MSU Women Open B1G Play Hosting Illinois Sunday
12/30/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
| Michigan State (10-3, 0-0 B1G) vs. Illinois (6-8, 1-0 B1G) | |
| Date | Sunday, Jan. 1 |
| Time | 3 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 | Illinois |
| Statistics | Michigan State | Illinois |
| Internet Coverage | |
| Promotions | None |
| Social Media | @MSU_WBasketball  | Facebook  | Instagram  |
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State will celebrate the New Year, beginning Big Ten action on Sunday, Jan. 1 against Illinois at the Breslin Center at 3 p.m. The Spartans enter conference play with a 10-3 record. Illinois starts B1G action with a 6-8 record, having snapped a two-game losing streak with a win against Iowa on Dec. 28.
STARTING LINEUP
• With a team-high 21 points against No. 2 Notre Dame, Tori Jankoska moves up to third place on the MSU career scoring list with 1,751 points, passing Lindsay Bowen (2002-06) who scored 1,739 points, 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. She is now just 67 points away from becoming the all-time leading scorer.
• Michigan State is 23-12 in home Big Ten openers in 35 years in the league. The Spartans have won six of their last seven in the Breslin Center.
• The last time that Michigan State opened Big Ten action against Illinois was Jan. 2, 2011 when the Spartans defeated the Illini, 70-57, in East Lansing. Last season, Michigan State was stopped in its Big Ten opener to No. 9 Ohio State, 85-50, on Dec. 31, 2015 in Columbus, Ohio.
• With six assists against Notre Dame, Taryn McCutcheon has led the team in assists in 10 of the 13 games this season. McCutcheon is now 10th in the Michigan State freshman records with 68 assists during her rookie season.
SCOUTING ILLINOIS
Illinois won its Big Ten opener with a 70-65 win over Iowa in Champaign on Dec. 28. In the win against the Hawkeyes, the Illini were led by 18 points from Alex Wittinger, as one of three players to score in double figures against Iowa. Overall, Illinois is 6-8 overall and 1-0 in B1G action.
In the win against Iowa, the Illini snapped a two-game losing streak. Illinois is 0-4 on the road this season with losses to George Washington, South Dakota, Central Michigan and Ohio.
Alex Wittinger and Brandi Beasley both average in double figures with Wittinger leading the team in scoring with 15.1 points per game. Beasley is second on the team in scoring with 11.4 ppg. Wittinger is tied for fifth in the Big Ten in rebounds, averaging 8.8 rpg. As a team, the Illini average 63.1 ppg, while allowing 65.6 ppg.
ALL-TIME SERIES RECORD
Michigan State leads the overall series against Illinois with a 40-28 record. MSU is 22-9 when at home, 15-6 on the road, and 3-3 at a neutral location. The Spartans have won their last four contests with the Fighting Illini in which three of the four games were away. The last time the two teams faced each other was in Champaign, Illinois on February 24, 2016 with the Spartans dominating 71-43. Aerial Powers and Tori Jankoska both recorded double-doubles, and the Spartans had three players grab double-digit rebounds. The last time Illinois captured a victory in the series was in East Lansing, January 23, 2014, earning the 61-51 win.
LAST TIME VS. ILLINOIS
Aerial Powers had 26 points and 10 rebounds, Tori Jankoska recorded her fifth double-double of the season and No. 20 Michigan State outscored Illinois 27-2 in the fourth quarter for a 71-43 victory. Powers became MSU's all-time leader in double-doubles with 44, passing Mary Kay Itynre (1977-80).
Powers had 15 points and seven boards in the third quarter alone as Michigan State held a 44-41 lead. She had just eight points at halftime.
Jankoska finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds and Branndais Agee added nine points with 10 rebounds for Michigan State (21-7, 12-5 Big Ten). The Spartans dominated the glass, 54-30, snaring a season-high 54 rebounds, to make up for 21 turnovers.
BIG TEN OPENERS
Michigan State is 23-12 in home Big Ten openers in 35 years in the league. The Spartans have won six of their last seven in the Breslin Center.
After a loss to Ohio State last season, Michigan State is 17-18 all-time in Big Ten openers, having won its last four of its last six ... Under Coach Merchant, the Spartans are 5-4 in Big Ten openers ... This is the second time in the last three years that MSU has opened Big Ten play at home, falling to Northwestern, 61-57, in the 2014-15 season ... Last seasons was the first time since the 1998-99 season that Michigan State tipped off Big Ten action against Ohio State, when the Spartans lost to the Buckeyes, 62-60, in East Lansing.
GET OUT IN FRONT
The first quarter has been kind to the Spartans. Michigan State has out-scored its opponents, 222-164 in the first period. The Spartans have out-scored its opponents in every quarter, but the first quarter MSU has out-scored the other team by 58 points. The third quarter has been the tightest with MSU leading 228-222.
RINGING IN THE NEW YEAR
The last time MSU began conference play in January was the 2013-14 season, when the Spartans defeated, 81-56, at Minnesota on Jan. 4, 2014. The last time MSU played on Jan. 1 was during the 2008-09 season, when Michigan State earned a 68-62 overtime win at Purdue. The last two seasons, the Spartans have played on New Year's Eve losing to Indiana in 2015 and No. 9 Ohio State in 2016.
JANKOSKA VS. THE NATION
Senior guard Tori Jankoska is seventh in the nation in total points scored with 285. Washington's Kelsey Plum is first with 414 points, while Ohio State's Kelsey Mitchell leads the Big Ten with 337 points. Jankoska is also seventh in scoring, averaging 21.9 ppg. The senior is also 17th in the nation in free throws made with 93.
As a team, Michigan State is 12th in the country in defensive rebounds with 31.0 per game. The Spartans are also 46th in assists per game, averaging 16.6.
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.
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. Overall, MSU has scored at least 70 points 25 times overall this season. MSU has won 96 of its last 102 games when scoring at least 70 points, and MSU is 113-12 under head coach Suzy Merchant when hanging at least 70 points on the scoreboard. This year, MSU is 7-0 when scoring at least 70 points.
GETTING IN THE LINEUP
The Spartans have had six different starting lineups in the first 13 games. Seniors Taya Reimer and Tori Jankoska along with freshman Taryn McCutcheon have started all 13 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 six contests. Redshirt senior guard Branndais Agee has started nine games this season.
Jankoska leads the way starting 94 games during her Michigan State career. Branndais Agee has the second most starts of any current Spartan with 42.
MCCUTCHEON MAKING HER MARK
Freshman guard Taryn McCutcheon now has 68 assists throughout her freshman campaign and jumped into the top-10 in assists as a freshman. She just passed Lindsay Bowen for 10th. Bowen had 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 21.9 points per game. Jankoska is fifth in the league in assists, averaging 4.9 apg. So far this season, she has scored 285 total points and added 64 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 1,751 career points and No. 6 all-time with 393 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 21.9 points per game. Ohio State's Kelsey Mitchell is first in the conference in scoring, averaging 22.5 ppg. Jankoska is also fifth in the league in assists (4.9 apg) and second in free throw percentage (.882). 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 (.735). The Spartans are also sixth in field goal percentage defense (.360) and fourth in three point field goal percentage (.352).
IN THE MONTH OF DECEMBER
The Spartans improved to 168-95 (.639) all-time in the month of December. Under Coach Merchant, Michigan State is 51-25 (.671) in the 12th month of the calendar year. The Spartans have won 23 of their last 35 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 second in the league in minutes played, averaging 34.8 mpg. McCutcheon is third the Big Ten in minutes played, averaging 34.5 mpg through the 13 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
Thursday, 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
Brianna Turner had 19 points, seven rebounds and five blocks, leading No. 2 Notre Dame to a 79-61 win over Michigan State on Tuesday night.
The Spartans (10-3) had won four straight since getting beat by No. 19 Syracuse. The Fighting Irish (11-1) have won three straight since losing to top-ranked UConn.
Michigan State's Tori Jankoska had 21 points, eight rebounds and five assists, but didn't get much help from her teammates.
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
After the Spartans 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. Michigan State will host a pair of game against Nebraska (Jan. 7) and No. 14/13 Ohio State (Jan. 10).
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.
