Nov. 13, 2005

East Lansing, Mich. - Grand Valley State put up a valient effort, but Michigan State hit some clutch baskets down the stretch to pull out an 84-77 victory over the Lakers. Grand Valley State will host Calvin College Tuesday, Nov. 15 at 6 p.m. in the regular season opener.

Grand Valley State held Michigan State in check for a large part of the opening 20 minutes and found themselves down by five (34-29) with 6:47 left in the opening half. However, MSU upped its lead to 49-36 on a Rene Haynes three-pointer with 1:49 left in the opening stanza. The Spartans led by 12 (50-38) at the half.

Michigan State opened the second half with a bucket by Laura Hall, but sophomore guard Crystal Zick answered with a three-pointer to pull the Lakers within 11 (52-41) and started a 22-8 GVSU scoring run. Junior center Julia Braseth and junior guard Erika Ryskamp each contributed eight points in the scoring surge that ended with a Reams jumper to tie score at 60-60 with 10 minutes left. Following a MSU free throw to put the Spartans up 61-60, Laker All-American Niki Reams rimmed out a jumper that would have given GVSU a lead. Spartan All-American Lindsay Bowen hit the first of three straight three-pointers to put the Spartans up 64-60. Braseth and freshman forward Kim Wyngaard hit baskets to keep the Lakers within reach. Braseth hit a jumper in the paint to pull the Lakers within two (72-70) and Zick hit a three with 2:21 remaining to keep GVSU close (77-75). MSU forward Rene Haynes converted a three-point play to give the Spartans an 80-75 lead with 1:50 left, and GVSU turned the ball over on an inbounds play that MSU turned into a bucket and an 82-75 lead. Reams hit two free throws (82-77) with 1:13 left and following a missed attempt by Michigna State, GVSU had the ball down five, but Reams was unable to get a tough shot in the paint to go and the Spartans closed the scoring with a bucket at the buzzer for the final margin.

Julia Braseth notched a double-double with a career-high tying 22 points and 12 rebounds. Erika Ryskamp chipped in 20 points and eight assists, while Niki Reams added 18 points and eight caroms. Crystal Zick added nine points and four assists. GVSU shot 41.0 percent from the floor (25-61) and 75 percent from the charity stripe (18-24). GVSU also hit nine three-pointers. MSU outrebounded the much smaller Lakers by a 44-37 margin, but the Lakers dished out 18 assists and turned the ball over just 11 times.