Sunday, November 18
East Lansing, Mich.
1 PM
Michigan State University
vs
Wright State
MSU Women Conclude Homestand With Wright State Sunday
11/17/2018 11:51:00 AM | Women's Basketball
The Spartans have started the season 2-0.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State concludes its three-game homestand to open the season, hosting Wright State on Sunday, Nov. 18 at 1 p.m. The Spartans have started the season 2-0 for the fourth-straight season. Last season, MSU earned wins in its first four games. The Spartan offense has come on strong in the first two games, out-scoring their opponents, 87-61. Michigan State has also been strong on the boards with a +11.0 rebound margin.
STARTING LINEUP
• Through two games, six Spartans are averaging in double figures. Senior center Jenna Allen and sophomore forward Sidney Cooks are leading the way, averaging 13.5 points per game. Freshman guard Nia Clouden (13.0 ppg), junior guard Taryn McCutcheon (11.0 ppg), junior guard Shay Colley (10.5 ppg) and redshirt-sophomore forward Mardrekia Cook (10.5 ppg) are all in double figures.
• Against Bowling Green, junior guard Taryn McCutcheon dished out a career-high tying 12 assists, tying her career in her freshman season of 2016-17.
• This is only the second meeting between Michigan State and Wright State. MSU captured the first meeting in 1987.
• MSU has had very balanced scoring through the first two games with six players scoring at least 20 points. Ten different players have scored this season.
SCOUTING WRIGHT STATE
The Raiders are off to a 1-2 start this season, defeating UNLV 68-52, but falling to both CSU Bakersfield and Belmont by scores of 76-74 and 79-63 respectively. Emily Vogelpohl led Wright State in scoring with 15 points against Belmont followed by double-figure scoring performances from Mackenzie Taylor (13) and Michal Miller (10). Taylor is 10-of-10 from the charity stripe this season.
Angel Baker leads Wright State in scoring with 14.3 points per game off the bench, highlighted by a 21 point effort against CSU Bakersfield. Taylor Frierson is the team's leading rebounder at 8.7 per game after hauling in 15 boards against Bakersfield on Nov. 6. Last season the Raiders finished 23-11 overall and 12-6 in the Horizon League en route to an WNIT appearance.
SERIES HISTORY VS. WRIGHT STATE
This is only the second meeting between Michigan State and Wright State. The last time that the two teams met was in 1987, before any of the players were born. The Spartans stopped the Raiders, 67-61, on Dec. 4, 1987 in East Lansing.
COMING OUT OF THE GATES
Freshman guard Nia Clouden has been strong to start her Spartan careers. In two games, she has averaged 13.0 points and 4.5 assists per game. In her first collegiate start, she had six assists to go along with 14 points and three rebounds. She added 12 points, four rebounds and three assists in her second game against ETSU.
FILLING UP THE STAT SHEET
For the second-straight game, Michigan State had five players in double figures led by 14 points off the bench from sophomore forward Sidney Cooks. Redshirt-sophomore forward Mardrekia Cook and freshman guard Nia Clouden both added 12 points in the win against East Tennessee State, followed by 10 from both senior center Jenna Allen and redshirt-junior guard Shay Colley. Nine of the 10 Spartans that played scored. Through two games, Colley and Allen lead MSU in scoring both averaging 13.5 ppg.
SEASON OPENERS
All-time, the Spartans are now 32-15 in season openers, but 24-2 when the opener is in East Lansing. Coach Merchant is 9-3 in season openers at MSU, and has won 15 of her last 18, including her time at Eastern Michigan.
IN THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER
The Spartans are 117-38 (75.5%) all-time in the month of November. Under Coach Merchant, Michigan State is 57-10 (85.1%) in November, with six of the nine losses coming against top-10 opponents. The Spartans have won 31 of their last 35 in the month.
SPARTANS IN THE NCAA RANKINGS
Junior guard Taryn McCutcheon is currently eighth in the nation and first in the Big Ten in assists, averaging 7.5 apg. Sophomore forward Sidney Cooks is sixth in the nation and first in the league in 3-point field goal percentage, shooting 80 percent from long range.
As a team, MSU is 10th in the NCAA and second in the B1G in assist per game, averaging 22.o. Iowa is first in the nation and the league with 28.0 apg. The Spartans are also 20th in country and first in the Big Ten in 3-pointers made with 10.5 made.
THE SCHEDULE
For the first time since the 2015-16 season, the Big Ten will have an 18-game schedule after two seasons of a 16-game docket. The conference played an 18-game league schedule in both 2015-16 and 2014-15. It is the sixth time in the last 12 years the conference has played an 18-game schedule.
The Spartans will spend the Thanksgiving holiday in Mexico at the Cancun Challenge, November 22-23. Michigan State will take on N.C. State on Thursday Nov. 22, before facing Kennesaw State on Friday, Nov. 23. The Spartans will close out the month of November hosting Virginia on Wednesday, Nov. 28 in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
During the 2018-19 season at least 12 Michigan State women's basketball games will be televised on either the ESPN2 or the Big Ten Network. MSU will also have seven regular-season home contests aired on BTN Plus.
FREQUENT FLIER
Redshirt-junior guard Shay Colley spent time overseas this summer playing for the Canadian National Team. Playing in Europe, Colley helped guide Canada to the quarterfinals of the FIBA Women's World Cup.
FANS CONTINUE TO PACK THE BRESLIN
Michigan State women's basketball continues to pack the Breslin Center, finishing the 2017-18 season 10th in the nation and second in the Big Ten home attendance. The Spartans averaged 5,689 fans in 16 home games this season. MSU had a total of 91,026 fans pass through the gates. This is the 14th-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.
TV TIME
Big Ten schools will be featured on national television at least 78 times during the 2018-19 season. BTN will televise at least 69 games and ESPN2 will carry nine contests. In addition, for the fifth consecutive year, every Big Ten women's basketball conference game, including 126 regular-season contests and all 13 Big Ten Tournament games, will be produced and distributed by BTN, BTN Plus or an ESPN network.
During the 2018-19 season at least 12 Michigan State women's basketball games will be televised on either the ESPN2 or the Big Ten Network. MSU will also have seven regular-season home contests aired on BTN Plus.
COLLEY EARNS PRESEASON HONOR
To kickoff the beginning of Big Ten Women's Basketball Media Week, the conference released the Preseason Coaches and Media Polls, in addition to the preseason All-Big Ten teams. Michigan State redshirt-junior guard Shay Colley was earned Preseason All-Big Ten honors by the coaches.
Maryland was voted to finish first in both the coaches and the media polls, while Iowa was picked second in both. In the coaches poll, Michigan was voted third, while Minnesota earned the third spot in the media poll. Reigning Big Ten Player of the Year Megan Gustafson of Iowa was voted Preseason Player of the Year by both the coaches and the media.
Last season, Colley led the Spartans in scoring and was 23rd in the Big Ten, averaging 12.4 points per game. Colley was also tied for eighth in assists with 4.3 apg. In her first season with the Spartans, the guard also ended the season tied for fifth in steals with 1.9 spg.
The Spartans finished the 2017-18 season with a 19-14 record, advancing to the Sweet 16 of the WNIT. Michigan State will return four of its top scorers last season led by All-Big Ten honorees Colley, Taryn McCutcheon and Jenna Allen.
AROUND THE BIG TEN
Eight Big Ten schools are ranked or receiving votes in the current Associated Press or USA Today/WBCA polls, led by No. 9 (AP)/No. 10 (USA Today) Maryland. Iowa is also ranked in both polls at No. 13/17, while Minnesota is ranked No. 25 in the AP poll and is receiving votes in the coaches' poll. In addition, Michigan is receiving votes in both polls, Northwestern earned votes in the latest AP poll, and Illinois, Michigan State and Ohio State received votes in the coaches' balloting..
UP NEXT
After closing out its three-game homestand, Michigan State will hit the road for the first time this season playing in the Cancun Challenge. The Spartans will take on No. 17 N.C. State on Thanksgiving day on Nov.22. MSU will complete the tournament against Kennesaw State on Friday, Nov. 23.
LAST TIME OUT
For the second-straight game, five Spartans scored in double figures as the Michigan State women's basketball team used a strong second half to stop East Tennessee State, 75-53, on Sunday at the Breslin Center. The Spartans out-scored the Bucs 43-24 in the final 20 minutes.
With the win, Michigan State improves to 2-0, while East Tennessee State falls to 0-2 after a pair of road games. Last year, the two teams needed overtime to resolve the game, as MSU battled to an 83-74 win in Johnson City, Tennessee.
Junior forward Sidney Cooks led all scorers with 14 points, while both freshman guard Nia Clouden and redshirt-sophomore forward Mardrekia Cook added 12. Both senior center Jenna Allen and redshirt-junior guard Shay Colley added 10 apiece.
Postgame Notes vs. ETSU
• Redshirt-junior Victoria Gaines was tied for the team lead in assists with Taryn McCutcheon with six helpers. She was just shy of her career high of eight against Maryland on March 4, 2017.
• The Spartans evened out the playing six players getting at least 20 minutes. Colley led the team, playing 29:36.
• ETSU led by as many as nine points in the first quarter, but the Spartans used a 9-0 run in the second quarter to take the lead for good. MSU did not trail in the second half.
WELCOME TO SPARTAN NATION - SIGNING DAY
Michigan State women's basketball head coach Suzy Merchant announced the signing of five National Letters of Intent, including Julia Ayrault (Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan/Grosse Pointe North), Cydni Dodd (Indianapolis, Indiana/Warren Central), Moira Joiner (Saginaw, Michigan/Heritage), Taiyier Parks (Cleveland, Ohio/North Royalton) and Alyza Winston (Muskegon, Michigan/ Muskegon). The class was ranked No. 6 by ESPNW Hoop Gurlz as of Nov. 15.
Ayrault is a 6-2 guard who plays for head coach Gary Bennett at Grosse Pointe North High School in Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan and played AAU basketball for Rob Ruhstorfer and the Michigan Mystics. Ayrault is currently ranked No. 14 in her position and No. 75 overall by ESPN HoopGurlz. Last season, she averaged 19.1 points, 10.3 rebounds and 4.5 blocks per game and led Grosse Pointe North to the Class A Final Four. Ayrault set program records of scoring 497 points scored in a season.
Dodd is a 6-5 center who plays for head coach Stacy Mitchell at Warren Central High School in Indianapolis, Indiana and AAU basketball for Danny Riego and the Indiana Gym Rats EYBL. She is currently ranked No. 14 in her position and No. 84 overall by ESPN HoopGurlz. As a junior, Dodd averaged 11.0 points, 6.6. rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game on 70 percent shooting from the field. Dodd was named to the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association Underclass Large School All-State team.
Joiner is a 5-10 guard who plays for head coach Vonnie Delong at Heritage High School in Saginaw, Michigan and played AAU basketball for Jeff Taylor and the Michigan Storm. She is ranked No. 13 in her position and No. 57 overall by ESPN HoopGurlz. Joiner is a three-time Associated Press All-State honoree. In 2018, she led Heritage to the Class A state championship, averaging 16.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 4.0 steals. Joiner was also named the Associated Press Class A Player of the Year. The three-time captain earned the Army National Guard Team award last season.
Parks is a 6-2 forward who plays for head coach Matt Stricker at North Royalton High School in North Royalton, Ohio and played AAU basketball for Andre Gault and the SMAC. She is ranked No. 11 in her position and No. 93 overall by ESPN HoopGurlz. As a junior, she averaged 19.0 points to go along with 16.0 rebounds, 3.0 steals and 3.0 blocks per game. She earned first-team All-Conference honors as both a freshman and a junior.
Winston is a 5-7 guard who plays for head coach Rodney Walker at Muskegon High School in Muskegon, Michigan, which is the same high school that produced current Spartan Mardrekia Cook. Winston also played AAU basketball for Monique Brown and Michigan Crossover EYBL. Winston is ranked No. 18 in her position and No. 70 overall by ESPN HoopGurlz. Last season, she led the Big Reds to the state quarterfinals for the first time in school history. As a junior, she averaged 21.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists per game.
STARTING LINEUP
• Through two games, six Spartans are averaging in double figures. Senior center Jenna Allen and sophomore forward Sidney Cooks are leading the way, averaging 13.5 points per game. Freshman guard Nia Clouden (13.0 ppg), junior guard Taryn McCutcheon (11.0 ppg), junior guard Shay Colley (10.5 ppg) and redshirt-sophomore forward Mardrekia Cook (10.5 ppg) are all in double figures.
• Against Bowling Green, junior guard Taryn McCutcheon dished out a career-high tying 12 assists, tying her career in her freshman season of 2016-17.
• This is only the second meeting between Michigan State and Wright State. MSU captured the first meeting in 1987.
• MSU has had very balanced scoring through the first two games with six players scoring at least 20 points. Ten different players have scored this season.
SCOUTING WRIGHT STATE
The Raiders are off to a 1-2 start this season, defeating UNLV 68-52, but falling to both CSU Bakersfield and Belmont by scores of 76-74 and 79-63 respectively. Emily Vogelpohl led Wright State in scoring with 15 points against Belmont followed by double-figure scoring performances from Mackenzie Taylor (13) and Michal Miller (10). Taylor is 10-of-10 from the charity stripe this season.
Angel Baker leads Wright State in scoring with 14.3 points per game off the bench, highlighted by a 21 point effort against CSU Bakersfield. Taylor Frierson is the team's leading rebounder at 8.7 per game after hauling in 15 boards against Bakersfield on Nov. 6. Last season the Raiders finished 23-11 overall and 12-6 in the Horizon League en route to an WNIT appearance.
SERIES HISTORY VS. WRIGHT STATE
This is only the second meeting between Michigan State and Wright State. The last time that the two teams met was in 1987, before any of the players were born. The Spartans stopped the Raiders, 67-61, on Dec. 4, 1987 in East Lansing.
COMING OUT OF THE GATES
Freshman guard Nia Clouden has been strong to start her Spartan careers. In two games, she has averaged 13.0 points and 4.5 assists per game. In her first collegiate start, she had six assists to go along with 14 points and three rebounds. She added 12 points, four rebounds and three assists in her second game against ETSU.
FILLING UP THE STAT SHEET
For the second-straight game, Michigan State had five players in double figures led by 14 points off the bench from sophomore forward Sidney Cooks. Redshirt-sophomore forward Mardrekia Cook and freshman guard Nia Clouden both added 12 points in the win against East Tennessee State, followed by 10 from both senior center Jenna Allen and redshirt-junior guard Shay Colley. Nine of the 10 Spartans that played scored. Through two games, Colley and Allen lead MSU in scoring both averaging 13.5 ppg.
SEASON OPENERS
All-time, the Spartans are now 32-15 in season openers, but 24-2 when the opener is in East Lansing. Coach Merchant is 9-3 in season openers at MSU, and has won 15 of her last 18, including her time at Eastern Michigan.
IN THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER
The Spartans are 117-38 (75.5%) all-time in the month of November. Under Coach Merchant, Michigan State is 57-10 (85.1%) in November, with six of the nine losses coming against top-10 opponents. The Spartans have won 31 of their last 35 in the month.
SPARTANS IN THE NCAA RANKINGS
Junior guard Taryn McCutcheon is currently eighth in the nation and first in the Big Ten in assists, averaging 7.5 apg. Sophomore forward Sidney Cooks is sixth in the nation and first in the league in 3-point field goal percentage, shooting 80 percent from long range.
As a team, MSU is 10th in the NCAA and second in the B1G in assist per game, averaging 22.o. Iowa is first in the nation and the league with 28.0 apg. The Spartans are also 20th in country and first in the Big Ten in 3-pointers made with 10.5 made.
THE SCHEDULE
For the first time since the 2015-16 season, the Big Ten will have an 18-game schedule after two seasons of a 16-game docket. The conference played an 18-game league schedule in both 2015-16 and 2014-15. It is the sixth time in the last 12 years the conference has played an 18-game schedule.
The Spartans will spend the Thanksgiving holiday in Mexico at the Cancun Challenge, November 22-23. Michigan State will take on N.C. State on Thursday Nov. 22, before facing Kennesaw State on Friday, Nov. 23. The Spartans will close out the month of November hosting Virginia on Wednesday, Nov. 28 in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
During the 2018-19 season at least 12 Michigan State women's basketball games will be televised on either the ESPN2 or the Big Ten Network. MSU will also have seven regular-season home contests aired on BTN Plus.
FREQUENT FLIER
Redshirt-junior guard Shay Colley spent time overseas this summer playing for the Canadian National Team. Playing in Europe, Colley helped guide Canada to the quarterfinals of the FIBA Women's World Cup.
FANS CONTINUE TO PACK THE BRESLIN
Michigan State women's basketball continues to pack the Breslin Center, finishing the 2017-18 season 10th in the nation and second in the Big Ten home attendance. The Spartans averaged 5,689 fans in 16 home games this season. MSU had a total of 91,026 fans pass through the gates. This is the 14th-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.
TV TIME
Big Ten schools will be featured on national television at least 78 times during the 2018-19 season. BTN will televise at least 69 games and ESPN2 will carry nine contests. In addition, for the fifth consecutive year, every Big Ten women's basketball conference game, including 126 regular-season contests and all 13 Big Ten Tournament games, will be produced and distributed by BTN, BTN Plus or an ESPN network.
During the 2018-19 season at least 12 Michigan State women's basketball games will be televised on either the ESPN2 or the Big Ten Network. MSU will also have seven regular-season home contests aired on BTN Plus.
COLLEY EARNS PRESEASON HONOR
To kickoff the beginning of Big Ten Women's Basketball Media Week, the conference released the Preseason Coaches and Media Polls, in addition to the preseason All-Big Ten teams. Michigan State redshirt-junior guard Shay Colley was earned Preseason All-Big Ten honors by the coaches.
Maryland was voted to finish first in both the coaches and the media polls, while Iowa was picked second in both. In the coaches poll, Michigan was voted third, while Minnesota earned the third spot in the media poll. Reigning Big Ten Player of the Year Megan Gustafson of Iowa was voted Preseason Player of the Year by both the coaches and the media.
Last season, Colley led the Spartans in scoring and was 23rd in the Big Ten, averaging 12.4 points per game. Colley was also tied for eighth in assists with 4.3 apg. In her first season with the Spartans, the guard also ended the season tied for fifth in steals with 1.9 spg.
The Spartans finished the 2017-18 season with a 19-14 record, advancing to the Sweet 16 of the WNIT. Michigan State will return four of its top scorers last season led by All-Big Ten honorees Colley, Taryn McCutcheon and Jenna Allen.
AROUND THE BIG TEN
Eight Big Ten schools are ranked or receiving votes in the current Associated Press or USA Today/WBCA polls, led by No. 9 (AP)/No. 10 (USA Today) Maryland. Iowa is also ranked in both polls at No. 13/17, while Minnesota is ranked No. 25 in the AP poll and is receiving votes in the coaches' poll. In addition, Michigan is receiving votes in both polls, Northwestern earned votes in the latest AP poll, and Illinois, Michigan State and Ohio State received votes in the coaches' balloting..
UP NEXT
After closing out its three-game homestand, Michigan State will hit the road for the first time this season playing in the Cancun Challenge. The Spartans will take on No. 17 N.C. State on Thanksgiving day on Nov.22. MSU will complete the tournament against Kennesaw State on Friday, Nov. 23.
LAST TIME OUT
For the second-straight game, five Spartans scored in double figures as the Michigan State women's basketball team used a strong second half to stop East Tennessee State, 75-53, on Sunday at the Breslin Center. The Spartans out-scored the Bucs 43-24 in the final 20 minutes.
With the win, Michigan State improves to 2-0, while East Tennessee State falls to 0-2 after a pair of road games. Last year, the two teams needed overtime to resolve the game, as MSU battled to an 83-74 win in Johnson City, Tennessee.
Junior forward Sidney Cooks led all scorers with 14 points, while both freshman guard Nia Clouden and redshirt-sophomore forward Mardrekia Cook added 12. Both senior center Jenna Allen and redshirt-junior guard Shay Colley added 10 apiece.
Postgame Notes vs. ETSU
• Redshirt-junior Victoria Gaines was tied for the team lead in assists with Taryn McCutcheon with six helpers. She was just shy of her career high of eight against Maryland on March 4, 2017.
• The Spartans evened out the playing six players getting at least 20 minutes. Colley led the team, playing 29:36.
• ETSU led by as many as nine points in the first quarter, but the Spartans used a 9-0 run in the second quarter to take the lead for good. MSU did not trail in the second half.
WELCOME TO SPARTAN NATION - SIGNING DAY
Michigan State women's basketball head coach Suzy Merchant announced the signing of five National Letters of Intent, including Julia Ayrault (Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan/Grosse Pointe North), Cydni Dodd (Indianapolis, Indiana/Warren Central), Moira Joiner (Saginaw, Michigan/Heritage), Taiyier Parks (Cleveland, Ohio/North Royalton) and Alyza Winston (Muskegon, Michigan/ Muskegon). The class was ranked No. 6 by ESPNW Hoop Gurlz as of Nov. 15.
Ayrault is a 6-2 guard who plays for head coach Gary Bennett at Grosse Pointe North High School in Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan and played AAU basketball for Rob Ruhstorfer and the Michigan Mystics. Ayrault is currently ranked No. 14 in her position and No. 75 overall by ESPN HoopGurlz. Last season, she averaged 19.1 points, 10.3 rebounds and 4.5 blocks per game and led Grosse Pointe North to the Class A Final Four. Ayrault set program records of scoring 497 points scored in a season.
Dodd is a 6-5 center who plays for head coach Stacy Mitchell at Warren Central High School in Indianapolis, Indiana and AAU basketball for Danny Riego and the Indiana Gym Rats EYBL. She is currently ranked No. 14 in her position and No. 84 overall by ESPN HoopGurlz. As a junior, Dodd averaged 11.0 points, 6.6. rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game on 70 percent shooting from the field. Dodd was named to the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association Underclass Large School All-State team.
Joiner is a 5-10 guard who plays for head coach Vonnie Delong at Heritage High School in Saginaw, Michigan and played AAU basketball for Jeff Taylor and the Michigan Storm. She is ranked No. 13 in her position and No. 57 overall by ESPN HoopGurlz. Joiner is a three-time Associated Press All-State honoree. In 2018, she led Heritage to the Class A state championship, averaging 16.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 4.0 steals. Joiner was also named the Associated Press Class A Player of the Year. The three-time captain earned the Army National Guard Team award last season.
Parks is a 6-2 forward who plays for head coach Matt Stricker at North Royalton High School in North Royalton, Ohio and played AAU basketball for Andre Gault and the SMAC. She is ranked No. 11 in her position and No. 93 overall by ESPN HoopGurlz. As a junior, she averaged 19.0 points to go along with 16.0 rebounds, 3.0 steals and 3.0 blocks per game. She earned first-team All-Conference honors as both a freshman and a junior.
Winston is a 5-7 guard who plays for head coach Rodney Walker at Muskegon High School in Muskegon, Michigan, which is the same high school that produced current Spartan Mardrekia Cook. Winston also played AAU basketball for Monique Brown and Michigan Crossover EYBL. Winston is ranked No. 18 in her position and No. 70 overall by ESPN HoopGurlz. Last season, she led the Big Reds to the state quarterfinals for the first time in school history. As a junior, she averaged 21.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists per game.
Players Mentioned
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