
No. 12 MSU Hosts Eastern Illinois Thursday Evening
12/8/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 8, 2004
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No. 12/12 Michigan State Spartans (6-1)vs. Eastern Illinois Panthers (3-2)When Thurs., Dec. 9, 2004 7 p.m.Site East Lansing, Mich. (Breslin Center: 14,759)Radio The Fan 730 AM (Michael Sinnott -- play-by-play)TV NoneCoaches MSU: Joanne P. McCallie (Northwestern, 1987) MSU: 74-53 (Fifth year); Overall: 241-126 (13th year) Eastern Illinois: Brady Sallee (Thomas More, 1983) EIU: 3-2 (First year); Overall: Same
Opening Tip
After five consecutive games away from home, Michigan State returns to the Breslin Center for a Thursday evening game vs. Eastern Illinois. The Spartans won four of their five games on the road, including two-of-three games at the Rainbow Wahine Classic and victories last week at No. 3 Notre Dame and at Cincinnati. MSU is 2-0 at home this season, winning the Dean Trailways of Michigan Spartan Classic Nov. 20-21.
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.
Point Production
Michigan State has scored 75 or more points in six of its seven games this season, with the only exception being a 56-54 victory over Utah Nov. 26 in Hawaii. 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. This year's total of six already matches the second best total set during the 2001-02 campaign.
Scouting Eastern Illinois
Eastern Illinois is off to a 3-2 start and has won its last two games. The Panthers are 3-0 at home with victories over Saint Francis (88-52), Illinois-Chicago (78-72) and IUPUI (60-57), but 0-2 on the road with losses at Loyola (65-60) and Indiana State (83-56). Four starters return from last year's squad that finished 8-19 overall and 5-11 in the Ohio Valley Conference.
Six-foot two-inch senior center Pam O'Conner leads Eastern Illinois with averages of 14.6 points and 7.0 rebounds. Junior guard Megan Sparks is the only other player averaging double-figure points, scoring 10.0 points per game, while sophomore guard Melanie Ploger adds 9.6 points per contest and has hit 12-of-22 3-pointers. Sophomore guard Megan Casad averages a team-best 4.6 assists per game.
As a team, the Panthers shoot 42.0 percent from the field while holding opponents to a .385 percentage, and have an average rebounding margin of +1.6. Turnovers have been a concern, though, as EIU averages 22.8 miscues per game and has a -2.8 average turnover margin.
Series Records
Thursday's game will be the first meeting ever between Michigan State and Eastern Illinois.
Last Game: Michigan State 77, Cincinnati 61
Michigan State closed the game on a 22-2 run that broke open a close game and allowed MSU to win its second straight road game. The Spartans trailed 59-55 with less than seven minutes left, but scored the next 14 points while holding Cincinnati without a field goal the rest of the way.
Lindsay Bowen scored 28 points, including 18 in the second half, to lead MSU's surge. Bowen hit 10-of-20 field goals, including a three-pointer to cap the late 14-0 spurt. Kelli Roehrig and Liz Shimek both posted double-doubles, with Roehrig collecting 18 points and 12 boards while Shimek totaled 18 points and 11 rebounds.
MSU hit three of its first five shots to take an early 6-3 lead, but then went cold as Cincinnati used a 19-6 run to take a 22-12 lead. MSU trailed 33-26 late in the half, but Roehrig's layup just before the halftime horn helped the Spartans end the half with a 6-0 spurt to trim the lead to 33-32 at the break.
The Spartans tied the score at 44-44 on another Roehrig bucket with 14:16 left, but Cincinnati scored the next six points. MSU finally grabbed its first lead since 6-5 when Shimek converted a three-point play for a 60-59 lead with 6:12 remaining. Kristin Haynie, Bowen and Roehrig all hit jumpers before Bowen's triple capped the 14-0 run and put the game out of reach.
Cincinnati missed its last 12 field goal attempts and turned the ball over 21 times, while MSU had just 10 turnovers, including just two in the second half. The Spartans also had a 42-34 rebounding edge and a 40-20 lead in points in the paint.
Spartans Stop No. 3 Notre Dame, 82-73 In Overtime
Michigan State stunned third-ranked Notre Dame with an 82-73 overtime victory, snapping the Irish's 25-game home court winning streak. MSU erased a six-point deficit in the final 30 seconds of regulation, then dominated overtime to beat the highest-ranked team a Spartan team has ever beaten.
MSU raced to an 11-point halftime lead, then led by 13 early in the second half before a 17-0 Notre Dame run put the Irish on top. MSU answered with nine straight capped by a Kelli Roehrig three-point play to lead 52-47, but Notre Dame slowly pulled back ahead.
Trailing by 67-61 in the last minute, Kristin Haynie converted a three-point play, then after two Irish free throws, Lindsay Bowen was fouled on a 3-point attempt and sank all three free throws to cut the lead to 69-67. Notre Dame's Megan Duffy then made 1-of-2 foul shots, and Lindsay Bowen drained a three with nine seconds left to force overtime.
In the extra period, after a slow start, Haynie's triple gave MSU a 73-72 lead, then after a Notre Dame free throw, Rene Haynes scored on a drive to the basket, Bowen hit a jumper and Kelli Roehrig sank two free throws to start a 9-0 run to close the game.
Bowen finished with a team-high 23 points, while Haynie had a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Two other Spartans just missed double-doubles as Liz Shimek had nine points and 13 boards and Roehrig finished with 14 points and nine rebounds.
Bowen Named Big Ten Player of the Week
Lindsay Bowen, who is in the midst of one of the best scoring streaks for any player in Spartan history, 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 Saturday 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).
Road Warriors
For the second straight season, Michigan State played five consecutive games away from home, going 4-1 during the stretch. 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).
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.
Ms. Versatility
Senior guard Kristin Haynie is the only player in the Big Ten who is listed among the league leaders in scoring (21st - 11.3), rebounding (12th - 6.3), assists (fourth - 4.4), steals (first - 4.0), field goal percentage (11th - .526) and free throw percentage (tied for fifth - .889).
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 has been a rebounding machine during her limited minutes, averaging a team-best 12.8 rebounds per 40 minutes played.
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 416 assists. She is just the fourth Spartan to reach 400 career assists, and is now just 44 assists shy of the MSU career record held by Chris Powers. Haynie became MSU's career steals leader last season, and has 257 for her career. She is also just 100 points shy of reaching 1,000 career points and has 413 career rebounds.
Four But No More
Michigan State has started each of the last two seasons and three of the last four with a 4-0 record, but each time MSU lost its fifth game of the year, including a Nov. 28 loss to TCU. Last year, MSU was upset at Oklahoma State, 62-60, and the Spartans fell at Florida International, 69-56, in 2002.
Rank You Very Much
Michigan State is currently ranked 12th in both polls, which is the highest ranking in Spartan history. 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.
On The Rebound
Michigan State is off to another great start in the rebounding department, having outrebounded six of its first seven opponents and holding a +6.4 rebounding margin. 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, averages a team-best 9.1 rebounds per game, while Kelli Roehrig, who has three double-doubles, has an 8.8 average. Point guard Kristin Haynie has also been a big contributor, averaging 6.3 rebounds per game.
Defense On Display
MSU has surrendered more points thus far this season than last, allowing 63.9 points per game so far this year. 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.
Useless Stat of the Game
Michigan State's all-time record in games against single directional schools is 41-23. MSU is 15-4 against "East" schools (15-3 vs. Eastern Michigan, 0-1 vs. East Carolina), 7-6 against "North schools (0-3 vs. North Carolina, 0-1 vs. North Carolina-Charlotte, 1-0 vs. North Carolina-Greensboro, 1-2 vs. Northern Illinois, 4-0 vs. Northern Michigan), 4-4 against "South" schools (1-0 vs. South Alabama, 0-2 vs. Southern California, 2-2 vs. Southern Illinois, 1-0 vs. Southern Methodist) and 15-9 vs. "West" schools (4-0 vs. Western Illinois, 1-1 vs. Western Kentucky, 10-8 vs. Western Michigan). The Spartans are also 24-22 against the lone multi-directional school they have played -- Northwestern.
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.
Exhibit A
If statistics during exhibition games are an indicator of how statistics during the regular season might turn out, which they usually aren't, one player in particular is looking to have a much bigger season this year.
Kelli Roehrig, who averaged 9.1 points and 4.4 rebounds last season, averaged 22.0 points and 8.0 rebounds in just 24 minutes per game in two exhibition contests. Roehrig sank 19-of-24 shots from the field (79.2 percent) and 6-of-7 from the free throw line (.857). She already has two double-doubles this season and is averaging 15.7 points and 8.3 rebounds while shooting 56.7 percent from the field.
Other key performers in exhibition games for MSU were Lindsay Bowen (18.5 ppg, 9-of-15 from 3-point range), Rene Haynes (14.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 10 steals), Maggie Dwyer (12.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg) and Victoria Lucas-Perry (11.0 ppg, 6.5 rpg).
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's five returning starters 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.
The Back Court
Michigan State will have 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 will have 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.
Going For A Grand
Michigan State has not had a player reach the 1,000 career point mark since the 2000-2001 season, but at least three players and possibly four should reach that mark this season. Kelli Roehrig has 970 career points, with Lindsay Bowen (901) and Kristin Haynie (890) not far behind. Liz Shimek is next with 719 points, and needed 363 points entering the season to reach the mark. Shimek scored 335 points as a sophomore.
Moving On Up
Head Coach Joanne P. McCallie needs nine more wins to reach 250 victories during her career, which is in its 13th season.
Kelli Roehrig (988 points), Lindsay Bowen (929) and Kristin Haynie (900) have all cracked the top 25 on MSU's career scoring list, and Liz Shimek (737) should break into the top 25 before the season is done.
Lindsay Bowen, who has averaged 71.5 three-point baskets during her first two seasons, needs just four more to take over second on MSU's career charts and 62 to equal Maxann Reese's record of 218.
Liz Shimek currently ranks 15th in career rebounds at MSU with 579 in just over two seasons, and needs just 70 more to move into the top 10.
Kristin Haynie, who ranks third currently with 416 career assists, needs 44 more to tie Chris Powers' MSU record of 460.
Kelli Roehrig ranks third in Spartan history with 92 career blocks, and needs 15 more to move into second.
Three's Company
Michigan State has made at least one three-point basket in 74 consecutive games as a team, thanks largely to junior Lindsay Bowen, who has made at least one triple in 63 of 67 career games, including 12 in a row.
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.
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 averaging 14.6 points and 8.8 rebounds as of signing day. She led 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 as of signing day was averaging 19.3 points, 3.8 assists and 3.6 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. She is St. John's third all-time leading scorer with 1,293 career points, and holds 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.
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 will have a quick turnaround following Thursday's game as the Spartans visit Detroit Saturday (Dec. 11) at 2 p.m. MSU then gets an eight-day break before hosting Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Dec. 19 and Vermont Dec. 21.