Michigan State University
Grand Valley State
Spartan Women's Basketball Downs Lakers In Exhibition Sunday
11/9/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Box Score | Quotes | Photo Gallery 
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Behind all five starters scoring in double-figures with three posting double-doubles, No. 14/15 Michigan State women's basketball routed Grand Valley State, 70-51, Sunday afternoon at the Breslin Center. Sunday was the Spartans' lone exhibition of the 2014-15 season.
Sunday was the 10th-straight year that MSU and GVSU have played in an exhibition, with the Spartans winning all 10, including the eight by double-digits.
Sophomore guard Aerial Powers, senior forward Becca Mills and sophomore guard Tori Jankoska all registered double-doubles. Powers led the way with 20 points and 10 rebounds, while Jankoska logged 15 points and 11 boards followed by Mills with a double-11 with 11 points and 11 boards. Senior forward Jasmine Hines registered 12 points, while freshman guard/forward Jasmine Lumpkin tallied 10 points. Lumpkin was one of two Spartans who made their MSU debut, joined by freshman guard/forward Lexi Gussert.
GVSU was led by Kat LaPrairie and Kayla Dawson with 11 points each, while Korynn Hincka pulled down a team-high eight rebounds.
MSU shot 29-of-65 (44.6 percent) from the field, including 22.2 percent (4-of-18) behind the three-point arc. Michigan State was also 8-of-14 (57.1 percent) at the free throw line.
The Spartan trio of double-doubles helped pace MSU to a 45-32 rebounding advantage. The Michigan State defense limited Grand Valley State to 37.3 percent (19-of-51) field goal shooting, making 35.3 percent (6-of-17) from three-point range along with 53.8 percent (7-of-13) at the charity stripe. MSU also forced 14 GVSU turnovers, swiping five steals and blocking five shots, led by a game-best two by Mills.
Both teams started hot by shooting over 50 percent in the early going, before the MSU defense buttoned down the hatches on Grand Valley State. That boosted the Spartans to pull away from a 9-8 lead with a 10-3 run for a 19-11 advantage, capped by a fast break layup by Lumpkin at the 13:15 mark. A Lumpkin layup with 7:33 to go in the half doubled up GVSU at 28-14, and MSU's advantage swelled to 39-22 at intermission. Jankoska led the first-half scoring for the Spartans with 12 points, while Powers added 11 as the duo out-scored GVSU in the first half.
The Spartans charged out of the second half gates with a 10-2 run, capped by a Mills layup at 15:19 for their largest lead of the game at 49-24, and MSU maintained a large lead throughout. GVSU ground the gap to 14 at 59-45 with 6:23 to go but the Spartans coasted to the exhibition victory.
The Spartans open the regular season hosting Eastern Michigan on Sunday, Nov. 16 at 2 p.m., before welcoming No. 3/3 Notre Dame to the Breslin Center on Wednesday, Nov. 19 at 7 p.m., part of MSU's six-game homestand to open the season.
Fans can follow the Michigan State women's basketball program on twitter @MSU_WBasketball, on facebook at MSUWomensBasketball or on instagram at @msu_wbasketball. Spartan fans can also follow Michigan State Athletics on twitter @MSU_Athletics, on facebook at Michigan State Spartans or on instagram at @msu_spartans.
