Michigan State Faces Tough Test In Undefeated South Florida

Dec. 1, 2006

Complete MSU-South Florida Game Notes
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EAST LANSING, Mich. - Riding a three-game winning streak, the No. 20/18 Michigan State women's basketball team will welcome to the Breslin Center a formidable opponent in the Big East's undefeated South Florida on Sunday afternoon.

Last season, the Spartans got 50 of their 81 points from Liz Shimek and Lindsay Bowen as they cruised to an 81-66 win at the Sun Dome in Tampa, Fla., in the first meeting between the schools.

The Spartans have a very balanced scoring attack, with four players averaging double figures through the first six games. Senior guard Victoria Lucas-Perry leads the way, averaging 14.0 points and 7.2 rebounds per contest and freshman center Allyssa DeHaan is a welcome compliment, averaging 13.7 points and eight rebounds per contest.

South Florida, which has started its season 7-0, is averaging 91.3 points per game and have two players averaging above 19 points per game.

Senior All-America candidate Jessica Dickson has led the team, averaging 20.4 points per game and the 5-11 forward also averages 4.9 rebounds and 2.0 assists. Sophomore Shantia Grace has been a compliment to Dickson, averaging 19.9 points and six assists per game.

Spartan Notables

• Michigan State has a 28-6 (.824) mark all-time against Big East schools, having played 12 of the conference's 15 schools at least once. The Spartans have an undefeated mark against nine schools.
• The Spartans finished off November with a 5-1 mark. In head coach Joanne P. McCallie's seven years as head coach, MSU is 26-10 (.722) in the month.
• Freshman Allyssa DeHaan's 28 points against Rhode Island comprise the second-highest total by a freshman in MSU history.
• Senior Katrina Grantham pulled down a career-high 11 rebounds against Rhode Island. The tri-captain has tied or set six personal career highs this season.
• Senior Rene Haynes became the 27th player in school history to reach 900 career points with her eight-point performance against Rhode Island.
• Michigan State has posted a remarkable 53-9 (.855) mark at the Breslin Center since the 2002-03 season.
• Michigan State has held opponents to a .312 field goal percentage from the floor.
• Head coach Joanne P. McCallie enters the game three wins shy of 300 in her career.