa and one game each against Penn State and Purdue.
Three Big East teams that were in the NCAA Tournament highlight the nonconference slate, including a Dec. 29 trip to three-time NCAA champ Connecticut. MSU has already played then-No. 3/3 Notre Dame and then-No. 18/17 Boston College, and TCU was an opponent in Hawaii.
The Back Court
Michigan State has a deep, experienced and talented group of guards this season. Three-year starter Kristin Haynie returns to the back court, and is joined by two-year starter Lindsay Bowen.
Haynie, MSU's all-time steals leader who should also easily eclipse the career assists record this year, was an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection for a second straight year last season after averaging 8.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.7 steals. Her experience and leadership qualities will benefit the Spartans again this season.
Bowen, known for her three-point range and accuracy, has become a better all-around player and is more aggressive offensively. She led the squad with a 13.5 scoring average and added 2.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists while earning second-team All-Big Ten recognition last season. Her 66 three-point baskets last season give her two of the top three single-season totals in Spartan history.
Sophomore Rene Haynes looks to continue to shine on the wing, where her athleticism, defense and slashing ability helped her make the Big Ten All-Freshman team last season. Haynes averaged 8.2 points, 2.8 boards and 2.0 steals in her first season.
Sophomore Victoria Lucas-Perry was a key player off the bench last season and should continue to improve. Lucas-Perry averaged 4.0 points and 2.2 rebounds and scored nine or more points seven times.
Joining the returners are a trio of highly-touted freshmen. Courtney Davidson is a talented playmaker at the point who was a three-time first-team all-state pick at Ursuline (Ohio) High School and scored over 2,000 career points. Maggie Dwyer is an athletic and well-rounded wing player who was third in the Michigan Ms. Basketball voting and was the state discus champion for Grand Haven High School. Melanie Small adds strength and athleticism to the wing after earning all-state honors at Copley (Ohio) High School.
The Front Court
Michigan State has a much more experienced front court this season and will be expected to continue its physical style of play. The Spartans have finished first or second in the Big Ten in rebounding three straight seasons, thanks in part to players such as senior Kelli Roehrig and junior Liz Shimek.
Roehrig is back in the middle where her 6-4 frame poses an intimidating presence. After a slow start last season, she rebounded to average 9.1 points and 4.4 rebounds, including averages of 9.8 and 4.9 in Big Ten games. She shot 54.5 percent from the field and has a career percentage of over 56 percent.
Shimek was a third-team All-Big Ten pick after averaging 10.8 points and 8.1 rebounds last season. Although she is one of the Big Ten's strongest and best rebounders and has an array of post moves, she showed an ability to step out and hit the three last season, sinking 19 treys on 40.4 percent shooting.
Two sophomores earned valuable experience last season and will be keys off the bench. Katrina Grantham played in 29 games, averaging 1.1 points and 1.5 rebounds in 7.6 minutes, while Myisha Bannister could emerge this year after totalling 16 points and 25 boards over 20 games last season.
Six-foot four-inch freshman Laura Hall will provide insurance in the middle behind Roehrig and Grantham. Hall was a first-team all-state pick at Temperance (Mich.) Bedford High School.
Spartans Aim High In 2004-05
Two straight NCAA tournament appearances may be an achievement to be proud of, but for the Michigan State women's basketball team, it's just the beginning.
With five returning starters, a deep bench and promising newcomers, the Spartans look to take the next step after finishing 22-9 last season and advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Eighty percent or more of the scoring, rebounding and assists from last year's team returns, lending optimism that head coach Joanne P. McCallie can help MSU contend for a Big Ten championship this season and an extended NCAA Tournament run.
Welcome To The Family
Michigan State has added a pair of coaches with histories of success to its staff. MSU first added Al Brown, who has been to 12 NCAA Tournaments and five championship games during 27 years as a coach, and is the only person to have coached in a men's championship game (1969 with Purdue) and a women's championship game (1996-98, 2000 with Tennessee). The Spartans then added Semeka Randall, a two-time All-American and NCAA Champion at Tennessee who recently finished a four-year career in the WNBA.
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 2005-06.
The signees include Lauren Aitch (F, 6-2, Lansing, Mich./Waverly High School), Aisha Jefferson (F, 6-1, Dayton, Ohio/Chaminade-Julienne High School), Jenny Poff (G, 5-6, St. John's, Mich./St. John's High School) and Tiffanie Shives (G, 5-10, Lansing, Mich./Lansing Christian High School).
Aitch, the daughter of former MSU basketball player Matthew Aitch, was a Street & Smith's honorable mention All-American in 2003 and 2004. She finished fifth in the 2004 Michigan Miss Basketball voting and was named to the Detroit Free Press Dream Team. She averaged 14.4 points and 8.7 rebounds while leading Waverly to a 26-1 record and the Class A state championship.
Aitch, a four-year starter and three-time team captain, was named to the Associated Press Class A All-State team and the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan Class A second team as a junior after averaging 19.1 points, 11.1 rebounds and 2.5 blocks. As a sophomore, she was named to the BCAM Class A All-State third team, the Detroit Free Press all-state fourth team and the Lansing State Journal all-area team. She was a Detroit News and Associated Press honorable mention selection as a freshman, and has been an all-conference performer every season.
Jefferson is ranked as the nation's No. 47 senior by All-Star Girls Report and the No. 50 player by Blue Star Basketball. She was a Street & Smith's honorable mention All-American in both 2003 and 2004, was a Student Sports Junior All-American and a USA Today Freshman All-American. She participated in the Nike All-America Camp in 2004 and was an adidas Top Ten Camp Underclass All-Star in 2003. She played for the North team at the USA Youth Development Festival.
During her junior season in 2003-04, Jefferson averaged 14.1 points and 8.1 rebounds while shooting 59 percent from the field. She was named second-team all-state in Division I, was on the state's all-tournament team and was a first-team All-Dayton Daily News selection.
During her first three seasons at Chaminade-Julien, Jefferson has helped the squad to a 74-5 record, the 2003 state championship and a 2004 runner-up finish. Her team has been ranked No. 1 nationally by USA Today twice and has been nationally ranked her entire career. They have finished each of the past three seasons with the state's No. 1 ranking.
Poff was runner-up for this year's Michigan Miss Basketball award and was named to the Detroit Free Press Dream Team. She averaged 18.3 points, 3.5 assists and 4.0 steals for St. John's, which finished 23-2 and reached the Class A state quarterfinals. Poff was shooting 51.7 percent from the field including 47.2 percent from 3-point range, and 88.2 percent from the free-throw line as of signing day. At that time she was St. John's third all-time leading scorer with 1,293 career points, and held school career records with 433 assists, 290 steals and 155 3-point field goals.
Poff was a Class A All-State special mention selection as a junior after averaging 15.5 points and five assists per game, and was named to the Lansing State Journal's Dream Team. She was an All-Star Girls Report All-America Camp Upperclass All-Star, and was named first-team all-conference as a junior and sophomore and second team as a freshman.
Shives is the No. 18-ranked senior in the nation by All-Star Girls Report and No. 19 by Blue Star Basketball, and was named Michigan Miss Basketball this season by averaging 25.1 points, 8.0 assists, 5.2 steals and 4.4 rebounds. She led Lansing Christian to a 26-1 record and the Class D state championship, and broke the state's career 3-point basket record with her 267th 3-pointer Oct. 28. She was the preseason No. 1 player in the state as ranked by the Detroit News and Detroit Free Press, and was named to the Detroit Free Press Dream Team following the season.
Shives was a finalist for the U.S. Junior National Team last summer, and played on the North team at the USA Youth Development Festival. She was the Michigan Class D Player of the Year, the Lansing State Journal Player of the Year, a Street & Smith's Honorable Mention All-American and an All-Region first team pick as a junior after averaging 24 points, 6.5 rebounds, six assists and four steals per game while leading Lansing Christian to the state finals. Her 93 3-point baskets and 184 assists were both third-best in a single season in Michigan high school history. Her career high in points was a 47-point outburst vs. Webberville in 2002.
On Deck
Michigan State's final nonconference regular season game will be a doozy as the Spartans visit three-time national champion Connecticut. It is the first of three straight road games for MSU, as the Spartans follow that with the Big Ten opener at rival Michigan Jan. 2 and are at No. 10 Ohio State Jan. 6.
