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Home > SECWB News & More! > SEC Teams > LSU > LSU vs. Michigan State Preview (Pre-Season WNIT Semifinal)
LSU vs. Michigan State Preview (Pre-Season WNIT Semifinal)
by LeAnne Harrington, SECWB.com
Posted: November 15th, 2007 @ 6:49pm
LSU (#4 ESPN/USA Today /#4 AP) and Michigan State (#17 AP /#18 ESPN/USA Today) have each had fairly easy games up to this point in the Pre-Season WNIT, but that’s all about to change as they face each other in the semifinal round this evening in Baton Rouge. LSU routed Samford 86-38 in the first round, and then beat TCU 73-54 in the quarterfinals. Michigan State was equally as impressive in their first 2 games, dominating IUPUI 65-35 and then soundly beating Evansville 73-53. But one of these two undefeated teams will go home with a loss this evening after this early season matchup of Top 25 teams.
On paper, one would assume that LSU should be a lock to win this game. After all, LSU has their entire starting 5 back from last season’s Final Four team. Led by 6’6” All-America senior center Sylvia Fowles, LSU has a wealth of experience on a team that boasts 9 seniors, all hungry to not just get to the Final Four this year, but to win it all in their final shot. Add to that the knowledge they gained in new-to-LSU Hall of Fame head coach Van Chancellor, and LSU looks to be one of the top teams to beat this year. But Michigan State may present one of the more intriguing matchups that LSU will face all season. Although MSU is not as experienced, returning only 2 starters from last year’s 24-9 team, they have their own force in the middle in sophomore center Allyssa DeHaan. At 6’9”, DeHaan is one of the taller opponents Fowles will bang against this year, and she has thrown up some impressive numbers of her own so far in her young career. Voted last year’s Big Ten Freshman of the Year, DeHaan is MSU’s top returning scorer and rebounder who set a new Big Ten mark for blocks in a season with 145. In their first 2 games this year, DeHaan has already swatted away 15 shots, while averaging 17.5 points per game and 8 rebounds per game. It will be interesting to see how the 6’6” Fowles and the 6’9” DeHaan match up against one another. But before anyone thinks the Spartans are a one-woman team, take note that they are leading the Big Ten in not only blocked shots but also free throw shooting, and are currently second in 3-point field goal percentage and assists.
Probable starters for LSU (with season averages in parentheses): 5’11” senior guard Quianna Chaney (19.5 ppg, 3.5 apg), 5’7” senior guard RaShonta Leblanc (5.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 3 apg, 5 spg), 5’10” sophomore guard Allison Hightower (14.5 ppg, 5 apg), 6’ senior forward Ashley Thomas (3.5 ppg, 3 rpg) and 6’6” senior center Sylvia Fowles (13 ppg, 6 rpg).
Probable starters for Michigan State (with season averages in parentheses): 6’ senior forward Alisa Wulff (1.5 ppg, 2 rpg), 5’10” freshman guard Brittney Thomas (5.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 5 apg), 6’ freshman forward Cetera Washington (12 ppg, 5 rpg, 4.5 apg), 6’1” freshman forward Kalisha Keane (12.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 3 apg, 3 spg), 6’9” sophomore center Allyssa DeHaan (17 ppg, 8 rpg, 7.5 bpg).
My prediction is MSU may match up fairly well with LSU at several key positions, most notably in the middle, but look for Big Syl and her Lady Tigers to play to their strengths and school the Spartan youngsters.
Game time is set for 7 pm EST at Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge.
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