It wasn’t an easy win, but a win nonetheless. Despite trailing for most of the first half, the No. 21 women’s basketball team (5-1 overall) overcame Temple’s stifling defense and increased its winning streak to five games by defeating the Owls (3-1) 74-70 in Philadelphia, Pa.
After completing an undefeated four-game home stretch Saturday, the No. 21 MSU women’s basketball team now will face Temple on the road at 7 p.m. Tuesday to Philadelphia.
Madison Williams already has suffered three anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, tears. But something is telling her she isn’t done yet. The redshirt junior center and former McDonald’s All-American only played in three collegiate games prior to this season. On Saturday night, a Breslin Center crowd of nearly 6,000 witnessed her play in her first game since Nov. 15, 2011. To a standing ovation from the crowd, Williams entered the game with about 15 minutes left in the first half. In two stints — one in the first half and one in the second half — Williams played five minutes and showed a glimpse of her potential when she scored six points, and recorded one rebound, one block and one steal. “(It’s) such a huge weight off,” Williams said about playing in her first game in two years. “All I’m thinking right now is I’m so thankful. God is so good to me just that I can get out there and I’m safe. He kept me safe in that game.
After leading by only two points at halftime, the No. 21 MSU women’s basketball team made a 13-0 run midway through the second half that powered the Spartans through to a win against Rice on Saturday night at Breslin Center. Early in the first half, the Spartans (4-1 overall) got into foul trouble, which saw senior forward Annalise Pickrel head to the bench for most of the first half after picking up two fouls in just two minutes. In the second half, Rice (3-3) tied it right off the bat when forward Megan Palmer hit a layup, but back-to-back 3-pointers by senior guard Klarissa Bell and junior guard Kiana Johnson gave MSU the lead back, and the Spartans wouldn’t lose it again. With less than 10 minutes left, the Owls cut the lead to only four off an Alyssa Lang 3-pointer.
The No. 21 MSU women’s basketball team had no trouble putting away Detroit-Mercy on Wednesday night as the Spartans rolled to an 80-41 victory. The outstanding play of redshirt freshman Branndais Agee as well as a pair of double-digit runs were key in helping the Spartans (3-1 overall) secure the 39-point victory against the Titans (1-4). After Detroit-Mercy guard Senee Shearer hit a 3-pointer to briefly tie the game at 11, MSU started to pull away with 3-pointers by freshman Tori Jankoska, senior guard Klarissa Bell, Agee and sophomore guard Cara Miller on four of the next six possessions to give MSU a 23-13 point lead.
It was the half of the jumpshot for both teams, but the No. 21 MSU women’s basketball team is leading Detroit-Mercy, 42-22, at Breslin Center. The Spartans started the game off with an opening jumper from the top of the key by redshirt freshman guard Aerial Powers, shortly followed by a corner 3-pointer by senior guard Klarissa Bell.
When the No. 21 MSU women’s basketball team returns to action Wednesday night, the Spartans will square off against Detroit Mercy at 7 p.m. at Breslin Center. MSU (2-1 overall) is coming off of an overtime victory against then-No. 21 Dayton, and Detroit Mercy (1-3) is off from back-to-back losses against Western Michigan and Michigan.
After a stellar first week of her college basketball career, the Big Ten announced Monday redshirt freshman guard Aerial Powers was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week. It was the first time an MSU player was awarded the conference’s Freshman of the Week since junior forward Becca Mills did so on Nov.
It went all the way down to the wire and needed an overtime period to finish, but the No. 19 MSU women’s basketball team pulled out the win against No. 23 Dayton, 96-89. With MSU trailing by two and just a minute left in play, senior forward Annalise Pickrel went up for a layup but was fouled. She made both free throws to tie the game. Redshirt freshman Aerial Powers immediately stole the inbound pass which led to an easy basket by sophomore guard Cara Miller. But Dayton guard Amber Deane was able to make her own layup as well as draw a foul against senior guard Klarissa Bell. She pursued to make the free throw to give Dayton the one-point lead. After making the big steal, Powers made a poor turnover which led Bell to foul Deane again, but Deane could only hit one shot from the line.
The No. 19 women’s basketball team is in a battle with No. 23 Dayton, as the Spartans lead the Flyers, 34-23. However, it wasn’t the crowd or the sound of a swooshed jump shot that was heard the most — it was the refs’ whistle.
The No. 19 MSU women’s basketball team didn’t look as sharp in the second half as they did in the first, but they still cruised to a 102-54 win against Canisius Thursday night. MSU came out of the locker room slow, and allowed the Golden Griffins to hit a pair of 3-pointers right out of the gate.
?It’s been a three-point shooting spectacle in the home opener for the MSU women’s basketball team as they lead Canisius 61-22 at the half. Five different Spartans tickled the twine from 3-point land.
As the men prepare to take on top-ranked Kentucky, Suzy Merchant and the No. 20 MSU women’s basketball team will face its own challenge Monday night. The Spartans will open their season against No. 7 Notre Dame at 7 p.m. in South Bend, Ind.
On Sunday night, junior forward Becca Mills enjoyed the fruits of her labor. A summer spent on developing a post game was shown in Sunday’s 91-47 win over Grand Valley State, where Mills posted 18 points, five rebounds and two blocks in just 24 minutes.
Grand Valley State was no match for the No. 18 MSU women’s basketball team on Sunday afternoon at Breslin Center, with MSU picking up its second preseason win, 91-47. It was the final tune-up match before MSU faces No.
After one half of play at Breslin Center, the No. 18 women’s basketball team leads Grand Valley State, 43-26. GVSU kept the game within a couple of points for much of the half, but the Spartans started to take control of the game nearing halftime. MSU shot the ball well from behind the arc, going 5-for-10 on 3-pointers. MSU was led by senior forward Annalise Pickrel’s eight points, six rebounds and two assists.
In her debut college game, Tori Jankoska put up 27 points, had 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, leading the Spartans to a 100-52 victory over Ferris State University. Women’s basketball head coach Suzy Merchant was pleased with Jankoska’s performance.
In her debut college game, Tori Jankoska put up 27 points, had 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, leading the Spartans to a 100-52 victory over Ferris State University. Women’s basketball head coach Suzy Merchant was pleased with Jankoska’s performance.
Good defense and even better shooting led the No. 18 MSU women’s basketball game to a 100-52 win against Ferris State on Wednesday night at Breslin Center in the first of the team’s two preseason games.
In the No. 18 MSU women’s basketball team’s first half against Ferris State, the Spartans lead 54-23. Ferris got off to a quick start in the early going, leading 8-4 at one point, but freshman guard Tori Jankoska gave the Spartans a lift with her hot shooting from long range.