The MSU women’s basketball team overmatched RTU Klondaika from Latvia in Sunday’s 88-51 victory.
Four Spartans scored in double digits and junior guard Vnemina Reese notched a double-double to seal MSU’s second exhibition game.
MSU head coach Joanne P. McCallie wanted her team to key in on defense, and it didn’t let her down, containing Klondaika to 51 points and 32.3-percent shooting.
“Defensively, we did some very good things,” McCallie said. “We grew as a team. Holding a team to 51 points is always very positive.”
The opening two minutes consisted of sluggish shooting and sloppy passing, until Reese put the first points on the board with a three-pointer from the corner.
Reese’s bucket propelled a 15-2 Spartan run to start the game, highlighting her own 11 points.
Klondaika’s Anete Jekabsone, who led all scorers with 21 points, attempted to slow the run by drawing a foul and banking two free throws, but MSU came back with eight straight to make the score 23-4 with 11:41 left in the half.
Jekabsone responded, hitting a pair of threes in a row, but it only sparked another MSU run. The Spartans rallied for 10 straight points, including six from senior forward Abby Salscheider.
With just more than six minutes left in the half and the score at 33-10, McCallie turned to reserves.
Sophomore forward Julie Pagel, who led MSU with 19 points, emerged as the half came to a close by fighting for a couple of offensive rebounds and getting four points off putbacks to give MSU a comfortable 47-21 halftime lead.
“They played a zone which opened things up more for us in the post and enabled us to get closer to the basket and get some better shots,” Pagel said.
Freshman Kristin Haynie led the Spartans out of halftime, propelling the team to a 19-3 run with five points and increasing the Spartans lead to 66-24.
The last 12 minutes of the game was a seesaw battle, but unfortunately for Klondaika, it was already down 42 points.
Klondaika’s only offensive surge came late with a 10-4 run to bring them within 35 at 86-51. But the Spartans defense shut Klondaika down for the last 1:47, with the only basket being freshman Kelli Roehrig’s turn-around jumper in the lane.
MSU dominated in nearly every aspect of the game, most noticeably the rebounding battle. The Spartans’ 46-30 edge guided the team to 17 second-chance points compared to Klondaika’s four.
Reese collected her double-double with 16 points and 10 assists and McCallie said her new playing style had something to do with that.
“Mina has more versatility this year,” McCallie said. “Her skills have gotten better all the way around.
“She has a great mental focus and mindset for the game and her teammates around her are providing her more flexibility.”
Pagel agreed that Reese’s play is a big asset to the team.
“She has her head on straight and knows when to push and when to pass,” Pagel said. “This year she is a very consistent player and that is what we need.”
Three freshman, guard Haynie, Roehrig, and forward Joy Johnson, were in the Spartans starting lineup and combined for 23 Spartan points.
“They are getting better everyday,” McCallie said.
Roehrig pulled down seven boards along with her 12 points and blocked two shots. She has made an impression on McCallie, the coach said.
“Kelli is one of the best young passing posts I’ve ever seen,” McCallie said. “She moves the ball very well and she sees the floor very well.”
Salscheider said the team still needs to work on defense, although it was clicking at times against Klondaika.
“A lot of people were on fire today and I think our defense triggered that,” she said.
“Our defense fed off of our offense.”
The Spartans first regular-season contest is the Spartan Chevrolet Classic on Friday at Breslin Center.
