Michigan State University
Ferris State (Exhib.)
Second Half Surge Leads MSU Over Ferris State, 68-47
11/12/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 12, 2006
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Freshmen Allyssa DeHaan and Mia Johnson each turned in double-double efforts to lead the Michigan State women's basketball team to a 68-47 exhibition victory over Ferris State on Sunday. DeHaan finished the game with 15 points, 14 rebounds and eight blocks, while Johnson finished with 10 points, 11 rebounds, five steals and five assists.
"It's a process and we're getting better, bit by bit," said head coach Joanne P. McCallie. "I think we have a lot of different people that can step up and take responsibility, and we're getting better at that every game."
DeHaan's eight blocks, which all came in the first half, is the highest ever single-game total by a Spartan, but remains an unofficial record because it was an exhibition game. Annette Babers holds the school-record, as she altered seven shots on Dec. 4, 1992 against Iowa State.
MSU committed 12 turnovers and shot 30 percent from the field, but led 27-19 at halftime, thanks, in part, to 14 offensive rebounds. Senior Victoria Lucas-Perry was on the bench for most of the first half with two fouls, allowing MSU's frontcourt duo of DeHaan and Aisha Jefferson to lead the Spartans. DeHaan scored seven points, blocked eight shots and grabbed 11 rebounds, while Jefferson added seven boards and four points in the first half.
Ferris State cut the Spartan lead to five points four minutes into the second half, but MSU responded with a 30-5 run to build a 30-point lead. The Spartans forced seven turnovers and shot 10-for-13 from the field during the eight-minute stretch.
Michigan State's backcourt seniors recovered from a 2-for-12 first-half shooting performance and overwhelmed the Bulldogs in the second half. Lucas-Perry scored 10 of her 12 points in the second half and Haynes finished with nine points and four assists.
Depth and size in the paint proved pivotal again for Michigan State, as the Spartans out-rebounded the Bulldogs, 55-35, and scored 16 second-chance points off 23 offensive rebounds. MSU out-scored FSU's bench 17-2, led by senior Katrina Grantham's eight points on 4-for-4 shooting and five assists.
Defensively, the Spartans used an active zone and full-court press to hold the Bulldogs to 32-percent shooting and force 21 Bulldog turnovers. Sam Johns led Ferris State with 17 points, while East Lansing native Kristin Reinhart finished with 10 points and four assists.
With the win, Michigan State finished the exhibition season 2-0. The Spartans open their regular-season schedule on Friday, Nov. 17, at 7 p.m. against Bucknell.
