Friday, November 29
Bimini, Bahamas
5:15 PM
Michigan State University
vs
LSU
Photo by: Matthew Mitchell
No. 15 MSU Opens Junkanoo Jam Against LSU Friday
11/27/2019 4:39:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Spartans will play the first of two games in the Bahamas
EAST LANSING, Mich. - No. 15/15 Michigan State women's basketball heads to warmer temperatures playing in the Junkanoo Jam for the third time, Nov. 29-30. The Spartans will begin the tournament taking on LSU on Friday, Nov. 29 at 5:15 p.m.
• This will be only the fourth meeting between the Spartans and the Tigers with MSU looking for its first win. The teams have not met since 2007. On Nov. 30, Michigan State will take on either Kansas State or Memphis who will meet at 3 p.m.
• Taryn McCutcheon is nearing several milestones as a Spartan. With 937 career points, McCutcheon is just 63 points away from becoming the 28th member of the 1,000-point club. She is also third in career assists with 486. She is just 88 helpers away from passing current MSU assistant coach Kristin Haynie who had 574 career assist during her Spartan career (2001-05).
• Michigan State is 5-0 for the first time since 2012-13, when MSU won its first eight games. Overall, it is the third time under head coach Suzy Merchant that the Spartans have started 5-0, joining 2012-13 and 2008-09.
• Freshman Julia Ayrault had a breakout performance against Hartford. She had a season-high 14 points, including scoring 13-straight for the Spartans. She became the fourth different Spartan player to lead or share the scoring lead this season.
SCOUTING LSU
The Tigers improved to 5-1 this season with a a 64-58 win over Rutgers in Baton Rouge on Nov. 24. LSU also has wins at home against New Orleans and Southeastern Louisiana and road victories over Little Rock and Tulane.
LSU has already faced two teams on the Spartans' schedule this season. The Tigers fell to No. 12 Florida State at home 70-62 on Nov. 9. Michigan State will face the Seminoles in Tallahassee in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge game on Dec. 5. The Spartans will also Rutgers twice in Big Ten action on the road on Jan. 20 and at home on Feb. 13.
The Tigers have three players averaging in double figures led by Khayla Pointer who averages 14.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. Faustine Aifuwa scores 13.5 ppg, while Ayana Mitchell averages 12.5 ppg and leads the team with 9.7 rpg.
SPARTANS VS TIGERS SERIES HISTORY
Michigan State is looking for it first win against LSU in the teams' brief history. The Tigers lead the overall series 3-0 and the teams have not met since 2007. This is the first meeting on neutral territory, as LSU the last meeting in Baton Rouge in 2007 64-41. In the only game in East Lansing, the Tigers won, 64-50. The previous season LSU won 72-52 in Baton Rouge.
LOOKING AHEAD - KANSAS STATE
Kansas State is 3-1 heading into the game with Memphis with its only loss coming against UT Arlington on Nov. 24. The Wildcats also have wins over Omaha, UIC and Oral Roberts.
The Spartans have the only win in the brief history with Kansas State. MSU defeated the Wildcats, 68-65 in East Lansing in 2008.
LOOKING AHEAD - MEMPHIS
Memphis is 3-3 this season heading to the battle with Kansas State. They have won two-straight games with wins over Southern Illinois and Toledo. The Tigers suffered three-straight losses to Eastern Kentucky, Louisiana Tech and George Washington.
Michigan State and Memphis have only met once with the Tigers earning the home win, 59-56 in 2002.
SPARTANS IN JUNKANOO JAM
Michigan State is playing in the Bahamas for the third time, after playing in the Junkanoo Jam in the 2009-10 season, going 2-0 with a 78-47 win over George Washingon on Nov. 27, 2009 and a wild, 93-90 double-OT win over Oklahoma State on Nov. 28, 2009. Senior Allyssa DeHaan was named the Lucaya Division's most valuable player, while Kalisha Keane joined her on the all-tournament team.
During the 2015-16 season, the Spartans went 1-1 at the Junkanoo Jam. No. 20 Michigan State topped Cincinnati, 103-63 behind a then-career-high 30 points from Tori Jankoska in its first game. In the final game, MSU fell to No. 5 Baylor, 84-76. Jankoska and Aerial Powers both earned spots on the All-Tournament team.
2019 JUNKANOO JAM
Bimini Division
Kansas state
LSU
Memphis
Michigan State
Junkanoo Division
Georgia Tech
Rutgers
Seton Hall
Vanderbilt
EXCLUSIVE COMPANY
Guard Taryn McCutcheon is part of exclusive Michigan State company. She is one of only five players in Spartan history with at least 900 points and 400 assists. Tori Jankoska is the all-time points leader with 2,212 points, while current MSU assistant coach Kristin Haynie holds the all-time assist crown with 574 helpers.
Player Pts Assists
Tori Jankoska (2013-17) 2,212 489
Kristin Haynie (2001-05) 1,199 574
Brittney Thomas (2007-11) 932 401
Deb Traxinger (1978-82) 926 443
Taryn McCutcheon (2017-) 937 486
CLOUDEN WITH A CHANCE OF SCORING
Guard Nia Clouden has had a stellar start to her sophomore campaign. In five games, she has averaged 16.0 points per game. She is currently ninth in the Big Ten in scoring. She is also sixth in steals with 2.6 spg. The guard put the Spartans on her back with a career-high 28 points in MSU's win over No. 15/14 Notre Dame on Nov. 24. Her previous career high was 27 points in a win over Iowa on Dec. 30, 2018.
REACHING THE CENTURY MARK
With a start against Oakland, senior guard Taryn McCutcheon earned her 103rd career start. She has missed only one game during her MSU career against Michigan on Jan. 23, 2018. She now stands 10th in the MSU record books in career starts. Fellow senior Victoria Gaines has now played in 110 career games as a Spartan. She is just 16 games away from reaching the top 20 in career games played.
STRONG START
Michigan State is 5-0 for the first time since 2012-13, when MSU won its first eight games ... Overall, it is the third time under head coach Suzy Merchant that the Spartans have started 5-0, joining 2012-13 and 2008-09 ... half of MSU's 5-0 starts have come under Coach Merchant, as the Spartans have a total of six 5-0 starts in program history, joining 1983-84, 1984-85, 1999-2000, 2008-09, 2012-13 and now 2019-20.
2019-20 5-0
2012-13 8-0
2008-09 6-0
1999-00 7-0
1984-85 5-0
1983-84 6-0
BEING A BOSS AT THE BREZ
The Spartans continue to dominate at home. Last season, Michigan State set a record with 15 wins at home. Since the 2016-17 season, the Spartans are 41-9 at the friendly confines of the Breslin Center. MSU has won 22 of the last 23 games at home.
FRESHMEN SENSATIONS
The five Spartan newcomers have made an immediate impact through the first five games. Guard Moira Joiner has started the last four games. Julia Ayrault had a breakout game against Hartford with 14 points and three blocks. She is tied for 12th in the Big Ten in blocks with 1.2 bpg. Against Detroit Mercy all the leaders in points, rebounds, blocks and steals were all freshmen. Guard Alyza Winston led all scorers with 17 points. Forwards Ayrault and Taiyier Parks had a game-high seven rebounds apiece. Winston also led MSU with four steals, while Parks had two blocks. All five freshmen scored in the season opener against Eastern Michigan led by 14 points from Winston. In under five minutes of play, center Cydni Dodd scored four points with one rebound.
APPROACHING MILESTONES
Against Oakland, senior guard Taryn McCutcheon led four Spartans in double-figures with 16 points, moving up to 923 for her career and just 77 points away from becoming the 28th member of MSU's 1,000-point club. McCutcheon drained a season-high four 3-pointers, including three in the first half. She now has multiple 3-pointers in three of the four games and nine treys on the season (2.3 pg).
SPREADING THE WEALTH
Michigan State been spreading the scoring around early this season. In four games, three different players have led the way in scoring: Alyza Winston, Nia Clouden and Taryn McCutcheon. Clouden was the leading scorer against both Eastern Michigan (Nov. 5) and Notre Dame (Nov. 14). Winston was the top scorer versus Detroit Mercy (Nov. 8), while McCutcheon led the way against Oakland (Nov. 18). Overall, eight different Spartans are averaging over 5.5 ppg.
CLOUDEN NAMED B1G PLAYER OF WEEK
Michigan State guard Nia Clouden captured Big Ten Player of the Week honors on Nov. 18. This was sophomore's first Big Ten Player of the Week accolade, after earning Freshman of the Week honors once last season. This was Michigan State's first Big Ten Player of the Week honor since Jenna Allen, who earned the honor twice last season on Dec. 10 and Dec. 31. Clouden, a native of Owings Mills, Maryland, scored a career-high 28 points in the Spartans' 72-69 win over No. 15/14 Notre Dame on Nov. 14.
IN THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER
The Spartans are 124-39 (76.1%) all-time in the month of November. Under Coach Merchant, Michigan State is 64-11 (85.3%) in November, with seven of the 10 losses coming against top-10 opponents. The Spartans have won 38 of their last 43 in the month.
SPARTANS IN THE B1G/NCAA RANKINGS
After five games, Michigan State is ninth in the nation in rebound margin (+15.2), which is also tops in the Big Ten. MSU is also 19th in scoring offense (84.4 ppg), as well as standing 31st in 3-pointers per game (8.6 per game). The Spartans are fifth in the nation in steals per game, averaging 14.8 spg, which is also first in the Big Ten.
FREQUENT FLIER
Three Spartans earned international experience during the offseason. MSU head coach Suzy Merchant earned a silver medal as the head coach of U.S. Pan American team that competed in Lima, Peru. Sophomore guard Nia Clouden also participated in the U.S. U19 World Cup Trials in Colorado Spring in May. Redshirt-senior guard Shay Colley continues her quest for the 2020 Olympics continuing training with the Canadian National Team.
AGAINST THE GREAT LAKES STATE
Michigan State has had great success against other collegiate programs in the state of Michigan over the past 17 seasons. Since the beginning of the 2002-03 season, the Spartans are 62-5 (.925) against in-state rivals, including a 47-5 (.904) mark under Coach Merchant. All-time, Michigan State is 195-60 (.765) against other Michigan schools.
SEASON OPENERS
All-time, the Spartans are now 33-15 in season openers, but 25-2 when the opener is in East Lansing. Coach Merchant is 10-3 in season openers at MSU, and has won 16 of her last 19, including her time at Eastern Michigan.
RETURN TO THE GREAT LAKES STATE
Michigan State adds two new coaches to the staff this season in Dean Lockwood and former Spartan All-American Kristin Haynie. Lockwood and Haynie come to Michigan State with extensive basketball roots in the state of Michigan, as well as highly-decorated careers. During his 15-year tenure as an assistant coach at Tennessee, Lockwood won two NCAA titles. Haynie returns to Michigan State where she earned All-American honors, leading MSU to the 2005 National Championship game.
FANS CONTINUE TO PACK THE BRESLIN
Michigan State women's basketball continued to pack the Breslin Center last season, averaging 5,496 fans per game last season. MSU was 15th in the nation and fifth in the Big Ten in attendance. This marked the 15th-consecutive season that the Spartans have ranked in the top 15 nationally in attendance. Michigan State has had a total attendance of over 80,000 every season since 2005-06. The Spartans had their 15th-best crowd this season when 11,368 fans packed the Breslin Center as MSU defeated Michigan.
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-senior guard Shay Colley earned Preseason All-Big Ten honors for the second-straight season.
The Spartans were voted to finish second by the Big Ten coaches and third by the media. This was MSU's highest preseason ranking since being voted to finish second by the coaches prior to the 2016-17 campaign.
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. MSU has won 142 of its last 160 games when scoring at least 70 points, and MSU is 160-27 (.856) under head coach Suzy Merchant when hanging at least 70 points on the scoreboard. The Spartans have reached the 70-point margin in all five games this season.
CLOSING OUT THE GAMES
The Spartans have been extremely effective closing out games over the last couple years, winning 198 of their last 210 games (.943) when leading with five minutes left, including 148 of their last 162. In Coach Merchant's tenure, Michigan State is 233-18 (.928) when holding a lead with five minutes left.
UP NEXT
After the Junkanoo Jam, the Spartans remain on the road to take on No. 12 Florida State on Dec. 5 at 8 p.m. in the ACC/B1G Challenge.
GAME FOUR REWIND: MSU 79, HARTFORD 34
Taryn McCutcheon and Julia Ayrault had 14 points apiece, as No. 15 Michigan State cruised to a 79-34 win over Hartford on Sunday afternoon at the Breslin Center.
Four Spartans were in double figures led by the 14 from McCutcheon and Ayrault, who set an new career high. Sophomore forward Kayla Belles earned her first career double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Sophomore guard Nia Clouden also added added 12 points to go along with two steals.
Postgame Notes vs. Hartford
• MSU did not yield a 3-pointer to Hartford on Sunday, not only a season-low for the Spartan defense, but the first time of holding the opposition without a 3-pointer since Dec. 6, 2015 vs. Loyola Chicago (0-for-7).
• The Spartans had a +18 rebounding advantage (48-30), as they have had a double-digit rebounding advantage in four of the five games ... MSU entered Sunday's game leading the B1G and ranked 18th in NCAA in rebounding margin at +14.5. MSU also swiped 16 steals in Sunday's contest, as they came into Sunday ranking first in the B1G and seventh in the NCAA in steals per game (14.5) ... the Spartans had a +10 steals advantage Sunday (16-6).
•Senior guard Taryn McCutcheon and freshman forward Julia Ayrault shared top-scoring honors for MSU with 14 points apiece ... Ayrault becomes the fourth different Spartan player to lead or share the scoring lead, as well as the third different Spartan to post a career-high when doing so.
SIGNING DAY
Michigan State women's basketball head coach Suzy Merchant announced the signing of Kendall Bostic (Kokomo, Indiana/Northwestern High School) to a National Letter of Intent.
Bostic is a 6-2 forward who plays for head coach Katie Layden at Northwestern High School in Kokomo, Indiana and AAU basketball for Tony Marlin and the Indiana Flight/Elite. Bostic is ranked No. 16 at her position and No. 67 overall by ESPN HoopGurlz. As a junior, Bostic averaged 18.7 points, 9.2 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game on 68 percent shooting from the field. Last season, Northwestern captured its second consecutive state championship, as Bostic earned State Championship Player of the Game accolades, along with AP First-Team All-State and Co-Player of the Year honors.
She is the daughter of Kevin and Angie Bostic. Her mom, Angie (Cree) Bostic, played basketball at Indiana from, 1991-92.
• This will be only the fourth meeting between the Spartans and the Tigers with MSU looking for its first win. The teams have not met since 2007. On Nov. 30, Michigan State will take on either Kansas State or Memphis who will meet at 3 p.m.
• Taryn McCutcheon is nearing several milestones as a Spartan. With 937 career points, McCutcheon is just 63 points away from becoming the 28th member of the 1,000-point club. She is also third in career assists with 486. She is just 88 helpers away from passing current MSU assistant coach Kristin Haynie who had 574 career assist during her Spartan career (2001-05).
• Michigan State is 5-0 for the first time since 2012-13, when MSU won its first eight games. Overall, it is the third time under head coach Suzy Merchant that the Spartans have started 5-0, joining 2012-13 and 2008-09.
• Freshman Julia Ayrault had a breakout performance against Hartford. She had a season-high 14 points, including scoring 13-straight for the Spartans. She became the fourth different Spartan player to lead or share the scoring lead this season.
SCOUTING LSU
The Tigers improved to 5-1 this season with a a 64-58 win over Rutgers in Baton Rouge on Nov. 24. LSU also has wins at home against New Orleans and Southeastern Louisiana and road victories over Little Rock and Tulane.
LSU has already faced two teams on the Spartans' schedule this season. The Tigers fell to No. 12 Florida State at home 70-62 on Nov. 9. Michigan State will face the Seminoles in Tallahassee in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge game on Dec. 5. The Spartans will also Rutgers twice in Big Ten action on the road on Jan. 20 and at home on Feb. 13.
The Tigers have three players averaging in double figures led by Khayla Pointer who averages 14.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. Faustine Aifuwa scores 13.5 ppg, while Ayana Mitchell averages 12.5 ppg and leads the team with 9.7 rpg.
SPARTANS VS TIGERS SERIES HISTORY
Michigan State is looking for it first win against LSU in the teams' brief history. The Tigers lead the overall series 3-0 and the teams have not met since 2007. This is the first meeting on neutral territory, as LSU the last meeting in Baton Rouge in 2007 64-41. In the only game in East Lansing, the Tigers won, 64-50. The previous season LSU won 72-52 in Baton Rouge.
LOOKING AHEAD - KANSAS STATE
Kansas State is 3-1 heading into the game with Memphis with its only loss coming against UT Arlington on Nov. 24. The Wildcats also have wins over Omaha, UIC and Oral Roberts.
The Spartans have the only win in the brief history with Kansas State. MSU defeated the Wildcats, 68-65 in East Lansing in 2008.
LOOKING AHEAD - MEMPHIS
Memphis is 3-3 this season heading to the battle with Kansas State. They have won two-straight games with wins over Southern Illinois and Toledo. The Tigers suffered three-straight losses to Eastern Kentucky, Louisiana Tech and George Washington.
Michigan State and Memphis have only met once with the Tigers earning the home win, 59-56 in 2002.
SPARTANS IN JUNKANOO JAM
Michigan State is playing in the Bahamas for the third time, after playing in the Junkanoo Jam in the 2009-10 season, going 2-0 with a 78-47 win over George Washingon on Nov. 27, 2009 and a wild, 93-90 double-OT win over Oklahoma State on Nov. 28, 2009. Senior Allyssa DeHaan was named the Lucaya Division's most valuable player, while Kalisha Keane joined her on the all-tournament team.
During the 2015-16 season, the Spartans went 1-1 at the Junkanoo Jam. No. 20 Michigan State topped Cincinnati, 103-63 behind a then-career-high 30 points from Tori Jankoska in its first game. In the final game, MSU fell to No. 5 Baylor, 84-76. Jankoska and Aerial Powers both earned spots on the All-Tournament team.
2019 JUNKANOO JAM
Bimini Division
Kansas state
LSU
Memphis
Michigan State
Junkanoo Division
Georgia Tech
Rutgers
Seton Hall
Vanderbilt
EXCLUSIVE COMPANY
Guard Taryn McCutcheon is part of exclusive Michigan State company. She is one of only five players in Spartan history with at least 900 points and 400 assists. Tori Jankoska is the all-time points leader with 2,212 points, while current MSU assistant coach Kristin Haynie holds the all-time assist crown with 574 helpers.
Player Pts Assists
Tori Jankoska (2013-17) 2,212 489
Kristin Haynie (2001-05) 1,199 574
Brittney Thomas (2007-11) 932 401
Deb Traxinger (1978-82) 926 443
Taryn McCutcheon (2017-) 937 486
CLOUDEN WITH A CHANCE OF SCORING
Guard Nia Clouden has had a stellar start to her sophomore campaign. In five games, she has averaged 16.0 points per game. She is currently ninth in the Big Ten in scoring. She is also sixth in steals with 2.6 spg. The guard put the Spartans on her back with a career-high 28 points in MSU's win over No. 15/14 Notre Dame on Nov. 24. Her previous career high was 27 points in a win over Iowa on Dec. 30, 2018.
REACHING THE CENTURY MARK
With a start against Oakland, senior guard Taryn McCutcheon earned her 103rd career start. She has missed only one game during her MSU career against Michigan on Jan. 23, 2018. She now stands 10th in the MSU record books in career starts. Fellow senior Victoria Gaines has now played in 110 career games as a Spartan. She is just 16 games away from reaching the top 20 in career games played.
STRONG START
Michigan State is 5-0 for the first time since 2012-13, when MSU won its first eight games ... Overall, it is the third time under head coach Suzy Merchant that the Spartans have started 5-0, joining 2012-13 and 2008-09 ... half of MSU's 5-0 starts have come under Coach Merchant, as the Spartans have a total of six 5-0 starts in program history, joining 1983-84, 1984-85, 1999-2000, 2008-09, 2012-13 and now 2019-20.
2019-20 5-0
2012-13 8-0
2008-09 6-0
1999-00 7-0
1984-85 5-0
1983-84 6-0
BEING A BOSS AT THE BREZ
The Spartans continue to dominate at home. Last season, Michigan State set a record with 15 wins at home. Since the 2016-17 season, the Spartans are 41-9 at the friendly confines of the Breslin Center. MSU has won 22 of the last 23 games at home.
FRESHMEN SENSATIONS
The five Spartan newcomers have made an immediate impact through the first five games. Guard Moira Joiner has started the last four games. Julia Ayrault had a breakout game against Hartford with 14 points and three blocks. She is tied for 12th in the Big Ten in blocks with 1.2 bpg. Against Detroit Mercy all the leaders in points, rebounds, blocks and steals were all freshmen. Guard Alyza Winston led all scorers with 17 points. Forwards Ayrault and Taiyier Parks had a game-high seven rebounds apiece. Winston also led MSU with four steals, while Parks had two blocks. All five freshmen scored in the season opener against Eastern Michigan led by 14 points from Winston. In under five minutes of play, center Cydni Dodd scored four points with one rebound.
APPROACHING MILESTONES
Against Oakland, senior guard Taryn McCutcheon led four Spartans in double-figures with 16 points, moving up to 923 for her career and just 77 points away from becoming the 28th member of MSU's 1,000-point club. McCutcheon drained a season-high four 3-pointers, including three in the first half. She now has multiple 3-pointers in three of the four games and nine treys on the season (2.3 pg).
SPREADING THE WEALTH
Michigan State been spreading the scoring around early this season. In four games, three different players have led the way in scoring: Alyza Winston, Nia Clouden and Taryn McCutcheon. Clouden was the leading scorer against both Eastern Michigan (Nov. 5) and Notre Dame (Nov. 14). Winston was the top scorer versus Detroit Mercy (Nov. 8), while McCutcheon led the way against Oakland (Nov. 18). Overall, eight different Spartans are averaging over 5.5 ppg.
CLOUDEN NAMED B1G PLAYER OF WEEK
Michigan State guard Nia Clouden captured Big Ten Player of the Week honors on Nov. 18. This was sophomore's first Big Ten Player of the Week accolade, after earning Freshman of the Week honors once last season. This was Michigan State's first Big Ten Player of the Week honor since Jenna Allen, who earned the honor twice last season on Dec. 10 and Dec. 31. Clouden, a native of Owings Mills, Maryland, scored a career-high 28 points in the Spartans' 72-69 win over No. 15/14 Notre Dame on Nov. 14.
IN THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER
The Spartans are 124-39 (76.1%) all-time in the month of November. Under Coach Merchant, Michigan State is 64-11 (85.3%) in November, with seven of the 10 losses coming against top-10 opponents. The Spartans have won 38 of their last 43 in the month.
SPARTANS IN THE B1G/NCAA RANKINGS
After five games, Michigan State is ninth in the nation in rebound margin (+15.2), which is also tops in the Big Ten. MSU is also 19th in scoring offense (84.4 ppg), as well as standing 31st in 3-pointers per game (8.6 per game). The Spartans are fifth in the nation in steals per game, averaging 14.8 spg, which is also first in the Big Ten.
FREQUENT FLIER
Three Spartans earned international experience during the offseason. MSU head coach Suzy Merchant earned a silver medal as the head coach of U.S. Pan American team that competed in Lima, Peru. Sophomore guard Nia Clouden also participated in the U.S. U19 World Cup Trials in Colorado Spring in May. Redshirt-senior guard Shay Colley continues her quest for the 2020 Olympics continuing training with the Canadian National Team.
AGAINST THE GREAT LAKES STATE
Michigan State has had great success against other collegiate programs in the state of Michigan over the past 17 seasons. Since the beginning of the 2002-03 season, the Spartans are 62-5 (.925) against in-state rivals, including a 47-5 (.904) mark under Coach Merchant. All-time, Michigan State is 195-60 (.765) against other Michigan schools.
SEASON OPENERS
All-time, the Spartans are now 33-15 in season openers, but 25-2 when the opener is in East Lansing. Coach Merchant is 10-3 in season openers at MSU, and has won 16 of her last 19, including her time at Eastern Michigan.
RETURN TO THE GREAT LAKES STATE
Michigan State adds two new coaches to the staff this season in Dean Lockwood and former Spartan All-American Kristin Haynie. Lockwood and Haynie come to Michigan State with extensive basketball roots in the state of Michigan, as well as highly-decorated careers. During his 15-year tenure as an assistant coach at Tennessee, Lockwood won two NCAA titles. Haynie returns to Michigan State where she earned All-American honors, leading MSU to the 2005 National Championship game.
FANS CONTINUE TO PACK THE BRESLIN
Michigan State women's basketball continued to pack the Breslin Center last season, averaging 5,496 fans per game last season. MSU was 15th in the nation and fifth in the Big Ten in attendance. This marked the 15th-consecutive season that the Spartans have ranked in the top 15 nationally in attendance. Michigan State has had a total attendance of over 80,000 every season since 2005-06. The Spartans had their 15th-best crowd this season when 11,368 fans packed the Breslin Center as MSU defeated Michigan.
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-senior guard Shay Colley earned Preseason All-Big Ten honors for the second-straight season.
The Spartans were voted to finish second by the Big Ten coaches and third by the media. This was MSU's highest preseason ranking since being voted to finish second by the coaches prior to the 2016-17 campaign.
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. MSU has won 142 of its last 160 games when scoring at least 70 points, and MSU is 160-27 (.856) under head coach Suzy Merchant when hanging at least 70 points on the scoreboard. The Spartans have reached the 70-point margin in all five games this season.
CLOSING OUT THE GAMES
The Spartans have been extremely effective closing out games over the last couple years, winning 198 of their last 210 games (.943) when leading with five minutes left, including 148 of their last 162. In Coach Merchant's tenure, Michigan State is 233-18 (.928) when holding a lead with five minutes left.
UP NEXT
After the Junkanoo Jam, the Spartans remain on the road to take on No. 12 Florida State on Dec. 5 at 8 p.m. in the ACC/B1G Challenge.
GAME FOUR REWIND: MSU 79, HARTFORD 34
Taryn McCutcheon and Julia Ayrault had 14 points apiece, as No. 15 Michigan State cruised to a 79-34 win over Hartford on Sunday afternoon at the Breslin Center.
Four Spartans were in double figures led by the 14 from McCutcheon and Ayrault, who set an new career high. Sophomore forward Kayla Belles earned her first career double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Sophomore guard Nia Clouden also added added 12 points to go along with two steals.
Postgame Notes vs. Hartford
• MSU did not yield a 3-pointer to Hartford on Sunday, not only a season-low for the Spartan defense, but the first time of holding the opposition without a 3-pointer since Dec. 6, 2015 vs. Loyola Chicago (0-for-7).
• The Spartans had a +18 rebounding advantage (48-30), as they have had a double-digit rebounding advantage in four of the five games ... MSU entered Sunday's game leading the B1G and ranked 18th in NCAA in rebounding margin at +14.5. MSU also swiped 16 steals in Sunday's contest, as they came into Sunday ranking first in the B1G and seventh in the NCAA in steals per game (14.5) ... the Spartans had a +10 steals advantage Sunday (16-6).
•Senior guard Taryn McCutcheon and freshman forward Julia Ayrault shared top-scoring honors for MSU with 14 points apiece ... Ayrault becomes the fourth different Spartan player to lead or share the scoring lead, as well as the third different Spartan to post a career-high when doing so.
SIGNING DAY
Michigan State women's basketball head coach Suzy Merchant announced the signing of Kendall Bostic (Kokomo, Indiana/Northwestern High School) to a National Letter of Intent.
Bostic is a 6-2 forward who plays for head coach Katie Layden at Northwestern High School in Kokomo, Indiana and AAU basketball for Tony Marlin and the Indiana Flight/Elite. Bostic is ranked No. 16 at her position and No. 67 overall by ESPN HoopGurlz. As a junior, Bostic averaged 18.7 points, 9.2 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game on 68 percent shooting from the field. Last season, Northwestern captured its second consecutive state championship, as Bostic earned State Championship Player of the Game accolades, along with AP First-Team All-State and Co-Player of the Year honors.
She is the daughter of Kevin and Angie Bostic. Her mom, Angie (Cree) Bostic, played basketball at Indiana from, 1991-92.
Players Mentioned
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Guard
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Guard
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