Michigan State University
Illinois
MSU Women's Basketball Defeats Illinois in WNIT Second Round
3/16/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
March 16, 2002
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Freshman guard Kristin Haynie recorded her first career double-double with 12 points and a career-best 11 rebounds to lead the Michigan State women's basketball team to a 70-57 victory over Illinois in the second round of the WNIT. The Spartans, who improved to 18-12, advanced to the quarterfinal round, where they will host the winner of Sunday's Alabama - Eastern Kentucky game Tuesday, March 19, at 7 p.m.
Freshman center Kelli Roehrig added 14 points and six rebounds off the bench for Michigan State, which held a whopping 50-34 rebounding advantage. Haynie, who also matched a career-high with six assists, collected 10 of Michigan State's 27 offensive rebounds, which helped the Spartans overcome 34.7 percent shooting (25-72). MSU grabbed more than half of its own misses as Illinois managed only 20 defensive rebounds.
The Spartans started slow, failing to score in double figures until more than 11 minutes had elapsed. But Illinois did not fare much better, as the Illini never led by more than six points. Michigan State closed the half on an 8-3 run to take a 32-28 lead into the lockerroom when sophomore guard Candice Jackson, who finished with 11 points, hit a three-point bomb at the halftime buzzer. The Spartans led at the half despite shooting only 27.5 percent (11-40) by outrebounding the Illini 31-19 in the opening 20 minutes.
Michigan State came out blazing in the second half, outscoring Illinois 15-4 in the first 3:34 of the half to take a 47-32 lead. MSU hit four three-pointers and sophomore forward Julie Pagel converted a three-point play during the stretch.
Illinois responded later in the half with a 12-2 run to close within five a 51-46 with 9:03 left, but the Illini would get no closer. After the teams traded buckets, MSU reeled off eight straight points to push the advantage to 61-48 with 5:22 remaining, and Illinois would get no closer than nine the rest of the way.
Michigan State forced 19 Illinois turnovers, and hit 12 of 14 free throws, while the Illini sank only 13 of 21 free throw attempts. Illinois shot 40 percent (22-55) from the field for the game, but did not make a three-point basket in seven attempts. Iveta Marcauskaite had 15 points to pace the Illini, who ended their season with a 15-14 record, while Cindy Dallas added 12 points and 11 rebounds.
Junior forward Syreeta Bromfield, MSU's leading scorer who entered the game averaging 15.9 points, was saddled with foul trouble in the first half and ended with only eight points, all of which came in the final 6:32.
Spartan Notebook
Michigan State improved to 6-0 all-time in the first and second round of the WNIT. The Spartans have advanced to the quarterfinals in each of their three appearances in the tournament.
Michigan State's bench outscored Illinois' bench, 27-7, marking the 26th time in 30 games that MSU has had more points from its bench than its opponent.
Kristin Haynie had two steals to push her freshman single-season record to 73, and her six assists moved her to second place on the freshman single-season chart with 110.
Haynie became just the second Spartan to record a double-double this season. Syreeta Bromfield, with four, is the only other MSU player to collect a double-double.
