Michigan State University
Chicago State
Women's Basketball Crushes Chicago State, 101-52
11/26/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 26, 2000
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Following a disappointing loss to Virginia Tech on Saturday afternoon (Nov. 25), the Michigan State Spartans responded with an 101-52 crushing of Chicago State in the consolation game of the 2000 Tallahassee Democrat Seminole Classic on Sunday afternoon (Nov. 26).
"I was very pleased with today's game," said MSU Head Coach Joanne P. McCallie. "I thought we had a solid team effort and the opportunity to work on a variety of things."
The Spartans came out strong, jumping out to an early 26-12 lead 11 minutes into the game on a three-point basket by sophomore point guard Vnemina Reese. MSU outscored Chicago State, 25-8, over the next 8:39 to take a 51-20 lead into the locker room at halftime. Senior center Erin Skelly added 15 of her career-high 18 points in that stretch.
After shooting just 21.7 percent for the game against Virginia Tech, the Spartans found their shooting touch connecting on 56.7 percent (17-of-30) of their shots from the floor in the first half against CSU. The Spartan defense held Chicago State to 33.3 percent (10-of-30) shooting in the first half, including a 0-for-8 effort from the three-point line.
Candice Jackson and Erin Skelly led the Spartans first-half attack with 16 points each. Both players had solid shooting performances from the field as Jackson went 6-for-7 (.857) and Skelly, 6-for-6 (1.000).
"Candice (Jackson) and Erin (Skelly) were spark plugs for the team today," commented McCallie. "They gave us energy."
MSU came out of the locker room and went on a 14-6 run to start the second half, capped off by a Becky Cummings' basket to increase its lead to 38 (64-26) with 16:37 remaining. The Spartans increased their lead to 50 (82-32), after a Candice Jackson three-point field goal at the 10:34 mark. MSU held the Cougars to 20 points over the next 10 minutes to make the final score, 101-52.
Michigan State shot a season-best 59.4 percent (38-of-64) from the field for the game, including a 12-for-24 (.500) performance from the three-point arc. MSU held a 46-to-24 advantage on the boards, including a 34-to-15 advantage on the defensive glass. MSU's defense held Chicago State to 34.4 percent shooting (21-of-61), and a 0-for-15 performance from the three-point line.
Freshman guard Candice Jackson led Michigan State with a career-high 26 points. Jackson was 10-of-13 (.769) from the floor, including a 6-for-8 (.750) performance from the three-point line. The six threes tied for the fourth most in MSU single-game history. Jackson also added five assists, two rebounds and one steal in 29 minutes.
"Candice had a solid game," said McCallie. "She played 29 minutes and finished with five assists and no turnovers. It speaks for her maturity and leadership to our team. We are very excited that she is just a first-year player."
Senior center Erin Skelly posted her first career double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Becky Cummings finished with 15 points, while Abby Salscheider and Maria Recker chipped in eight points apiece.
Kafayat Davies led Chicago State (1-4 overall) with 11 points. Siobhan Dantzler and Olithia Eames each added 10 points in a losing cause.
Michigan State (2-2 overall) returns home to face the Detroit Titans this Thursday (Nov. 30) at 7 p.m. at the Breslin Center.
