Junior guard Tori Jankoska passes the ball between Western Michigan forward Jessica Jessing, left, and Western Michigan forward Teagan Reeves and during the first half of the game against Western Michigan on Nov. 15, 2015 at Breslin Center. The Spartans defeated the Broncos , 78-40.
The now 1-0 MSU women’s basketball team kicked off its season on a high note Sunday, as they took a 78-40 victory from the 1-1 Western Michigan University Broncos.
MSU dominated much of the first quarter both offensively and defensively. Junior guard Tori Jankoska started the scoring with a 3-pointer and after that the Spartans went on a 12-0 run before Broncos guard Alex Morton got Western on the board with a set of free throws.
MSU continued to carry that domination into the half, with its potent offense giving them a 33-17 lead into halftime. Jankoska had 12 points and two rebounds at the break. Along with Jankoska, the rest of the offense looked to be in tip-top shape shooting 30 percent from behind the arc, 34.3 percent from field goal range and 75 percent from the line.
And the MSU defense was just as good as the offense. The Broncos were held to only 17 points during the first half and their shooting was sub-par to say the least. Senior forward Jessica Jessing was Western’s leading scorer going into the half with seven points.
The overpowering Spartan defense, on top of the limited Bronco offense, turned out to be a recipe for disaster for Western Michigan. The Spartans had 14 steals throughout the game and Western finished the game with 18 turnovers.
As the second half began, the Spartans picked up right where they left off and showed no signs of slowing down. Senior center Jasmine Hines led off the second half with a layup followed by a 3-pointer from redshirt sophomore guard Branndais Agee. From there, MSU opened the floodgates and took a 54-26 lead into the fourth quarter.
Sunday’s game looked promising for MSU, which made 40.9 percent of their field goals, 23.5 percent of their 3-pointers and 83.3 percent of their free throws.
Even though MSU shined in its season debut, head coach Suzy Merchant wasn’t entirely thrilled with Sunday’s victory.
“We gave up 12 offensive rebounds, we fouled the 26 times, we gave up 20 points at the free throw line, those three things,” Merchant said. “Fans don’t want to come out and see 51 free throws, but I think we did a good job with boxing out and pursuing, but on the boards we have to get a little tougher that way and stop fouling.”
Although the Spartans still remain without junior forward Aerial Powers, who sat out of Sunday’s game due to achilles soreness, MSU showed they are just as competitive without her. Jankoska led the team in scoring with 20 points, four rebounds and one assist. And both Akyah Taylor (12 points and 10 rebounds) and Jasmine Hines (10 points and 10 rebounds) had double-doubles.
“Someone said it was my first one in my whole career, I mean it took five years so it feels good,” Hines said to the media after the game. “My teammates did a really good job of getting the ball to me tonight. ... Everyone shared the ball really well and I think that was a really big part of it.”
On top of the already sour day for the Broncos, things got worse when sophomore point guard LaTondra Brooks left the game with an apparent head injury. The bottom line didn’t look good for Western, which finished with making 16.4 percent of its field goals and shot 11.1 percent from behind the arc and 74.1 percent from the line.
Next up for the lady Spartans will be the Georgia Bulldogs this Wednesday. Tip-off for Wednesday’s game against the Bulldogs is set for 7:30 p.m.
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