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Spartans host GVSU Sunday

November 11, 2005

The No. 10 MSU women's basketball team will have one more chance to tune up for the regular season when it hosts Grand Valley State in an exhibition game at 2 p.m. Sunday at Breslin Center.

"We are just going to focus on ourselves and making sure that we get better," MSU head coach Joanne P. McCallie said. "We want to work on transition defense and rebounding. We really want to get an offensive rebounding attack and get our post players the proper amount of touches inside."

The Spartans won their previous exhibition game against Athletes in Action, 94-67, behind strong play from their two seniors, forward Liz Shimek and guard Lindsay Bowen.

"Every day we come into practice and our objective is to get better and learn something new about the people you are playing with," Shimek said. "We are just striving towards being a blue-collared team as usual and just trying to have fun on the court."

GVSU set a school record last season with 28 wins. The Lakers return their top two scorers, forward Niki Reams and guard Erika Ryskamp.

The Spartans will play their first regular season game next Friday and are using the exhibition game to work on improving team play.

"This is a good chance for the younger players to get into the game," Bowen said. "A lot of plays are being thrown at them as they try to progress, but they are here now and they are Spartans."

Joining the Spartans this year are four freshman players, some of whom could contribute this season.

"They have been doing great," Bowen said. "They have been hustling and they all know what their roles are on the team."

A key to the Spartans' run last year was its depth — something McCallie hopes will show up again.

"I feel very strongly about the development of our bench and we are hoping to go nine or 10 deep," McCallie said. "You definitely want to have a deep and talented bench and have a secret weapon in having the numbers and people that can keep ball pressure all game."

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