March 28, 2008

Complete Release in PDF Format

Michigan and Michigan State will face off in the quarterfinals of the 2008 Postseason WNIT on Sunday at 2 p.m. ET at MSU's Breslin Center. The Wolverines earned a berth into the round after defeating Virginia Commonwealth, 75-57, in the second round before downing Southern Miss, 59-45, in third-round action. The Spartans advance by virtue of a 74-66 win over Bowling Green in the second round and a 58-54 victory against Kansas in the third round. Each team received a first-round bye in the tournament and earned the opportunity to host first- and second-round competition.

Michigan's berth into the Postseason WNIT marked the Wolverines' first postseason appearance since 2001 and the team's first WNIT bid since 1999. Michigan's win over VCU in the second round marked the program's first postseason win in seven years, while this is the first time in team history the Wolverines have won two games in a single postseason. Michigan's defeat of Southern Miss on Thursday gave the team 19 wins for just the fifth time in the 35-year history of the program and the first since the 2000-01 campaign. A win over Michigan State on Sunday would give the Wolverines the team's third 20-win season in history and first since 1999-00.

Senior Janelle Cooper has led the Wolverines this postseason, combining for 32 points over two games, including a season-high 22-point performance against VCU on Monday. Junior Stephany Skrba and sophomore Krista Phillips have paced Michigan on the boards, each averaging six rebounds per game in WNIT action.

Michigan State's Postseason WNIT bid is the program's fourth and the Spartans' seventh consecutive postseason appearance. MSU's win over Bowling Green last Saturday gave the team 20 wins, marking the fifth straight season the team has reached the milestone. It also made head coach Suzy Merchant just the second mentor in school history, in men's or women's basketball, to reach the 20-wins mark in her first season at the helm.

Freshman Kalisha Keane has fronted the Spartans' offensive attack, averaging 15 points per game in the WNIT. Keane posted her fourth 20-point game of the season in MSU's second-round win over Bowling Green. First-Team All-Big Ten selection Allyssa DeHaan has averaged 14 points per game for the Spartans in the bracket, also contributing eight rebounds and four blocks per contest over the two games. DeHaan scored her 900th career point and grabbed her 500th career rebound in MSU's win over Kansas on Thursday.