Michigan State University
Eastern Illinois
No. 12 Spartans Breeze Past Eastern Illinois, 85-45
12/9/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 9, 2004
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- Michigan State made more than enough shots and grabbed nearly two-thirds of its misses for a 40-point win on Thursday.
Rene Haynes had 18 points and eight rebounds in her first start this season, every teammate who saw action scored, and the No. 12 Spartans beat Eastern Illinois 85-45.
"I think we showed the importance of getting the ball inside and rebounding," Haynes said. "It didn't matter if I started or not. There's really no difference if you play the way you should. And we had a lot of players contribute."
Victoria Lucas-Perry had career-highs with 15 points and seven assists and added eight rebounds as the Spartans (7-1) scored at least 75 points for the seventh time in eight games.
"I was trying to be a complete player," Lucas-Perry said. "I wanted to contribute with offense, defense and rebounding. If you play hard in every area, you'll never have a letdown. And we didn't as a team."
Seven nights after an overtime win at then-No. 3 Notre Dame, Michigan State held Eastern Illinois to .286 shooting from the field and showed superior strength with a 44-8 edge in points inside and a 57-25 rebound advantage, including 27 offensive boards.
"When we first came out, everyone said, 'Go inside! Go inside!' " Lucas-Perry said. "When you do that, the outside shots pop open. And we have to do that when we have two of the best inside players in the nation (Kelli Roehrig and Liz Shimek)."
Roehrig became the 13th Spartan to score 1,000 career points, as she and Shimek each added 14, while reigning Big Ten Player of the Week Lindsay Bowen had 10 points, six assists and a career-high five steals.
 In addition to her two blocked shots, Kelli Roehrig scored 14 points, and in the process became just the 13th player in MSU history to reach 1,000 career points.  | |
"No matter what the circumstances are, we have to come out and work as a team," Haynes said. "Any time, any place, anywhere, we have to crash the boards and play tough on defense. That never changes."
Michigan State led 24-8, traded baskets for a few minutes, then finished the half with a 16-5 spurt in its first home appearance in six games.
"I was pleased with the way we played as a team," Spartans coach Joanne P. McCallie said. "We were very good on defense and very good at offensive rebounding. And I have to give a shoutout to Kelli Roehrig for her 1,000th career point."
Megan Sparks and Meagan Scaggs each had 11 points for the Panthers (3-3), who committed 18 turnovers.
"That's a good basketball team we just played," Eastern Illinois coach Brady Sallee said. "There's a reason they're a Top 15 team. I've been doing this a long time. And that's as strong a zone as I've played against."
