Dec. 8, 2000

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Michigan State held Samford to its second lowest offensive output in school history as the Spartans defeated the Bulldogs 63-35 in women's basketball action in front of a crowd of 1,045 at Seibert Hall on Friday night.

Samford (2-6) only scored 15 points in the first half as Michigan State jumped out to a 30-15 halftime lead. The Spartans (5-3), who lead the Big Ten in field goal percentage defense, held Samford to just 20 percent shooting in the first half and 23 percent in the game. Meanwhile, Michigan State shot 41 percent for the game and out rebounded the Bulldogs 54-32.

"It is a great opportunity to play a team like Michigan State in our gym," said Samford head coach Janet Cone. "They play great defense, but I thought our defense was pretty good tonight. When you hold a team like that to 63 points you should have a chance to win. We just need to find some scoring."

If nothing else, the Bulldogs were consistent on offense as seven players each scored five points to give Samford its score of 35. Michigan State was led by the duo of Vnemina Reese and Jennifer Callier who each scored 13 points and Julie Pagel who grabbed 11 rebounds.

Michigan State held Samford to just five points over the first 10 minutes of the first half to open up an 18-5 lead. The Bulldogs never got closer than 11 points the rest of the game. The Spartans enjoyed their largest lead at 30 points before Aimee Cochran hit a jumper as time expired to make the final 63-35.

Michigan State outscored Samford 38-8 in the paint. Most of those points were scored on the offensive glass as the Spartans had 20 offensive rebounds in the game.

Samford will take a week off for exams and play next Saturday, Dec. 16, at Tennessee-Martin. Michigan State will travel to Tuscaloosa to face Alabama on Sunday in a game that will be televised on ESPN2.