Thursday, March 28, 2024

Women's basketball tops Ferris St., 100-52

October 30, 2013
	<p>Redshirt freshman guard Aerial Powers goes for a jumpshot during the game against Ferris State, Oct. 30, 2013, at Breslin Center. The Spartans beat the Bulldogs, 101-52. Danyelle Morrow/The State News</p>

Redshirt freshman guard Aerial Powers goes for a jumpshot during the game against Ferris State, Oct. 30, 2013, at Breslin Center. The Spartans beat the Bulldogs, 101-52. Danyelle Morrow/The State News

Photo by Danyelle Morrow | The State News

On the back of freshman guard Tori Jankoska’s 27 points in her collegiate debut, the No. 18 MSU women’s basketball team shutdown Ferris State, 100-52.

Jankoska led the way by contributing seven rebounds and three steals, and made a few nice plays in the post as well, including a spin move to get past defenders for a layup.

Jankoska headlined the act, but the Spartans received contributions from the entire team.

Four other Spartans reached double digit points in the exhibition match. Senior forward Annalise Pickrel finished with 18 points and shot 4-for-5 from beyond the arc.

Redshirt freshman guard Aeriel Powers added 12 points and senior guard Klarissa Bell and junior guard Kiana Johnson each had 10 points.

“I liked that we had 5 kids in double figures,” head coach Suzy Merchant said. “We have a nice combination and we shot a ton of threes as well, but I thought they were open and we had a balanced attack. We did a really good job driving and kicking, which we’ve been working on.”

Junior forward Becca Mills led the attack on the boards with nine rebounds, with three others finished with seven. As a team, the Spartans had 55 total rebounds compared to the Bulldogs’ 23.

Johnson also contributed five rebounds, three assists, two steals and one block. As a team, the Spartans finished 13-25 (52 percent) from long range, and added 19 assists and 11 steals.

However, the Spartans did turn the ball over 20 times, and Merchant saw definite room for improvement before heading into the regular season.

“What I didn’t like was our transition defense, it was absolutely brutal,” Merchant said. “Ball screen defense needs to get better and I don’t think our rotation on drives was there, and we had segments where our offense wasn’t going, our defense seemed to be lackluster, and that’s when your defense has to come up and make a difference.”

As the regular season nears, Merchant said she really wanted Agee, Powers, Jankoska and other younger players to get more experience.

Jankoska is a true freshman and was Michigan’s Miss Basketball, as well as a Parade All-American.

Agee and Powers both redshirted last season because of leg injuries early in the season last year. Agee tore her anterior cruciate ligament just five games into last season, and Powers tore her Achilles tendon before playing a game.

“I felt too anxious when I came out,” Powers said. “The anxiety took over and I was all over the place, and it took me a while to settle down … I could’ve played a lot better.”

Ferris State was led by guard Sarah DeShone who posted a team-high 18 points, including 4-for-7 from 3-point land, as well as four steals and four assists.

The Spartans will be back in action on Sunday, Nov. 3, when they take on Grand Valley State in their final preseason game before going to No. 7 Notre Dame on Nov. 11 for the regular season opener.

Support student media! Please consider donating to The State News and help fund the future of journalism.

Discussion

Share and discuss “Women's basketball tops Ferris St., 100-52” on social media.