Michigan State University
Indiana
No. 23 Michigan St. Downs Indiana, 59-41
1/2/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan 2, 2004
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Rene Haynes scored 11 points off the bench and No. 23 Michigan State made the difference with defense, allowing just over a point per minute in a 59-41 victory over Indiana on Friday night in the Big Ten opener for both teams.
The Spartans' sixth-straight win snapped a six-game losing streak in conference openers.
"We love playing defense, and that's one of our goals every game," Haynes said after the Hoosiers managed just four baskets in the last 20:15. "We want to hunker down, stop penetration, then stop their shooters."
Michigan State (10-1, 1-0 Big Ten) met its goal of allowing 56 points or less for the sixth-straight game and held the Hoosiers to 33 percent shooting from the field, including 19 percent in the second half. Michigan State has allowed an average of 46.5 points and 32 percent shooting in its last six games.
"We changed the goal to allowing 50 points or less at halftime," said the Spartans' Liz Shimek, who added nine points, a game-high nine rebounds and three of her team's 13 steals. "We just really stress defense, defense, defense. If we do that, the offense will come."
Kelli Roehrig also had nine points while Julie Pagel and Kristin Haynie each had eight in Coach Joanne P. McCallie's 100th game at Michigan State.
"I thought it was a great battle with a physical team," McCallie said after the program's fastest start since a 12-1 mark in the 1973-74 season. "I liked our team defense throughout. And to hold them scoreless in the second half until almost the 13-minute mark was great."
The Spartans -- No. 1 in the league in points allowed and opponents' field goal percentage -- held the Hoosiers (7-5, 0-1) without a basket for the first 6:04 of the second half, then for another 8:10.
"They're a good team. They're legit," Indiana coach Kathi Bennett said after her team's third loss in a row to the Spartans. "Their strength is their defense. We had five consecutive stops to start the second half and couldn't score. After that, we hung our heads."
Jenny DeMuth had 20 points for Indiana, including the game's final five points in the last 1:16 against Michigan State's reserves.
The Hoosiers were 10-for-22 at the foul line and committed 22 turnovers. Thirteen came on steals by the Spartans, who also blocked seven shots.
The Spartans led 20-17 when Haynes led a 9-0 flurry with seven quick points and had a 33-24 edge at halftime.
Michigan State scored the first seven points of the second half. Another 13-0 run midway through the period put the game away.
"We just keep emphasizing defense in practice," said Haynie, who missed only one shot and had four assists and three steals. "It was nice to get a win that should give us great confidence in the games to come. We know we're not even halfway there. We can be so much better."
The Spartans visit No. 10 Penn State on Sunday.
