Nov. 4, 2007

EAST LANSING - Despite the daunting task of a Big Ten vs. GLIAC matchup, the Lake Superior State women's basketball team had higher expectations than a 29-point loss when it played at Michigan on Saturday. The Lakers expected a much tougher challenge from 18th-ranked Michigan State on Sunday and lived up to the billing.

LSSU played even with the Spartans for more than 25 minutes in front of 5,018 fans at the Breslin Center. Only a 15-2 run midway through the second half, and back-to-back three-point plays by MSU's Courtney Davidson and Kalisha Keane made the difference in a 71-52 Spartan exhibition win.

Amanda Epolito

MSU, which was a 30-point winner over Grand Valley State last Thursday, played without 6-9 sophomore center Allyssa DeHaan, who suffered a sprained ankle against GVSU, and Aisha Jefferson, who left early during Sunday's game with an apparent knee injury.

Lake Superior State led 11-4 as Jacklyn Armstrong scored LSSU's first eight points and Ronlea Peterson added a three-pointer. Michigan State took its first lead, 15-13, on Davidson's three-pointer at 10:03.

After the Spartans crept ahead 26-19 late in the first half, LSSU's Allison Jaynes made a three-pointer to cut the lead to 26-22. Laker Shalyn Beauchamp grabbed an offensive rebound and went the length of the floor to bring the Lakers within two points with 38 seconds to go. LSSU tied it, 26-26, after Armstrong recovered a loose ball and found Beauchamp, who hit Annie Dykhouse for a fast-break lay-up.

"I was proud of the way the girls played," said LSSU coach Jamie Pewinski, who was coaching against the coach who recruited her to play at Oakland more than a decade ago. "I thought we played tough, physical and did well on the boards. We matched up with them in the first half."

Armstrong finished the half with 12 points, followed by Jaynes with five. The Lakers only had 12 first-half turnovers, forced 14 MSU turnovers, and were even with the Spartans on the boards, 19-19.

A 12-minute scoring drought during the second half at Michigan was still fresh on the Lakers' minds. LSSU refused to back down in their second chance against a Big Ten opponent.

Beauchamp drew a foul at 15:12 of the second half and made one of two free throws for a 31-30 Lake State lead. The Lakers also led 34-32 when Beauchamp hit a three-pointer at the 30-second buzzer.

Michigan State picked up the intensity at the offensive boards and took off on a 10-0 run. MSU's Kalisha Keane extended the run to 15-2 by converting a three-point play at 9:42. Despite the momentum change, LSSU was still within 10 points, 47-37, with nine minutes to go and was pushing the ball up the floor.

LSSU's Jaynes and Nicole Marshall, and MSU's Davidson traded three-pointers as Michigan State led 57-43 with 5:45 remaining.

"In the second half they stepped it up a bit and banged us inside more," Pewinski said. "We gave up way too many three-point plays. They made a five or six-minute run that we couldn't come back from. But I'll take a five to six-minute run compared to a 12-minute run last night."

Armstrong finished with 13 points and four rebounds, while Jaynes had seven, and Danielle Makins, Beauchamp and Marshall added six each. Alyssa VanderWal led LSSU in rebounds with eight, followed by Makins with five. Peterson totaled four assists.

"I love playing in the Breslin," said Armstrong, who is a Haslett native. "I had a lot of family and friends here. I was definitely pumped."

Keane led MSU with 21 points and 12 rebounds. Davidson finished with 19 points, including four three-pointers.