Sophomore guard Lindsay Bowen has kept her focus on the team this season, but the development of her individual game has been as important to the team as anything.
Bowen is the leading scorer for the No. 22 MSU women's basketball team, which is having one its best seasons in school history. Averaging 12.9 points per game doesn't sound like much, but there are other things Bowen has been able to do this season which has made her so effective.
"She's come a long, long way since last season," MSU head coach Joanne P. McCallie said. "She can do so much more than she did last season (on the court)."
Last season, Bowen was known as a 3-point shooter and nothing else. It worked for one year, when Bowen was named 2002-03 BigTen Co-Freshman Player of the Year (sophomore forward Liz Shimek was the other recipient) and was All-Big Ten honorable mention.
Bowen averaged 13.3 points per game last season and hit a school-record 77 3-pointers, while shooting 43.6-percent from the floor.
"Pretty much all I did was shoot the three last year," Bowen said.
She knew that had to change to be an effective player throughout her career and to help the Spartans get better. It was the assists, steals and rebounds - all the little things - Bowen wasn't doing enough of on the court.
Bowen said the transition to her all-around game started with a hard-working summer, but more than that, a change in focus on the court. The results came due in part to the fact Bowen has been the back-up point guard for junior point guard Kristin Haynie.
"She's become an excellent team leader," McCallie said. "She's run the team effectively when she is at the point and has shown she can control the game."
Handling the ball often, Bowen has begun attacking more and not only getting better shots for herself but for her teammates as well. Bowen already has made more free throws than she attempted last season and has almost as many assists and rebounds as she did all of last year, and the season isn't over.
With the changes in her game, Bowen often gives defenders a pump fake, which gives her two options: dishing the ball off to a shooter at the perimeter or to a post player inside, or dribbling by her opponents, leaving her the opportunity to shoot and score with her now patented runner. The 3-point shot still is available to Bowen, but she opted to shoot it less this season.
"She's made a huge improvement on her one-dribble jump shot and her all-around game," senior forward Julie Pagel said. "She worked hard in the off-season and she's making herself better every day."
When Haynie has gone to the bench for foul trouble or a rest, Bowen takes over the ball-handling and has been consistent when on duty. Her teammates know how hard she worked and how it is now paying off for them - in the form of wins.
