Women’s Basketball Dominates in Exhibition Game

The Spartans set the tone for the rest of the season Sunday evening. The Spartans took on the Grand Valley State Lakers in an exhibition game.

Starting for the Spartans were sophomore Tori Jankoska, freshman Jasmine Lumpkin, sophomore Aerial Powers and seniors Jasmine Hines and Becca Mills. All five starters posted double-digit points to help the Spartans defeat the Lakers 70-51.

“Our transition defense could be better and our close outs could be better,” Powers said.

Powers led the team with 20 points, followed by Jankoska with 15 and Hines with 12. Mills led the team with 11 rebounds. Powers, Mills and Jankoska also managed to get double-doubles.

Coach Suzy Merchant saw improvement in some players, but still thinks her players have some work to do.

“There were a few things, like the fact that we didn’t do a very good job of getting ourselves to the free-throw line bothered me in terms of the driving from our guard play,” she said. “Then I thought our bigs didn’t do a very good job against a team that didn’t have a lot of size, in terms of finishing or getting fouled in there.”

Merchant also gave many of her players minutes in the game, one of those being Lumpkin. Lumpkin played 28 minutes with 10 points, two rebounds and shot 5-7 in field goals.

“It’s a crazy feeling, but it is a great feeling coming out there, playing as a freshman,” she said. “I just have to learn from the win and just keep getting better ”

The Spartans will open up the regular season in East Lansing against Eastern Michigan on Sunday, Nov. 16 at 2 p.m.


Jennifer Aldridge is the host of Merchantaries for Impact Sports.

Photo: Nubia Buckingham/Impact Sports