MSU junior forward Julie Pagel showed her old high school teammates who was boss from the tip-off to the final horn Sunday as MSU downed Detroit-Mercy 72-49 at Breslin Center.
Titan forward Lori Wild and guard Lindsey Pasquinzo both played with Pagel at Utica High School, leading the team to a 27-0 record and Class A State Championship in 2000.
Once the starting lineups were introduced and hugs and smiles were exchanged Pagel put on her game face.
She tallied season highs with 15 points and eight boards for the Spartans (8-6 overall, 1-2 Big Ten).
Pagel said the matchup with Wild and Pasquinzo provided inspiration by reminding her how she had dominated the court in the past.
Back injuries had limited her success this year.
"They got me back to where I know how I can play, they always bring out the best in me," Pagel said. "I haven't played like this all year and this is what the coaches said I can play like. I felt today that this was my comfort zone. I guess I could thank them for that."
Other Spartans seemed to be inspired as well. Freshman forward Liz Shimek led the Spartans with a game-high 17 points and nine boards. Freshman guard Lindsay Bowen chipped in with 13 points to provide a balanced scoring attack.
MSU also dominated the Titans on the boards. Senior forward Syreeta Bromfield recorded a game-high 12 rebounds - in addition to 12 points - as the Spartans hauled in 18 (43-25) more rebounds than Detroit-Mercy.
Spartan head coach Joanne P. McCallie complimented the tenacity of her team's defense, which held forward Sara Crum - the Titan's leading scorer - scoreless.
"I'm just happy to see us play so physical, they did a great job of hitting the boards hard," McCallie said. "I definitely think it was a defense and rebounding game all the way."
Feeding off of a string of five-straight three pointers, MSU took a handsome 24-7 lead nine minutes into the game - that was all it would need to bury the Titans.
Detroit-Mercy, though relentlessly attacking the basket, chipped little off the lead, trailing 37-25 at halftime.
The Spartans came out of the locker room and continued to pad their lead by making easy lay-ups and connecting on 11-of-14 free-throw attempts, increasing the margin to 21 points with 4:53 remaining.
Wild posted 10 points to lead the Titans, who drop to 4-11 on the season.
"Coming off the loss to Ohio State, it felt good just to be home and get back on track," Shimek said. "Now we need to take this energy on the road and become road warriors - create our own energy."
MSU sees its next action at 7 p.m. Thursday when the Indiana Hoosiers (9-4, 2-1) visit Breslin Center.
