The Spartan softball team had a rough past weekend dropping their last three games First on Friday they lost to UC Riverisde with a score of 9-2.
The men's football team is coming off another Top-5 finish and the players that find themselves in the position to take the next step seem to be putting the school even further on the map. The Big Ten often gets a rep for having slower big body type athletes but there are several former Spartans setting the trails on fire at the NFL combine. Cornerback Trae Waynes is looking to be the second consecutive MSU corner taken in the first round of the NFL draft in as many years, as many know former Spartan Darqueze Dennard was the 24th overall pick.
In a Big Ten grinder, the defense of MSU men’s basketball carried the team to a timely 60-53 road win at Illinois.
Following its fourth straight win, MSU (19-8 overall, 10-4 Big Ten) is starting to work its way off of the NCAA tournament bubble. In Joe Lunardi's latest bracket for ESPN, the Spartans have moved up to a seven seed in the East region.
By Matthew Argillander margillander@statenews.com The No. 60 men's tennis team (7-5 overall) will need to think hard about what held them back this weekend.
The Spartans nearly let another sure win slip away, but an uncharacteristically strong night at the line helped MSU steal a road win from one of the best home teams in the Big Ten. MSU (19-8 overall, 10-4 Big Ten) drained 17 of 20 free throw attempts to defeat Illinois, 60-53.
Tears were shed and standing ovations were received before the opening possession occurred on Sunday. Battling with ACL tears on both of her knees, redshirt senior Madison Williams has spent the entirety of this season sitting on the bench, cheering for her teammates day in and day out. But on the final home game of the year for the Spartans, Williams would get the nod from head coach Suzy Merchant to be slotted into the starting lineup. Along with Williams, Kendra Lumpkin, seniors Kendra Lumpkin, Kelsey Kuipers, Anna Morrissey and Becca Mills were honored after the weekend matinee.
At halftime, MSU leads Illinois, 26-22. Senior forward Branden Dawson started the game off strong, muscling his way to the rim and finishing the lay-in despite a foul.
Tears were shed and standing ovations were received before the opening possession occurred on Sunday. Battling with an ACL on both of her knees, redshirt senior Madison Williams has spent the entirely of this season sitting on the bench, cheering for her teammates day in and day out. But on the final home game of the year for the Spartans, Williams would get the nod from head coach Suzy Merchant to be slotted into the starting lineup. Having her name called by the public address announcer brought the crowd to their feet in support of Williams, one of five seniors honored at the Breslin Center on Senior Day. Despite losing the opening tip off and being immediately taken out by freshman Lexi Gussert, it was the one shining moment that Williams deserved after not seeing the court all season. Still searching for that first quality win since their Dec.
The Spartans supporters rose to their feet on two separate occasions before a single point was even scored. Both times for a player who made her first appearance on the court this season. Madison Williams, the senior who has been battling an ACL tear on both of her knees, got the start at center on Senior Day.
MSU hockey (13-13-2, 7-5-2-2 Big Ten) rebounded from a 2-1 loss on Friday with a 3-0 shutout over Wisconsin (4-20-4, 2-10-2 Big Ten). Junior goaltender Jake Hildebrand finished with 31 saves and junior forward Ryan Keller notched two goals in the victory. Sophomore forward Thomas Ebbing added his third goal of the season, and junior captain Michael Ferrantino collected two assists.
A complete turnaround for the Spartans since the end of last year has finally taken shape with three games remaining of the regular-season. And it's not for the better. Unlike the 2014 program who fought their way to the second round of the NCAA tournament before falling short to North Carolina, MSU's long and treacherous journey in hopes of receiving a bid at The Big Dance starts at the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates, Ill, the site of the 2015 Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament. If the season ended today, Suzy Merchant's squad would face last place Penn State in the first round as an 11th seed.
MSU hockey (12-13-2, 6-5-2-2 Big Ten) dropped a disappointing contest to a struggling Wisconsin (4-19-4, 2-9-2 Big Ten). The Badgers jumped out to a 2-0 lead after two second period goals, and only sophomore forward Joe Cox could score in the third period on way to a 2-1 loss. Junior goaltender Jake Hildebrand finished with 16 saves on the night, while UW’s Joel Rumpel notched 33 saves in the Badgers victory.
The 2015 season will be a key year for MSU as a program, the team is losing several key pieces but the Spartans still have enough talent coming in and returning to be good again.
Three weeks ago, the men's basketball team hit rock bottom, suffering perhaps its worst loss of Big Ten season against Illinois at Breslin Center.
The No. 60 men's tennis team the No. 22 Memphis Tigers Thursday evening on the Spartans home court. The match started with a very competitive set of doubles matches.
Women’s golf shot a 304 in their first round of the season, at the Regional Challenge in Palos Verdes Estates, Calif.
It’s been an unpredictable year so far for Big Ten hockey with many over performing teams and players.
To put the Rutgers' season into perspective, read the plot line of the Friday the 13th movie. Rutgers, otherwise known as Jason Voorhees, the hockey mask wearing serial killer who stalks and torments camp counselors, is the metaphor to how well the first-year Big Ten conference participant have performed since joining the conference. Just like Voorhees, the body count is towering this year for the Scarlet Knights, winners of eight of the last 10 games.