In 2002, freshmen led an eight-person MSU women's basketball team to the NCAA Tournament. This season, they're ready to disprove a sophomore slump.
Guard Lindsay Bowen and forward Liz Shimek will return for their sophomore campaign as seasoned athletes. The two averaged more than 35 minutes per contest as rookies, snagging co-Big Ten Freshman of the Year accolades.
The tandem also broke into the MSU record books - Bowen shattered the freshman record for 3-pointers made (77) and points scored (386), while Shimek hauled down 263 boards, good for second on the all-time list for freshmen.
Bowen and Shimek were forced to mature quickly in 2002 after a string of bad luck shortened the Spartan bench.
Forward Maria Recker was not able to play her senior year because of recurring shoulder problems.
Then highly recruited freshman guard Patrice McKinney injured her knee by tearing her right ACL in the preseason and was sidelined for the year.
On Nov. 24, senior guard Candice Jackson joined McKinney on the injured list after tearing her ACL in the Spartan's second regular season game.
Just days later, junior transfer Caroline Nixon was declared ineligible by the NCAA, cutting MSU's active roster down to seven.
Still, the unranked Spartans rallied to beat No. 7 Minnesota, No. 10 Purdue and No. 24 Ohio State, finished fourth in the conference and received an NCAA bid for the first time since 1997.
This season, Jackson's and McKinney's return, along with five letter winners and five freshmen, has joined a Spartan squad that finished 17-12 overall last season.
Forwards Myisha Bannister and Victoria Lucas-Perry, center Katrina Grantham and guards Rene Haynes and Megan Ripperton will provide the depth for an MSU squad that lacked in 2002.
Shimek said summer workouts have been devoted to setting a tempo for the newcomers to match.
"They're really fun to be around," Shimek said of the newcomers. "They're a really energetic group and they fit right in."
Forward Julie Pagel, the team's lone senior, agreed with Shimek, adding the squad was "definitely on the rise."
"I'm definitely projecting a championship," Pagel said. "This team has the most potential I've seen since I've been here."
"I'm excited to see what the team can do once we start the season, it's a really exciting time to be here."
Forward Syreeta Bromfield, last year's leading scorer at 14.7 points per game, is the only player not returning. Bromfield graduated in April and was drafted and cut by the WNBA's Detroit Shock this spring.
Bowen said Bromfield's leadership will be missed.
"It's going to be tough without her," she said of the Spartan's two-time MVP. "But collectively we can get through it. I'm still looking forward to great things this season."
