Northwestern University Athletics
Women's Basketball At Michigan State Tonight
2/3/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 3, 2000
NORTHWESTERN WOMEN'S BASKETBALL vs. Michigan State
DATE/TIME: February 3, 2000/7 p.m.
SITE: Breslin Center (East Lansing, Mich.)
TV: None
RADIO: WNUR (89.3 FM)
ABOUT NORTHWESTERN (6-13, 3-6 Big Ten)
The 'Cats look to extend the Spartans' losing streak tonight. The 'Cats have dropped their last two contests, falling to Indiana and Purdue last week. NU rallied from a four-point halftime deficit, but Indiana was able to survive a frenzied final 10 seconds to claim the win last Wednesday. Junior forward Tami Sears had a career-high 24 points against the Hoosiers before sitting out the Purdue game because of a strained right knee. Freshman Nicole Daniels led the 'Cats with seven points in the loss to the Boilers.
ABOUT MICHIGAN STATE (14-6, 5-4 Big Ten)
The Spartans will put their 12-game home winning streak on the line tonight as they take on the 'Cats. The Spartans look to snap a two-game losing streak after falling to Illinois and Ohio State last week. In the loss to Ohio State, Kristen Rasmussen led the team with 12 points and 11 rebounds for her 12th double-double of the season. MSU committed 32 turnovers for the game. On Sunday the Spartans fell to Illinois, 86-66, the first time all season they have lost back-to-back games. Rasmussen earned her 13th double-double of the season, and leads the Big Ten in that category. The Spartans are led by Becky Cummings, who averages 16.0 points per game. Rasmussen is the team's leading rebounder, pulling down 10.8 boards per game. Rasmussen has posted a double-double in six straight games and in 11 of the last 12 contests overall. She leads the Big Ten with 13.
THE SERIES
Northwestern owns a 21-18 advantage over the Spartans in a series that began during the 1975-76 season. Michigan State captured both meetings between the two teams last year. The 'Cats defeated the Spartans, 58-55 earlier this season -- the win was their first over MSU since Jan. 20, 1995.
NU PROBABLE STARTERS
F - Leslie Schock (Sr., 6-0) 9.1 ppg, 5.7 rpg
F - Natalie Will (Fr., 5-9) 2.4 ppg, 2.5 rpg
C - Leslie Dolland (Fr., 6-2) 5.9 ppg, 5.5 rpg
G - Dana Leonard (Jr., 5-6) 10.6 ppg, 2.2 rpg
G - Emily Butler (Fr., 5-8) 7.2 ppg, 2.9 rpg
MSU PROBABLE STARTERS
F - Maria Recker (Fr., 5-10) 5.3 ppg, 1.8 rpg
F - Becky Cummings (Jr., 6-3) 16.0 ppg, 7.7 rpg
C - Kristen Rasmussen (Sr., 6-4) 14.2 ppg, 10.8 rpg
G - Maxann Reese (Sr., 5-9) 14.6 ppg, 3.1 rpg
G - Vnemina Reese (Fr., 5-7) 4.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg
HOW THEY MATCH UP
Points -- NU 54.1, MSU 73.6
Points Allowed -- NU 68.2, MSU 66.4
Rebounds -- NU 37.2, MSU 41.8
Rebound Margin -- NU +1.8, MSU +4.9
FG% -- NU .387, MSU .455
FG% defense -- NU .438, MSU .399
3-pt FG% -- NU .331, MSU .326
FT% -- NU .561, MSU .701
Assists -- NU 14.63, MSU 18.2
Turnovers -- NU 22.63, MSU 18.9
Blocks -- NU 2.15, MSU 4.8
Steals -- NU 6.0, MSU 8.95
