MSU Women Close Out 2016 Hosting No. 2 Notre Dame
12/19/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
| Michigan State (10-2) vs. No. 2/2 Notre Dame (10-1) | |
| Date | Tuesday, Dec. 20 |
| Time | 7 p.m. ET |
| Location | East Lansing, Mich. | Breslin Center |
| Tickets | Click To Purchase |
| Television | BTN |
| Radio | Spartan Sports Network | WJIM-AM 1240 |
| Game Notes | Michigan State | Notre Dame |
| Statistics | Michigan State | Notre Dame |
| Internet Coverage | |
| Promotions | Stuff the Bus (Bring toys to old ticket office lobby) |
| Social Media | @MSU_WBasketball  |
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State will conclude non-conference action on Tuesday, Dec. 20 at 7 p.m. against No. 2 Notre Dame. The game will be televised on the Big Ten Network with Lisa Byington and Vera Jones on the call. The Spartans are currently 10-2 this season with one non-conference game remaining. Last season, Michigan State ended non-conference play with a 9-2 record. Ten wins is the most non-conference wins since MSU started the 2010-11 season with a 12-1 non-conference mark.
STARTING LINEUP
• Senior guard Tori Jankoska recorded her fourth double-double of the season with 19 points and 10 rebounds against Northeastern. The double-double against Northeastern marked her 17th one of her career.
• The Spartans are a perfect 4-0 in December with road wins against Quinnipiac and Rhode Island and home victories against Oakland and Northeastern. Michigan State has won the quartet of games by an average of 24 points.
• Jankoska is one of only two players to be in the all-time career top-10 in both assists and points. Jankoska is No. 4 in points with 1,730 and No. 6 in assists with 388. Lindsay Bowen (2002-06) is the only other player in both who is No. 3 in the record books with 1,739 career points and No. 8 all-time with 371 assists.
• Freshman guard Taryn McCutcheon now has 62 assists throughout her freshman campaign and is just two assists shy of reaching the top-10 in assists as a freshman. Lindsay Bowen is currently 10th with 64 assists at the conclusion of her freshman campaign in 2002-03.
SCOUTING NOTRE DAME
Notre Dame has three players averaging in double figures led by Arike Ogunbowale, who scores 15.6 points per game. Brianna Turner is second in scoring with 14.9 ppg, while Marina Mabrey averages 12.5 ppg.
The high scoring Irish average 82.5 points per game, while allowing only 57.5 ppg. Notre Dame has scored 907 points, while allowing only 633 points this season. The Irish shoot .489 from the field (64-of-161) and .398 from beyond the arc (139-of-200).
The Irish pull in on average 42.0 rebounds per game, which gives them the +24.9 rebounding margin over their opponents this season who have averaged 31.6 per game.
Notre Dame's only loss this season came against No. 1 UConn in South Bend, 72-61. Since the loss to the Huskies, the Irish have won two-straight games against DePaul and Toledo on the road. The Irish remain on the road to face the Spartans on Tuesday.
Senior forward Taya Reimer transferred to Michigan State from Notre Dame. She graduated in May with a degree in journalism. She played in the last meeting against MSU in 2014.
ALL-TIME SERIES RECORD
Michigan State leads the overall series with Notre Dame 9-8, but the Irish have captured the last four meetings. The last time that the two teams met was in East Lansing in 2014 with Notre Dame edging the Spartans, 71-63. Michigan State won the first four games in the series, including the first meeting in East Lansing in 1975, 84-23. The last time that Michigan State captured a win in the series was 2004 in South Bend, earning the 82-73 overtime win.
LAST TIME VS. NOTRE DAME
With her team struggling, Jewell Loyd stepped up her game on both ends of the floor.
Loyd had 28 points, 11 rebounds and two steals for No. 3 Notre Dame in a 71-63 victory over 15th-ranked Michigan State on Wednesday night.
Notre Dame did just enough on offense, thanks to 17 points from Brianna Turner and 14 from Lindsay Allen.
Aerial Powers scored 27 points and Tori Jankoska added 20 for the Spartans (1-1). But Michigan State struggled to score in the second half and couldn't stop the Irish.
NO. 2 COMING TO TOWN
The last time that Notre Dame played in East Lansing in 2014 the Fighting Irish were ranked No. 3/2. Notre Dame stopped Michigan State, 71-63. The Spartans last win against a No. 2 ranked team was when Michigan State defeated Ohio State (No. 2/3), 66-64, in 2005. In 1999, MSU fell to No. 2/2 Purdue, 68-66. In 1988, No. 2 Georgia stopped the Spartans, 66-52.
BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE B1G SEASON
The Spartans are 12 games into the 2016-17 season. With a shortened Big Ten schedule, Michigan State will play 13 non-conference games this season and 16 Big Ten contests. So far in non-conference play, MSU is 10-2. The Spartans still have to play No. 2/2 Notre Dame to end non-conference action on Dec. 2o.
JANKOSKA VS. THE NATION
Senior guard Tori Jankoska is third in the nation in total points scored with 264. Washington's Kelsey Plum is first with 364 points, while Ohio State's Kelsey Mitchell with 272 points. Jankoska is also seventh in scoring, averaging 22.0 ppg. The senior is also eight in the nation in free throws made with 58.
As a team, Michigan State is 11th in the country in defensive rebounds with 32.0 per game. The Spartans are also 15th in assists with 198 total assists.
BALANCED ATTACK
MSU improved to 5-0 this season when at least three players have scored in double figures. The Spartans have also had three in double figures against Southern, Western Michigan and Oakland.
JANKOSKA'S CAREER NIGHT
Senior guard Tori Jankoska recorded her second double-double of the season and her 15th in her career. She scored a career-high 37 points and brought in 10 rebounds. Her 37 points is the third-most scored in a single game in the Michigan State record books. Maxann Reese scored 41 points against Iowa in 1999, while Aerial Powers scored 40 against Minnesota in 2016. The 37 points were the most points scored in MSU history in a non-conference game. Jankoska also had the second-most points scored in the Big Ten this season behind Tyra Buss of Indiana's 38 points versus N.C. State.
GETTING IN THE LINEUP
The Spartans have had six different starting lineups in the first 12 games. Seniors Taya Reimer and Tori Jankoska along with freshman Taryn McCutcheon have started all 12 games so far this season. Junior Lexi Gussert has started four games this season, while sophomore Jenna Allen also has started a trio of games. Sophomore Hana Vesela and redshirt freshman Victoria Gaines both have started two games, while freshman Nia Hollie has started the last three contests. Redshirt senior guard Branndais Agee has started eight games this season.
Jankoska leads the way starting 93 games during her Michigan State career. Branndais Agee has the second most starts of any current Spartan with 41.
TARYN TEARING IT UP
Freshman guard Taryn McCutcheon now has 62 assists throughout her freshman campaign and is just two assists shy of reaching the top-10 in assists as a freshman. Lindsay Bowen is currently 10th with 64 assists at the conclusion of her freshman campaign in 2002-03.
SPREADING THE WEALTH
In MSU's win over Northeastern on Dec. 20, Michigan State had nine Spartans net at least one basket in the victory. Jankoska led all scorers with 19 points.
SCORING JUST ISN'T ENOUGH
Guard Tori Jankoska is in the top 10 in the Big Ten in both scoring and assists. She is second in the league and first on the team in scoring, averaging 22.0 points per game. Jankoska is fifth in the league in assists, averaging 4.9 apg. So far this season, she has scored 264 total points and added 59 helpers. Jankoska and Indiana's Tyra Buss are the only players in the Big Ten in the top 10 in scoring and assists.
Jankoska is one of only two players to be in the all-time career top-10 in both assists and points. Jankoska is No. 4 in points with 1,730 and No. 6 in assists with 388. Lindsay Bowen (2002-06) is the only other player in both who is No. 3 in the record books with 1,739 career points and No. 8 all-time with 371 assists.
RAINING THREES
In Michigan State's win against Delaware, the Spartans set a school record with 14 3-pointers.
The previous record was 13 on three different occasions: vs. Minnesota on 2/8/15, 13 vs. Iona on 12/12/10 and 13 vs. Florida Gulf Coast on 12/13/09. The individual record is still intact. Jankoska ended the game with eight trey. Maxann Reese still holds the school record with 10 vs. Iowa, on 1/29/99.
JANKOSKA CLIMBING THE CHARTS
With a team-high 19 points against Rhode Island, Tori Jankoska remains in fourth place on the MSU career scoring list with 1,730 points. Jankoska is now 88 from becoming Michigan State's all-time leading scorer. Currently Lindsay Bowen (2002-06) is third with 1,739 point, while Liz Shimek (2002-06) is second with 1,780 points. Aerial Powers (2014-16) is the all-time leading scorer with 1,817 points scored in the Spartan Green and White.
Jankoska now has 232 career 3-pointers, staying in second place in the record books. She passed Maxann Reese who had 218 career treys. Jankoska is now 62 3-pointers away from tying Lindsay Bowen (2002-06) for first place. Bowen ended her MSU career with 294 treys.
SPARTANS VS. THE BIG TEN
Several Michigan State players rank among the best in the Big Ten this season. Freshman guard Taryn McCutcheon is tied for third in the Big Ten in assists, averaging 5.2 apg. Senior guard Tori Jankoska is second in the league in scoring, averaging 22.0 points per game. Ohio State's Kelsey Mitchell is first in the conference in scoring, averaging 22.7 ppg. Jankoska is also fifth in the league in assists (4.9 apg) and second in free throw percentage (.892). Jankoska is second in the conference in 3-point field goals made with 3.0.
Michigan State is second in the Big Ten in free throw percentage (.739). The Spartans are also second in field goal percentage defense (.348) and defensive rebounds (31.5).
IN THE MONTH OF DECEMBER
The Spartans improved to 168-94 (.641) all-time in the month of December. Under Coach Merchant, Michigan State is 51-24 (.680) in the 12th month of the calendar year. The Spartans have won 23 of their last 34 games in December.
IN THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER
The Spartans are 111-38 (74.5%) all-time in the month of November. Under Coach Merchant, Michigan State is 51-10 (83.6%) in November, with seven of the 10 losses coming against top-10 opponents. The Spartans have won 26 of their last 30 in the month.
WELL CONDITIONED
Guards Taryn McCutcheon and Tori Jankoska have shown off their off-season conditioning so far this season. Jankoska is tied for first in the league in minutes played, averaging 34.5 mpg. McCutcheon is third the Big Ten in minutes played, averaging 34.3 mpg through the 12 games of the season.
SEASON OPENERS
Michigan State women's basketball opened the season with a 70-34 win over Davidson. All-time, the Spartans are 30-15 in season openers, but 22-2 when the opener is in East Lansing. Coach Merchant is 7-3 in season openers at MSU, and has won 13 of her last 16, including her time at Eastern Michigan.
CLOSING IT OUT
The Spartans have been extremely effective closing out games over the last couple years, winning 149 of their last 154 games (.968) when leading with five minutes left, including 100 of their last 106. In Coach Merchant's tenure, Michigan State is 185-8 (.959) when holding a lead with five minutes left. This season, the Spartans are 10-0.
BOUNCE BACK ABILITY
In Coach Merchant's first 10 seasons, the Spartans are 67-25 (72.8%) following a loss.
AGAINST IN-STATE SCHOOLS
Michigan State has had great success against other collegiate programs in the state of Michigan over the past 12 seasons. Since the beginning of the 2002-03 season, the Spartans are 49-4 (.925) against in-state rivals, including a 34-4 (.895) mark under Coach Merchant. All-time, Michigan State is 182-59 (.755) against other Michigan schools.
THE SCHEDULE
The Spartans will take on 14 teams that reached either the NCAA Tournament or the Women's Invitation Tournament (WNIT) last season, including NCAA national runner-up Syracuse, as part of a 29-game regular-season schedule.
Last season, the Spartans ended the season 25-9 advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Michigan State brings back two starters in senior guard Tori Jankoska and redshirt senior guard Branndais Agee.
The Big Ten is returning to a 16-game women's basketball conference schedule format this season after all 14 team played 18 games the last two seasons. Michigan State will play Minnesota, Nebraska and Purdue at home and on the road. The Spartans will host Illinois, Indiana, Ohio State, Maryland and Penn State, while traveling to Iowa, Michigan, Northwestern, Rutgers and Wisconsin.
Overall, the Spartans will play 15 home games, including their exhibition against Northwood on Nov. 6.
Suzy Merchant RADIO SHOW
Michigan State women's basketball head coach Suzy Merchant will start her weekly radio call-in show, the Suzy Merchant Radio Show, on Monday, Dec. 5 at Reno's East. Coach Merchant joins host Keaton Gillogly, the Spartans' play-by-play voice, from 12-1 p.m., for an in-depth look into the MSU women's basketball program.
The show, produced by the Spartan Sports Network, can be heard locally on WVFN 730 AM and will also be streamed live (both audio and video) on SpartanSportsNetwork.com, as well as available on the SSN mobile app.
The show is typically held on Wednesdays throughout the season if no conflicts.
Radio Show Dates
Wednesday, December, 28
Tuesday, January 3
Wednesday, January 12
Wednesday, January 18
Tuesday, January 24
Wednesday, February 1
Wednesday, February 8
Wednesday, February 15
Tuesday, February 21
Wednesday, March 1
JANKOSKA EARNS PRESEASON HONORS
Senior guard Tori Jankoska was named to the Preseason All-Big Ten team by both the coaches and the media. Michigan State was selected third in the Coaches Poll.
Big Ten regular season and tournament champion Maryland was picked first in both the Coaches and the Media polls, while the Hoosiers took the third spot in the media poll. Ohio State's Kelsey Mitchell was named Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year in both polls.
Last season, Jankoska was second on the team in scoring, averaging 15.1 points per game. She was first in the Big Ten in free throw percentage (.877) during the 2015-16 season. Jankoska also earned Second-Team All-Big Ten honors the last two seasons.
EUROPEAN ADVENTURE
Michigan State women's basketball spent the summer on a 10-day European excursion. The Spartans traveled to Europe from August 19-28. Michigan State played exhibition in each country, while taking side trips to Normandy, France and Oxford, England. The trip was as much about team bonding as it was basketball, as the learned about each other on and off the court.
"First and foremost, some of these guys are never going to have a chance to come over here and see some of the amazing things, starting out in Rome and ending in London. I think that the educational piece was really important," MSU head coach Suzy Merchant said. "I think that the team bonding was also important. We have a lot of new faces, so the ability to come together a little bit is huge, as well as the final component is to be able to practice and play some games."
LAST TIME OUT
Michigan State women's basketball opened a tripleheader with a Northeastern with a dominating 78-44 performance Sunday afternoon at the Breslin Center. The MSU hockey team and the Spartan men's basketball team will both also play the Huskies today.
Michigan State was led by a trio of seniors, including the fourth double-double of the season by senior guard Tori Jankoska. The senior was the Spartan's leading scorer with 19 points to go along with 10 rebounds, four assists and three steals. Fellow senior forward Taya Reimer added 10 boards, while redshirt senior guard Branndais Agee provided 12 points and seven rebounds.
Northeastern was led by 18 points from Hess Genco who was 5-for-11 from beyond the arc.
NEWCOMERS
The Spartans welcome five newcomers this season, including senior graduate student Taya Reimer. The forward graduated from Notre Dame in May. Reimer is an experienced player who went to the Final Four with the Irish. Guard Shay Colley is a transfer from South Carolina. Colley will have to sit out this season due to transfer rules.
Michigan State also welcomes three freshmen this season. Guard Taryn McCutcheon graduated from East Lansing High School. Forward Mardrekia Cook comes to MSU from Muskegon High School, while forward Nia Hollie is from Hopkins High School in Minnetonka, Minnesota.
FANS CONTINUE TO PACK THE BRESLIN
Michigan State women's basketball continues to pack the Breslin Center, finishing the 2015-16 season seventh in the nation in home attendance. The Spartans averaged 6,561 fans in 15 home games this season. MSU had a total of 98,418 fans pass through the gates. This is the 12th-straight season that the Spartans have been ranked in the top 15 nationally in attendance. MSU has had a total attendance of at least 80,000 since 2005-06.
SPARTANS RANKED IN PRESEASON POLL
Michigan State women's basketball will open the 2016-17 season ranked No. 22 in the USA Today Coaches' Top 25 Poll. The Spartans are receiving votes in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll, standing 26th with 78 votes.
The Spartans have five opponents ranked in the AP Top 25 Poll, including No. 1 Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish come to East Lansing for the second time in three years on Dec. 20. ACC/Big Ten Challenge opponent Syracuse is ranked No. 14 in the AP Poll. Big Ten opponent Maryland is No. 6, while Ohio State is No. 7. Indiana is currently ranked No. 23 in the preseason poll.
UP NEXT
Michigan State will take a break for the holidays and return in 2017. The Spartans will kick off the Big Ten season on Sunday, Jan. 1 against Illinois. MSU will then hit the road to take on Purdue on Wednesday, Jan. 4.
2016-17 WOMEN'S BASKETBALL SIGNEES
Michigan State women's basketball head coach Suzy Merchant announced the signing of Sidney Cooks (Kenosha, Wisc./St. Joseph) and Claire Hendrickson (Wyoming, Michigan/Wyoming HS) to a National Letter of Intent.
Cooks is a 6-4 forward who plays for head coach Lynell Collins at St. Joseph Catholic. She is currently ranked fifth overall and second at her position by ESPN HoopGurlz. In 2016, Cooks earned AP first-team All-State as well as USA Today first-team All-Wisconsin honors. She was named honorable mention WBCA Division 4 All-State in 2015. Last season, she surpassed the 1,000 point-plateau by scoring 20 points in a win.
Cooks earned all-state and all-area honors as a junior. She was first on the team, averaging 23.1 points, 12.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 3.7 blocks per game. Cooks guided the Lancers to their first WIAA state tournament appearance where they were runner-up in Division 4. As a sophomore, she scored 14.1 ppg with 9.8 rpg as St. Joseph went 20-5.
She also has extensive international experience as a member of the USA U18 National Team at the FIBA Americas Championship in Chile. En route to a gold medal, she started all five games of the tournament, averaging 10.6 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. She also captured a silver medal on the 3x3 U18 National Team that competed in Kazakhstan.
Hendrickson is a 5-11 guard from Wyoming, Michigan, who plays for head coach Troy Mast at Wyoming High School. She missed most of her junior season after sustaining an ACL injury, but will return for her senior campaign. As a sophomore, she averaged 14.0 points, 7.0 assists, 3.5 steals and 3.5 rebounds. She also was second on the team in blocked shots, averaging 3.4 per game. Hendrickson recorded two triple-doubles. Hendrickson also earned Honorable-Mention Class A All-State in 2015. As a freshman, she was part of the Wolves squad that went 21-3, capturing the OK Blue Conference championship and advancing to the regional semifinals. Hendrickson played AAU basketball for the Grand Rapids Storm. She is the daughter of Amy and Jon Hendrickson.
