SPORTS
Women still seek distinction
The MSU hockey team defeated Michigan this weekend, but it wasn’t the only MSU skaters to hit the ice.The No.
ICE HOCKEY
Weekend contest could be Masons last vs. Wolverines
The Ron vs. Red era could fade into history this weekend as fifth-ranked MSU tangles with archrival No.
SPORTS
Sports briefs
Wrestling The No. 18 wrestling team host Northwestern at 7:30 p.m. today at Jenison Field House. MSU (4-8 overall, 1-3 Big Ten) holds a 23-14-1 edge over the Wildcats (7-10, 0-5) all-time. The Spartans then travel to Penn State (5-9, 2-3) for a 1 p.m.
SPORTS
Season opens with Classic
The MSU softball team opens its season today at the Louisville Slugger Classic in Tempe, Ariz. The Spartans get started at 9 a.m.
BASKETBALL
U looking to rebound
After a disappointing effort its last time out, the Spartan men’s basketball team travels to West Lafayette, Ind., to take on Purdue at 7 p.m.
SPORTS
Weapon in hand, Spartans off to Junior Olympics
Three members of the MSU Fencing Club have fought their way to the Junior Olympics in Columbus, Ohio, this weekend.
BASKETBALL
U lacked desire in loss
Spartan head coach Tom Izzo could point fingers in a lot of directions following Tuesday’s 63-61 loss to No.
FOOTBALL
Coach leaves for Panthers
After one year, MSU’s linebackers and special teams coach has decided to move on to the next level. Spartan head coach Bobby Williams announced Wednesday that Sal Sunseri has resigned.
SPORTS
Opportunities abound at U
For many MSU athletes, their homes and families are not that distant. But for some, they are a world away.As a member of the Spartans swimming and diving team (6-5 overall, 1-4 Big Ten), Ildiko Szekely is one of those athletes.The interdisciplinary studies and international relations senior has spent most of her MSU years away from her family in Budapest, Hungary.“They love that I have this opportunity here in the U.S.,” Szekely said.
BASKETBALL
Spartans tournament future on bubble
After losing 63-61 to No. 18 Illinois on Tuesday night, the MSU men’s basketball team was forced to add a new word to its dictionary - bubble.Unless the Spartans win the Big Ten Tournament, they will likely be on the fringe of the 65-team pool in March’s NCAA Tournament.
SPORTS
Lions next for Spartans
The MSU women’s basketball team’s goal is still to play in the NCAA Tournament. But another Big Ten loss would secure a losing conference record, therefore the Spartans (15-9 overall, 5-8 Big Ten) must run the table to keep realistic postseason hopes alive.
ICE HOCKEY
Goalie gives commitment
MSU’s commitment list swelled to five when Northville goaltender Justin Tobe pledged to the Spartans. The 5-foot-11, 157-pounder plays for the Compuware Ambassadors of the North American Hockey League.
FOOTBALL
Junior college linebacker visits E.L., takes in game
The MSU football program could receive another commitment for the 2002 recruiting class. But unlike the 19 players who have already given MSU football head coach Bobby Williams the nod, Derrick Pope, a 6-foot-1, 218-pound sophomore linebacker from Garden City Community College in Kansas, would add some hits to the offensively heavy class.
BASKETBALL
Illini take rematch with Spartans
For the second time this season, the MSU men’s basketball team saw a streak come to an end at Breslin Center. The Spartans’ 63-61 loss to No.
ICE HOCKEY
List shrinks of possible Mason replacements
If the rumor mill is on track, MSU has apparently lost its top candidate to replace Spartan hockey head coach Ron Mason. Denver head coach George Gwozdecky held a press conference Tuesday afternoon to announce a long-term contract extension to stay with the Pioneers.
SPORTS
Spartans thrive in close games, gain confidence
As the turnaround of the MSU women’s basketball team continues, the biggest difference has come in close games.Not only are the Spartans (15-9 overall, 5-8 Big Ten) winning more games overall, they have played in the same number of games decided by five points or less as last season.
SPORTS
Sports briefs
Runner off to NCAAs The women’s track and field team sent sophomore distance runner Jamie Krzyminski to the Cannon IV Classic Saturday to compete in the 5000-meter run. Krzyminski finished fifth with a time of 16:35.99, a provisional qualifying mark for the NCAA Indoor Championships scheduled for March 8-9 in Fayetteville, Ark. The NCAA qualifying time gave Krzyminski a fourth-place spot on MSU’s top five all-time indoor performance list at 5000-meters. The team’s next meet will be the Jack Skoog Open on Friday in Mount Pleasant, Mich. Golfers sit at 9th place The women’s golf team sits in 9th place following Tuesday’s second round action at the TRW Regional Challenge. The tournament is being held at the par 71 Palos Verdes Golf Club in Palos Verdes Estates, Calif. Fifthteenth-ranked MSU shot a 310 in the first round before shooting 303 in the second for a two-day total of 613. The women’s golf team finished day one at the challenge with a 12th-place finish. Final round action begins at 11 a.m.
SPORTS
Wrestlers downed in weekend matches
The MSU wrestling team suffered two losses this weekend. On Saturday, the No. 20 Spartans (4-8 overall, 1-4 Big Ten) lost 32-6 to No.
SPORTS
Spartans sign recruits
After capturing the 2001 Big Ten Championship in field hockey, the Spartans added four highly-ranked recruits to next year’s roster.Head coach Michele Madison, the 2001 Big Ten Coach of the Year, will welcome in two athletes from Delaware and one each from Ohio and California.Maggie Giddens, Michelle Huynh-ba, Megan Kunk and Jessica Miller all signed national letters of intent to play at MSU.Madison could not be reached for comment because she’s in South Africa serving as an assistant coach for the U.S.
ICE HOCKEY
Freshman rides learning curve
As one of the most heralded skaters in MSU’s highly touted, eight-player recruiting class, freshman defenseman Duncan Keith had plenty of expectations coming into his rookie season.He furthered his reputation by scoring in his first collegiate game, “The Cold War.” His laserlike slap shot helped the Spartans tie archrival Michigan, 3-3.He tallied again in his fifth game, a 4-3 loss to Nebraska-Omaha on Oct.