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Sports | Football 1087

SPORTS

DeHaan emerging as Big Ten star

Matt Bishop
February 20, 2007

Allyssa DeHaan's "baptism by fire," as MSU head coach Joanne P. McCallie likes to put it, finally paid off in Sunday's 62-59 win over Ohio State. Because of MSU's tough schedule, its freshman center had to face some of the top post players in the country, including LSU's Sylvia Fowles and Maryland's Crystal Langhorne. Suddenly, facing the Buckeyes' Jessica Davenport on Sunday didn't seem like such a monumental task. "It makes you realize the value of a great schedule," McCallie said at her Monday press conference.

ICE HOCKEY

Comley questions late decisions in Friday game

Zack Colman
February 20, 2007

The Spartans were centimeters away from playing an overtime frame in Friday's 4-3 loss to Western Michigan. After taking a closer look, maybe they should have been in overtime. Sophomore forward Tim Kennedy sent the puck toward the net and supposedly hit the left goal post in the waning seconds of the game.

BASKETBALL

Spartans hope to improve tourney status

Tom Keller
February 20, 2007

While the growing number of "bracketologists" attempting to predict the NCAA Tournament field are undoubtedly operating more from conjecture than fact — MSU men's basketball head coach Tom Izzo jokingly called them "proctologists" last week — their projections can be a fairly accurate gauge of a team's standing.

SPORTS

Gymnasts lose close meet to Illinois

Eric Fish
February 19, 2007

The No. 18 MSU gymnastics team fell to Illinois on Saturday at Jenison Field House, 194.700-193.925. Freshman Rochelle Robinson won the only individual event of the night by scoring a 9.850 on the vault.

SPORTS

Monday musings

Tom Keller
February 19, 2007

Former NBA player Charles Barkley, whose weight has ballooned since his playing days, beat 67-year-old referee Dick Bavetta by inches in a footrace during Saturday's NBA All-Star festivities. Barkley, who trained for the event with former Olympic medalist John Carlos, celebrated by eating Bavetta. ESPN broadcaster Dick Vitale was named one of 15 finalists for the Basketball Hall of Fame last week. Shortly thereafter, the hall announced immediate plans to install soundproof insulation. Another ESPN analyst, former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Irvin, will not return to the network next year. Looking for someone less grating and opinionated to replace him, the network has narrowed its search to everyone else in the world. Michigan forward Brent Petway made headlines when he arrived for Saturday's game with a block "M" shaved in the back of his head. Unfortunately for Petway, it was spelled wrong.

ICE HOCKEY

Icers look for answers to sluggish play

Zack Colman
February 19, 2007

Why are the Spartans struggling now of all times? Depends on who you ask. MSU's game Tuesday against Ferris State threw an obstacle at its nine-game unbeaten streak as the team was forced to play its third game in five days.

ICE HOCKEY

Icers winless in 4 games

Zack Colman
February 19, 2007

The No. 6 MSU hockey team learned a valuable lesson in Saturday's 2-0 loss to Western Michigan — there are 20 minutes in each period, right down to the last fraction of a fraction of a second. Broncos forward Patrick Galivan tallied the eventual game-winning goal for Western Michigan (16-15-1 overall, 13-12-1 CCHA) with what is believed to be .01 seconds remaining in the first period. "I thought the period was pretty much over," sophomore goaltender Jeff Lerg said.

SPORTS

Simmons ties record in MSU loss

Julie Baker
February 19, 2007

No. 2-ranked senior Nick Simmons posted his 45th fall Sunday against Penn State's Bryan Heller to tie the all-time record in MSU wrestling history. Wrestling at 141 pounds for the second time in his career, Simmons moved up from his usual weight class of 133 Friday against Indiana to fill in for brother Andy Simmons, who was out with an injury.

SPORTS

Gymnasts to face Illinois in Saturday matchup

Eric Fish
February 16, 2007

The No. 18 MSU gymnastics team returns home Saturday, when it hosts Illinois at 7 p.m. at Jenison Field House. The Spartans are coming off back-to-back weekend victories and the first perfect 10 in MSU gymnastics history from freshman Rochelle Robinson on the vault in the Fox Run Invitational.

SPORTS

Bader earns Big Ten honors for weekend play

Eric Fish
February 16, 2007

MSU junior and women's tennis player Christine Bader scored Big Ten's Co-Player of the Week on Thursday. Bader was 2-0 in singles competition last weekend and went 1-1 in doubles play as the Spartans defeated Miami (Ohio) and Ball State. The team is off to a 7-0 start — its second in team history. The Spartans return to action at 10 a.m.

ICE HOCKEY

Spartans face hot Broncos

Zack Colman
February 16, 2007

With their winning flame now doused, the No. 6 Spartans play two games against a hot Western Michigan team this weekend in a home-and-home series. MSU's 2-1 loss Tuesday to Ferris State — the team's first since Jan.

BASEBALL

Baseball team hosts First Pitch Dinner Sunday

Eric Fish
February 16, 2007

The MSU baseball team will host its second annual First Pitch Dinner at 1 p.m. Sunday in Spartan Stadium's LaSalle Bank Club. Tickets for the event are $25 for children and students, $30 for MSU baseball alumni and $50 for the general public.

SPORTS

Spartans anxious for rematch

Matt Bishop
February 15, 2007

Redemption is on the mind of the MSU women's basketball team. After a poor showing in a 55-48 win last Thursday, the Spartans look to put on a better performance at 7 p.m.

ICE HOCKEY

MSU must pick up offensive play

The question must be asked: How strong is sophomore goaltender Jeff Lerg's back? Jeff Lerg was unquestionably shaky to start the season, but if there is any reason — and maybe it's the only one — the Spartans are competing for a first-round playoff bye, it's because of their goaltender's spectacular play since December.

BASKETBALL

Big Ten Network will stop at MSU Saturday for men's basketball game

Eric Fish
February 15, 2007

The Big Ten Network will make a stop in East Lansing this weekend as part of its college basketball tour that is set to visit all 11 Big Ten schools throughout the 2007 season. The tour has been organized to promote the Big Ten Network's 24-hour coverage of sports that is set to debut on television in August. Fans in attendance at the MSU men's basketball game on Saturday will have the opportunity to win a trip for two to the 2007 or 2008 Big Ten men's basketball tournament when given a ticket while entering the game.

SPORTS

MSU women's soccer team adds 4 recruits

Sean Ely
February 14, 2007

MSU women's soccer head coach Tom Saxton announced Monday four new recruits who will join 10 returning starters from last year's squad that went 8-9-1 and missed the Big Ten playoffs. The team picked up two defenders, a defender-midfielder and a forward. "Our 2007 Michigan State recruiting class may be small in number, but it in no way will it be small in impact," Saxton said in a written statement.

SPORTS

Freshman gymnast earns 1st perfect score in MSU history

Sean Ely
February 14, 2007

When certain athletes make the transition from adolescence to college success, it can sometimes go straight to their heads. Not for freshman gymnast Rochelle Robinson. After a flawless 10.0 performance on the vault during Saturday's Fox Run Invitational in New Hampshire, Robinson got right back to her normal routine while practicing with the rest of her Spartans teammates. "I just basically take each week one at a time," Robinson.