Suzy Merchant’s Lady Spartans Squander Golden Opportunity for a Major Upset of #3 Notre Dame 71-63
Breslin Center
East Lansing, MI
The #15 Michigan State Spartans played host to an elite female basketball team tonight in the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. The Irish were ranked number three in the land coming into this game and 1-0 on the campaign (same as the Spartans) but with a heralded roster of stars.
Credit Suzy Merchant’s team they were not intimidated. The lady Spartans came out scrappy from the opening tip and gave the Irish a fight on nearly every possession. With 8:04 on the clock in the 1st half the Irish were forced to call a timeout as the Spartans had pulled ahead 20-18.
The Spartan tenacity continued throughout the remainder of the half. MSU took the 30-29 lead to the locker room at the intermission and the crowd’s sense of expectation grew. According to the pundits the Spartans weren’t even supposed to be in this game. They had the lead.
At the half the Spartans had shot an abysmal 33%, but the Irish matched them. MSU had nine turnovers to the Irish four, not a stat you would expect with the underdog leading the way at the break. We had ourselves a ball game.
At the 15:37 point of the second half with the Irish up 49-37 Spartan redshirt sophomore Aerial Powers took a nice feed down low from Jasmine Hines and put it in. She was fouled as her team went to the 1st media time out of the second half.
When the game resumed Powers missed the charity shot and the chance for the old fashion three point play.  More importantly the Breslin Center deflated. It was a crucial point. Neither team was playing well. The Irish could win playing well or not, the Spartans couldn’t. To beat the Irish MSU couldn't afford to help their opponent and they were.
If there was an upset in the air, MSU had to step it up. On national television the Spartans had a chance to make a statement and with the Irish down the game was there to be taken.
At the 9:22 point of the second half the Breslin came alive again. The Spartans got a monster stop on defense and Powers rewarded their faith with a beautiful jumper to pull the Spartans to within one at 48-47. That was as close as it would get.
Spartan miscues, missed shots and just plain mistakes were too much to overcome, even when the Irish had a bad night. In the end the Spartans lost this game more than the Irish won it and that hurts. The Spartans ended the night with 16 turnovers and shooting only 36% from the field, 22% from three and an unfathomable 53% from the line.
I asked Merchant about that fact of a missed opportunity. Losing to a good team brings no shame, but on a night you had the Irish playing poorly and at your gym is a squandered opportunity. Merchant she said, “Yeah. Well said. Even my seven year old said walking off the court, 'layups and rebounds momma.' It was disappointing.â€
I asked 2011 Women’s Hall of Fame Inductee and legendary Irish head coach Muffett McGraw about great teams being able to win when not playing their best. She would know. With one national title ring, six final fours and 21 NCAA tournament appearances, she has been there and one that.
She said, “That was a war.†Does it show a championship team mentality when you can go on the road, play one of your worst games and still find a way to win? “Boy I hope so because are so young. WE knew we would find out a lot about ourselves.â€
The Spartans next contest is Sunday here at the Breslin for a 2 PM tip with IUPUI.
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