Kansas City, Mo. - A trip that started in Indianapolis for the No. 1 seed MSU women's basketball team will end in Indianapolis after the Spartans advanced to the Final Four with a win over No. 2 seed Stanford, 76-69, on Tuesday.
"When we were there, we kept saying that we would be back here," MSU head coach Joanne P. McCallie said of Indianapolis. "And we are heading back there with a chance at a national championship."
Just three weeks ago, the Spartans (32-3) won their first-ever Big Ten Tournament championship at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, and this time they will be heading to the RCA Dome for the Final Four.
Analysts doubted the Spartans' ability to outplay their opponents in the NCAA contests. Many disagreed when MSU was named a top seed over Stanford, which was ranked No. 1 in The Associated Press poll.
The win against Stanford (32-3) at Municipal Auditorium did not come easy. It was a battle to the end.
The game was tied at 28 at halftime, and that was when the Spartans decided it was time to take over the game.
"We went into the locker room and said that we weren't going to get outrebounded again," junior forward Liz Shimek said. "We came out in the second half and started making the extra pass, which led to easy baskets and more open shot opportunities."
The Spartans scored the first eight points of the second half and extended their lead to as many as 13 midway through the second half before the Cardinal made a run of its own. Stanford battled back to tie the game at 59 before the Spartans took the lead for good.
"That was our chance," Stanford head coach Tara VanDerveer said. "We made some adjustments and got people moving better. It just came down to certain points in the game where we were unable to make a play, and you have to give credit to Michigan State for that."
The Spartans were led by Shimek, who picked up her 11th double-double of the season, scoring 24 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.
Once again, the theme for the Spartans was balance. The Spartans improved to 21-0 when four players scored in double figures.
Senior guard Kristin Haynie had 20 points, sophomore guard Rene Haynes had 14 points and senior center Kelli Roehrig dropped another 10 points while in foul trouble.
The Spartans' second-leading scorer, junior guard Lindsay Bowen, was held to only four points after shooting 1-for-8 from the field.
With just 43 seconds remaining in regulation and the Spartans up by only one point, Bowen hit a jumper to extend the lead to three points.
"This team has all the confidence in the world in Bowen," Roehrig said. "We will give her the ball whenever she wants it, regardless of what she has done all game."
The Spartans join the men's team in the Final Four with a chance to make MSU history.
"As close as both teams are, we are that much more different," McCallie said. "We will celebrate with the men and enjoy both teams advancing, but both teams are on different roads and have been all year. That is what makes this so special."
And if the critics weren't enough for MSU to get motivated, Roehrig sent a special shout out to a certain analyst who doubted the team.
"I would just like to send a shout out to big post-player Lisa Leslie at ESPN and let her know that we are on our way to Indy baby," she said.
