Central Michigan University
Michigan State
Chippewas Fall To No. 10 Spartans, 75-50
12/30/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 30, 2005
EAST LANSING, Mich. - A hot-shooting Michigan State squad proved too much for the Central Michigan University women's basketball team as the Chippewas dropped a 75-50 decision to the 10th-ranked Spartans on Friday evening in East Lansing, Mich.
The loss drops CMU to 9-2 while MSU improves to 9-3 on the year.
The Spartans finished the game with a .588 clip from the field, over .220 points better then the Chippewas mark of .364. MSU was also 5-of-11 from three-point range and 10-of-10 at the free throw line while CMU hit just 3-of-17 threes and 7-of-11 at the charity strip.
CMU's Casey Manning put together an all-around solid game with 15 points, seven assists, six steals, six rebounds and two blocks. All of those marks were or tied for team-highs. Manning was 5-for-10 from the field and 4-of-6 from the line.
Chasidy Myers added 12 points for CMU, going 5-for-7 from the floor. Erin Kuhl tallied eight points, including a pair of three-pointers, and Sharonda Hurd recorded six boards to share team-high honors with Manning.
The Spartans got off to a hot start, beginning the game 7-for-7 from the field which help them hold a 22-11 lead seven minutes into the game. CMU battled back within nine at 24-15 at the 9:04 mark, but the Chippewas would go scoreless over the next eight minutes as MSU went on a 12-0 run for a 21-lead with a minute to good.
The Maroon and Gold did pick up some momentum heading into the half with a 7-2 run in the final minute, making the score 38-22 at the half, but the Spartans put away the game with an 11-0 run to begin the second half. MSU would push its lead to as big as 32 points, but CMU keep fighting to the end, tallying a 13-8 run to end the game.
Victoria Lucas-Perry led MSU with 16 points and six assists, while Liz Shimek, the Big Ten's leading scorer, had 14 tallies. CMU did hold Shimek, second in the Big Ten in rebounding, to just three boards.
The game was a tough, physical battle with CMU forcing 27 turnovers only to turn the ball over themselves 29 times. MSU did outrebound the Chippewas, 32-27, but CMU held a 13-7 edge on the offensive glass. The Spartans also had more steals, 19-18, and assists, 25-14, while CMU had more blocks, 5-1.
The Chippewas did a short break before they begin the Mid-American Conference schedule with a game at Western Michigan on Saturday, Jan. 7. Tip off in Kalamazoo, Michigan is set for 2 p.m.
