Spartans Conclude Homestand Tuesday With Detroit
12/5/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 5, 2011
| Michigan State (6-3) vs. Detroit (1-6) | |
| Date | Tuesday, Dec. 6 |
| Time | 7 p.m. ET |
| Location | East Lansing, Mich. | Breslin Center |
| Television | none |
| Radio | WJIM 1240AM Rick Berkey (play-by-play); Mo Gerhardt (analyst) Spartan Sports Network (Listen Live) |
| Internet Coverage | BTN.com Broadcast | Live Stats (Mobile Users) |
| Tickets | Available on MSUSpartans.com |
| Game Notes | Michigan State | Detroit |
| Statistics | Michigan State (html | pdf) | |
| Social Media | @MSU_wbasketball  | Facebook  |
ABOUT DETROIT
The Titans enter the week at 1-6 on the season, but their losses are by a total of 30 points (5.0 per game). Detroit won its last game on Thursday at Ball State, 87-68. Freshman Shareta Brown leads the Titans with 17.7 points and 9.9 rebounds a game, while shooting 56.3% from the field and 78.6% from the foul line. Chanahl Putnam is also in double-figures with 11.1 points a game. Jelesa Brown is the team leader with 3.6 assists.
AGAINST THE TITANS
Michigan State leads the all-time series 17-7 against Detroit, including winning the last 12 meetings (Detroit's last win was Dec. 20, 1994). During the 12-game streak, MSU has outscored the Titans by 18.6 points per game, and in the three games since Coach Merchant has taken over the program, the Spartans are +28.7 a game. MSU is 12-1 in East Lansing in the series, winning the last 12 after losing the first meeting between the two school son Feb. 6, 1979.
AGAINST IN-STATE SCHOOLS
Michigan State has had great success against other collegiate programs in the state of Michigan over the past 10 seasons. Since the beginning of the 2002-03 season, the Spartans are 31-1 (.969) against in-state rivals, including a 16-1 (.941) mark under Coach Merchant. All-time, Michigan State is 164-56 (.745) against other Michigan schools.
LAST TIME OUT (MSU 60, Eastern Michigan 59, OT)
After a stagnant first 28 minutes, the Spartans picked up the intensity down the stretch, erasing a 14-point deficit to force overtime and eventually hold on to beat Eastern Michigan, 60-59 on Saturday, Dec. 3 at the Breslin Center. Jasmine Thomas scored MSU's final five points in the last 31 seconds of regulation, including a 3-pointer with 12 seconds left, to bring the game to extra time. Lykendra Johnson posted her third double-double of the season with 13 points and 12 rebounds. Thomas also had 13 points, a season-high, and four steals, while Kian Johnson chipped in 10 points, four assists and three steals.
The Spartans trailed 42-28 with 11:50 to go in regulation, but after a media timeout, MSU ran off seven-straight points to get within seven. The margin remained in that range, as Eastern Michigan (5-2) held a 50-44 lead with 1:44 to go. L. Johnson was fouled on an offensive rebound putback with 1:19 left, making the first but missing the second. Thomas grabbed another offensive board, setting up a K. Johnson layup to move the score to 50-47. A defensive stop on one end and a streaking layup by Thomas on the other end, brought the score to 50-49 with 31 seconds left. A quick foul put Tavelyn James to the line, who made both, setting up Thomas' dramatics. With the clock winding down, she took the ball on the wing, deep behind the line, and drilled a 3-pointer with 12 seconds left. In overtime, the two teams matched baskets early but a layup by K. Johnson and two free throws by L. Johnson gave the Spartans a 60-57 lead with 1:26 left. MSU withheld a last ditch attempt by James and the Eagles, holding on for a 60-59 victory.
LET'S PLAY MORE TIME
The Spartans have relished playing extra time over the past nine seasons. With Saturday's overtime win over Eastern Michigan, Michigan State has won 15th straight overtime games, dating back to the 2003-04 season. The streak is the longest such run among Big Ten schools. Surprisingly, only three of the 15 wins have come at home. MSU's last overtime loss came on Feb. 28, 2002 against Ohio State, 89-82, in the Big Ten Tournament.
BOUNCE BACK ABILITY
Michigan State has done a great job of bouncing back after a loss over the last couple seasons, winning its last 11 games in-season after a defeat. With their win vs. Eastern Michigan on Saturday, the Spartans have not lost back-to-back games in a season since Jan. 2010. In Coach Merchant's four seasons, the Spartans are 34-9 (79.1%) following a loss.
300 AND 100
With the win over Oakland on Nov. 27, head coach Suzy Merchant became the fastest head coach to 100 wins as a Spartan. In her five seasons, she has posted a 101-44 (.697) record since her arrival prior to the 2007-08 season. Both Karen Langeland and Joanne P. McCallie needed 155 games to win 100, while Merchant accomplished the feat in 143 games.
Coach Merchant claimed her 300th career victory on Nov. 22 at Milwaukee. All-time, Merchant is 302-165 (.647) in her 17 years as a head coach, including stops at Eastern Michigan (1998-07) and Saginaw Valley State (1995-98). Merchant is facing her former school for the first time.
SPLASH IN THE POOLE
Senior Porsche Poole has increased her scoring average in each of her seasons at MSU, averaging 3.8 as a freshman, 4.6 as a sophomore and 6.1 last season. Through nine games this season, she leads the team with 13.2 points per game, which is among the top-20 in the Big Ten. Poole has scored in double-figures in six games, including five-straight at one point, the longest stretch of her career. She also ranks among the top-15 in the Big Ten in all three shooting percentages (second in free throw, seventh in field goal and 13th in 3-point field goal).
Poole has also done a great job distributing the ball, leading the team and ranking seventh in the Big Ten with 3.8 assists per game. She already has 34 assists this season, closing in on her career high of 40 set as a sophomore.
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARDS
Senior Lykendra Johnson entered the season with the reputation as one of the best rebounders in the nation, and she has lived up to that billing early in the 2011-12 campaign. She currently leads the Big Ten with 9.8 rebounds a game. Earlier this season she set a career-high with 20 on Nov. 15 vs. IPFW. Those 20 rebounds were the seventh most ever by a Spartan and the most since Kristen Rasmussen grabbed 20 on Dec. 30, 1997. They are also the most in the Big Ten since Penn State's Nikki Greene had 20 on Jan. 23, 2011.
Johnson moved into the top-10 on the MSU career rebounding list last season and is currently seventh with 832 rebounds, only 10 out of sixth place. In terms of offensive rebounds, she is at an even quicker pace up the Spartan all-time charts. Since the stat began being recorded in 1986-87, Johnson has the second-most offensive rebounds all-time (337) and her 3.1 a game average is second to Liz Shimek (3.4).
Johnson's value on the floor for the Spartans is undeniable. So far this season, MSU is +111 with her on the court, but are -6 when she is sitting on the bench. In Big Ten games last year, the Spartans were +187 with Johnson on the floor, but -49 when she was on the bench.
STREAKING FROM THE LINE
Senior Porsche Poole has made 39 of her last 41 (95.1%) free throw attempts, dating back to last season. She had an 18 consecutive made streak snapped on Saturday, after previously having a streak of 21-straight snapped earlier this season. The 21 in a row stretch was tied for the ninth longest in MSU history.
Currently, Poole is second in the Big Ten and is 16th in the nation in free throw percentage (92.6%). Oddly enough, she entered this season as only a career 61.2% free throw shooter.
GETTING TO THE LINE
A common theme between Michigan State's wins and losses has been its ability to get to the free throw line. The Spartans are 6-0 this season when attempting at least 12 free throws, but have attempted 11 of fewer in their three losses. In the wins, MSU has shot 131 free throws (21.8 a game), in comparison to 9.7 a game in the losses (29 total).
CRASHING THE BOARDS
The Spartans are off to a positive start on the boards early in the 2011-12 season. Through the first nine games, MSU leads the Big Ten and is 10th in the country in rebound margin (+12.7). The Spartans also lead the Big Ten in both rebound percentage categories, grabbing 43.5% of all offensive rebound opportunities and 72.6% of all defensive rebound chances. Two Spartans rank among the top-15 in the conference individually with senior Lykendra Johnson leading the Big Ten with 9.8 a game and freshman Becca Mills is 11th with 7.2. Johnson is second in the conference with 3.7 offensive board, while Mills is seventh with 3.0.
MSU has out-rebounded 32 of its last 35 opponents dating back to last season, including all nine teams this season.
Last season, Michigan State led the Big Ten in rebound margin, offensive rebounds and both rebound percentage categories. MSU was +8-4 in rebound margin, which was also ninth in the nation and broke the school's single-season record. The Spartans also topped the league with 15.5 offensive rebounds a game, which tied the previous single-season record (2005-06).
MAGIC NUMBERS
In head coach Suzy Merchant's tenure, when two numbers on the scoreboard were achieved it typically has been a sign of a MSU win. When the Spartans have scored at least 70 points, their record is 44-4 (91.7%), including winning their last 27 games, while when they hold opponents to 60 points or less, their record is 78-8 (90.7%).
AMONG SPARTAN GREATS
Lykendra Johnson enters her senior season among the program's leaders in many statistical categories, and has a chance to finish among the elite players in MSU history. Currently she is second all-time at MSU in offensive rebounds (337), fourth in blocks (114), seventh in rebounds (832), 14th in free throws made (249), 14th with 182 steals and 16th with 49 3-point field goals. Johnson needs only 18 points to become the 22nd 1,000-point scorer in MSU history, and is now 24th all-time in points (982).
HOME COOKING
The 2011-12 basketball season will be the Spartans' 23rd inside the Jack Breslin Student Events Center. MSU has an all-time record of 231-80 (.743) at Breslin and have been even more dominant of late in its cozy confines, having won 24 of its last 26 games (.923).
FANS CONTINUE TO PACK THE BRESLIN
For the past seven-plus seasons, Michigan State has been one of the top programs in the country in regard to fan support. Last season marked the seventh straight season that the Spartans had been among the nation's top 15 in attendance, averaging 7,388 fans per game, which ranked ninth in the nation and second in the Big Ten. It set a new single-season attendance record, previously 6,787 in 2005-06, and tied for the highest nationally ranking (2006-07).
Michigan State had its first official sellout in program history vs. Michigan (Feb. 13) with a crowd of 14,797. It was the first sellout by a Big Ten school since Feb. 29, 2004 (Penn State), and just the ninth by a Big Ten school in their current home venue. With the sellout, the Spartans were the Big Ten Conference winner of the NCAA's Pack the House initiative.
In the 23-year history at Breslin, 1,207,865 fans have watched a MSU women's basketball game. So far this season, MSU is second in the Big Ten with 5,417 fans a game.
ON THIS DATE
Michigan State is 1-2 all-time on December 6, with its lone win coming in 1995 at Illinois State, 54-52.
