Four players on the No. 25 MSU women's basketball team received honors Tuesday for their accomplishments throughout the season.
Sophomore guard Lindsay Bowen, sophomore forward Liz Shimek, junior guard Kristin Haynie and freshman guard Rene Haynes all were recognized by the Big Ten. Haynie received accolades for the third year, while Bowen and Shimek both were chosen for the second time.
"Our team accomplishments far outweighed anything individually accomplished," head coach Joanne P. McCallie said. "We've had a few stellar individual performances, but our team accomplishments have been the bigger story."
Bowen was selected to the All-Big Ten Second Team by the coaches and was the media's honorable mention selection. She was an honorable mention selection by the media and the coaches last season. Also, Bowen was named 2002-03 Big Ten Freshman of the Year by the media and selected to All-Big Ten Freshman team in that season.
Bowen led the Spartans (20-7 overall, 10-6 Big Ten) in scoring with 12.6 points per game in conference play and shot 87 percent from the free-throw line. She also led the Spartans in playing time, averaging 34.9 minutes a game.
Shimek was selected to the All-Big Ten Third Team by the coaches and was given an honorable mention by the media. Last season, she was named 2002-03 Freshman of the Year by the coaches, selected to the All-Big Ten Freshman Team and was given an honorable mention by the media.
Shimek was second on the team in scoring, averaging 10.7 points per game, and led MSU with 7.7 rebounds per contest. She blocked 15 shots in 16 Big Ten games to lead the Spartans in that category as well.
"It's all about team first," said. "We have no all-Americans on this team, so as long as Michigan State is on the list, it doesn't matter whose name is next to it."
Haynie received accolades for the third time in as many years, as she was given honorable mentions by both the coaches and media. The third-year starter at point guard was named to the 2001-02 All-Big Ten Freshman team and was given an honorable mention last season.
Haynie led the team in steals with 44 in the 16 conference games while scoring 8.7 points per game, grabbing 4.7 rebounds and dishing out 4.1 assists per game.
"I think it's just great for the team that four of us were recognized," Haynie said. "It just shows how good our team was (this season)."
Haynes was selected to this season's All-Big Ten Freshman team. It was the third-straight season an MSU player has been chosen to the team. Haynes both started and came off the bench for McCallie and averaged 7.7 points per game.
"We love our talent and our players," McCallie said. "It's one of those things; we're getting there, but it's important to build a team attack with that talent."
The team still remains the only focus for the Spartans as they head into tournament play. They stick to the fact that individual honors come only because of the team's ability to play well together.
"I can't really say anything about the individuals right now," Bowen said. "We just have focus on the team right now, and whatever happens individually happens."
