No. 10 Michigan State Takes On No. 11 Connecticut Wednesday
12/28/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 28, 2004
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No. 10/11 Michigan State Spartans (10-1)vs. No. 11/8 Connecticut Huskies (6-2)When Wed., Dec. 29, 2004 • 7 p.m.SiteHartford, Conn. (Hartford Civic Center: 16,294)RadioWVFN - 730 AM (Mike Kamin -- play-by-play)TVConnecticut Public TV (Bob Picozzi - pbp; Meghan Culmo - analyst)CoachesMSU: Joanne P. McCallie (Northwestern, 1987)MSU: 78-53 (Fifth season); Overall: 245-126 (13th season)UConn: Geno Auriemma (West Chester, 1981)UConn: 538-105 (20th season); Overall: SameOpening Tip
Michigan State wraps us its nonconference season with a stern test at No. 11/8 Connecticut Wednesday, Dec. 29. The Spartans are 3-0 in road games this season, including a victory at then-No. 3/3 Notre Dame. UConn is 5-0 at home this season (3-0 at the Hartford Civic Center) after Monday night's 76-44 victory over George Mason.
Beast Of The East
There are four nationally-ranked teams from the Big East Conference, and Michigan State has already played and beaten two of them this season, in games that had some odd similarities. MSU beat then-No. 18/17 Boston College in the championship game of the Spartan Classic Nov. 21, before knocking off then No. 3/3 Notre Dame Dec. 2 on the road. Michigan State won both games in overtime, and the score was tied 70-70 at the end of regulation each time. MSU scored 12 points in each overtime, winning 82-78 vs. Boston College and 82-73 vs. Notre Dame.
MSU has won its last five games against Big East teams, winning last season at home vs. Notre Dame (92-63), and each of the two previous season vs. Providence (73-54 in 2002-03 in Providence and 64-47 in 2001-02 in East Lansing).
Strong Start
This is the second straight year that Michigan State has won 10 of its first 11 games to start the season. But prior to last season, it hadn't happened in 30 years. Not since MSU's second squad started 12-1 during the 1973-74 season had MSU started a season 10-1. The 1973-74 team did it without leaving the state of Michigan, with all 13 games during the streak being played against in-state schools.
Scouting The Huskies
Three-time defending national champion Connecticut slipped out of the AP Top Ten for the first time since Jan. 25, 1994 after a loss at Arizona State last Wednesday, dropping to No. 11, but rebounded to win at Colorado State and at home vs. George Mason to improve to 6-2. UConn lost three-time All-American Diana Taurasi from last year's squad, as well as starting guard Maria Conlon, but aren't lacking for talent with six McDonald's All-Americans and three national Player of the Year candidates on this season's team.
Junior forward/guard Barbara Turner leads the squad with a scoring average of 13.6 points and adds 4.8 rebounds per game. Junior guard Ann Strother is the only other player averaging double figures, scoring 13.0 points per game and adding a team-high 24 assists. Freshman guard/forward Charde Houston contributes 8.3 points and 3.8 rebounds per game, while senior guard/forward Ashley Battle chips in 7.5 points and 4.9 rebounds per contest. Six-foot two-inch junior forward center Willnett Crockett tops the team in rebounding, grabbing 6.3 boards per game while averaging 5.4 points.
As a team, UConn is shooting 48.6 percent from the field while holding opponents to just 32.4 percent shooting. The Huskies shoot 31.6 percent from 3-point range, but free throw shooting has been a problem at just 61.2 percent. UConn has an average rebound margin of +10.4.
Series Records
Michigan State and Connecticut have played just once before, with UConn earning an 88-68 victory in the second round of the 1996 NCAA Tournament in Storrs. Kara Wolters had 22 points to lead the Huskies, while Jennifer Rizzotti (18), Jamelle Elliott (17) and Nykesha Sales (16) also reached double figures. Tamika Matlock scored 15 to pace MSU, followed by Zareth Gray (13) and Cheri Euler (12).
Last Game: Michigan State 85, Vermont 57
Kelli Roehrig scored 23 points to lead four Spartans in double figures and added seven rebounds as MSU rolled past Vermont, 85-57. Roehrig hit 8-of-12 shots, and teamed with Liz Shimek (14 points on 6-of-9 shooting, eight rebounds) to help MSU dominate inside vs. the smaller Catamounts. MSU owned a 31-27 rebounding edge and turned 20 offensive rebounds into a 31-6 advantage in second-chance points.
MSU jumped to a quick 16-6 lead thanks to six straight points from Roehrig, before Vermont closed to within 22-18. MSU pulled away to a 43-30 halftime lead, then broke the game open by scoring the first eight points and 25 of the first 30 in the second period to take a 68-35 lead with 11:56 left. The Spartans cruised from there, as Vermont never got closer than 27 points.
Kristin Haynie flirted with a triple double, totaling 13 points, nine assists and eight rebounds in only 27 minutes, while Lindsay Bowen added 15 points.
MSU dished out a season-best 22 assists while committing just 12 turnovers, and shot 50 percent from the field (31-of-62) while limiting Vermont to 32.8 percent shooting (20-of-61).
Back With A Vengeance
After missing two games with a left thumb injury, Kristin Haynie has looked better than ever in her first two games back. In victories over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Vermont, Haynie has averaged 13.5 points, 7.5 assists, 7.5 rebounds and 4.5 steals. Had Haynie played more than 27 minutes vs. Vermont, she may have become only the second Spartan to record a triple-double, joining Kim Archer in 1984. Her 13-point, nine-assist, eight-rebound, four-steal performance earned her Big Ten Co-Player of the Week honors for the first time during her career.
Roehrig About To Join 1,000/500 Club
Kelli Roehrig reached the 1,000-point mark Dec. 9, and now needs just three rebounds to reach 500 for her career. When she reaches the mark, Roehrig will become just the seventh player in MSU history to total 1,000 career point and 500 career rebounds, joining a list that includes Kisha Kelly (1,668 points/701 rebounds), Kris Emerson (1,590/933), Kristen Rasmussen (1,493/964), Mary Kay Itnyre (1,189/821), Becky Cummings (1,108/645) and Jill Prudden (1,012/692).
Getting There Quickly
Lindsay Bowen is just 29 points shy of the 1,000-point mark, and when she gets there, she will be the 14th Spartan to reach that milestone. However, almost no one has done it quicker than Bowen, as she has played just 71 games thus far in her career. Mary Kay Itnyre (1978-80) was the fastest to reach 1,000 points, needing just 65 games, while Kris Emerson was next fastest at 72 games. Kisha Kelly, MSU's career scoring leader with 1,668 points, was third fastest, needing 74 games to reach the mark.
The Big Four
Although Michigan State has a wealth of talented players, the quartet of seniors Kelli Roehrig and Kristin Haynie and juniors Lindsay Bowen and Liz Shimek have clearly been the leaders of the team. Those four players have combined to average 58.9 points, 26.8 rebounds, 10.8 assists and 8.6 steals per game. They have accounted for 74.7 percent of MSU's scoring this season, 61.6 percent of its rebounding, 66.7 percent of its assists and 68.5 percent of its steals.
Lucky Seven?
Michigan State, winners of six straight games, will be looking for its seventh consecutive victory Wednesday. If the Spartans prevail, it would match the third-longest winning streak in school history and the longest since MSU won its first seven games of the 1999-2000 season. MSU's current six-game winning streak matches a six-game run last season from Dec. 6 through Jan. 2.
Strange But True
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, again against Indiana, but won at home against the Hoosiers. This year, MSU again started 9-1 before beating Vermont to improve to 10-1.
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.
Threemendous Feat Snapped
Michigan State 0-for-7 from 3-point range Dec. 19 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 during the game for the first time in her career. She scored six points, all from the free throw line.
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 last in the Big Ten this year, sinking just 26.1 percent of its 3-point attempts (37-of-142). 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 ninth in the Big Ten in 3-point field goal percentage defense, as opponents have sank 36.1 percent (73-of-202) of their 3-point opportunities.
Make More Than They Take
MSU has helped make up for its deficit from 3-point range by getting more points at the free throw line. In fact, the Spartans have made more free throws (176) than their opponents have attempted (167). MSU, which has shot 70 more free throws than its opponents (237-167), is shooting 74.3 percent from the line, led by Kristin Haynie (22-25) and Lindsay Bowen (40-49).
Grace Under Pressure
Michigan State is a solid free-throw shooting team, hitting 74.3 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 on page 3 for more detailed information.
Useless Stat of the Game
Michigan State's all-time record in its first game after Christmas is 19-13. MSU is 9-4 when playing its first post-Christmas game at home, 5-7 when it's on the road and 5-2 when it's played at a neutral site. MSU has lost the last six times it has played its first game after Christmas on the road.
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 16.5 points and 8.5 rebounds and has surpassed the 20-point mark three times. Roehrig has climbed to 11th on MSU's career scoring chart with 1,057 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 (23rd - 11.8), rebounding (12th - 6.6), assists (second - 5.11), steals (first - 4.11) and free throw percentage (seventh - .880).
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 (971) and Kristin Haynie (927) are not far from the milestone. Liz Shimek is next with 808 points, and if she maintains her current scoring average will reach the century mark near the end of this season.
Rank You Very Much
Michigan State is ranked 10th in the latest AP poll, 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.
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 60.8 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 75 or more points in eight of its 11 games this season, including five games with at least 80 points. The consistent point production is a welcome addition to this year's team, as last season, MSU only scored 75 or more points four times all season. In fact, during head coach Joanne P. McCallie's previous four seasons, the most 75-point games MSU has had in a season was eight during the 2002-03 season.
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. MSU has not won its first four road games since the 1983-84 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.
Dynamine 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 431 assists. She is just the fourth Spartan to reach 400 career assists, and is now just 29 assists shy of the MSU career record held by Chris Powers. Haynie became MSU's career steals leader last season, and has 266 for her career. She is also just 73 points shy of reaching 1,000 career points and has 428 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 five more wins to reach 250 victories during her career, which is in its 13th season.
• Kelli Roehrig (1,057 points), Lindsay Bowen (971) and Kristin Haynie (927) have all cracked the top 25 on MSU's career scoring list, and Liz Shimek (808) should break into the top 25 later this season.
• Lindsay Bowen, who has averaged 71.5 3-point baskets during her first two seasons, needs 57 to equal Maxann Reese's school record of 218.
• Liz Shimek currently ranks 12th in career rebounds at MSU with 617 in two-plus seasons, and needs just 30 more to move into the top 10.
• Kristin Haynie, who ranks third currently with 431 career assists, needs 29 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.
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 opens the 2004-05 Big Ten season with a pair of challenging road games. MSU opens with a battle at in-state rival Michigan Sunday (Jan. 2), before visiting No. 10 Ohio State next Thursday (Jan. 6). The Spartans' BIg Ten home opener will be Sunday, Jan. 9, vs. Iowa at 2 p.m.
