Sunday, December 15
East Lansing, Mich.
1 PM
Michigan State University
vs
Morehead State
No. 19 Spartan Women Return Home to Face Morehead State Sunday
12/13/2019 4:44:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Michigan State will play its final non-conference home game.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - No. 19/23 Michigan State women's basketball returns to the Breslin Center after three games on the road to take on Morehead State on Sunday, Dec. 15 at 1 p.m. The game will be televised on BTN Plus with Jack Sznewajs and Lexi Ayala on the call.
• After eight games, Michigan State is sixth in the nation in steals per game (14.0 spg), which is also tops in the Big Ten. MSU is also ninth in offensive rebounds per game (17.3), which is also tops in the Big Ten. After holding Hartford and LSU to no 3-pointers earlier this season, the Spartans are fifth in 3-point field goal defense, holding teams to 21 percent from beyond the arc.
• On Dec. 5, the Big Ten clinched its first-ever win in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, earning a 9-5 victory that was fueled, in part, by a perfect 5-0 start the night before.
• Sophomore guard Nia Clouden had a season-high eight assists to go along with 22 points. The eight assists were the most by a Spartan this season. It was her seventh double-digit scoring game of the season and third 20+ point game this year. Overall, she has six 20+ games during her Spartan career.
• The game against Morehead State is one of only two games for the Spartans at the Breslin Center in the month of December. MSU will open the home portion of the Big Ten schedule on the final day of 2019, taking on Nebraska on Dec. 31 at 1 p.m. In the first month of 2020, the Spartans will happily have four home games.
SCOUTING MOREHEAD STATE
The Spartans will take on the Morehead State Eagles on Dec. 15 at the Breslin Center. MSU is currently 3-5 this season and have not had a conference opponent yet. This is the first-ever meeting between the two teams.
The Eagles have had a tough schedule so far. Most notably, they squared off against the No. 13-ranked Kentucky Wildcats. In that game, Morehead State junior guard Jazzmyn Elston and freshman guard Tomiyah Alford led the way with 11 points each. Most recently, the Eagles lost to the Dayton Flyers 58-41. In that game, Ariel Kirkwood was the best player on the court as she had a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds. Her performance earned her an Ohio Valley Conference Women's Basketball Freshman of the Week award on Dec. 10.
In their eight games, the Eagles are shooting 27 percent from behind the arc, 35 percent from the field and 74 percent at the line. They are averaging 39 rebounds, 9.1 assists and 18.4 turnovers per game. MSU is averaging 64.5 points per game, while allowing 64.9 ppg. The Eagles average 39.2 rebounds per game, while allowing 40.0.
SERIES HISTORY VS. MOREHEAD STATE
This is the first meeting between the Spartans and the Eagles.
MASTER THIEVES
Through the first eight games, the Spartans have reached double-figures in steals in all eight. This is the longest streak of this kind during Coach Merchant's tenure. The most double-figure steal games that MSU has had since Coach Merchant's arrival during the 2007-08 season was 17 during the 2010-11 season. During the 2005-06 season, MSU had 20 double-digit steal games.
CLOUDEN CLIMBS THE CHARTS
Sophomore guard Nia Clouden is among the best in several categories in the Big Ten. She is currently fourth in the league in scoring, averaging 16.3 points per game. Penn State's Kamaria McDaniel leads the lead in scoring with 19.9 ppg. She is also fourth in free throw percentage (.821). She is providing help on the defensive end of the ball as well, standing tied for second in steals (2.9 spg).
AROUND THE B1G
Aside from Nia Clouden standing fourth in scoring (16.3 ppg), several Spartans are amongst leaders in the Big Ten. Senior guard Taryn McCutcheon is fifth in the league in 3-pointer made with 2.4 per game. Freshmen Taiyier Parks (1.5 bpg) and Julia Ayrault (1.1 bpg) are seventh and 11th, respectively in blocks. The Spartans have three players in the top 15 in steals. Besides, Clouden standing tied for second (2.9 spg), McCutcheon is tied for ninth (2.0) and Shay Colley is tied for 15th (1.8 spg).
As a team, MSU is first in 3-point field goal defense (.210) and second in rebounding offense (43.3). The Spartans are also third in rebounding margin (+6.3) and first in steals (14.0 spg).
ACC/BIG TEN CHALLENGE HISTORY
Michigan State played the 13th annual Big Ten/ACC Challenge. After losing to No 8 Florida State, 78-68, the Spartans hold a 6-7 record in the ACC/B1G Challenge. This was the third time that MSU and Florida State have met in the Challenge with FSU leading 2-1.
In 2014, Michigan State came-from-behind to capture a 79-73 overtime win against Georgia Tech on Dec. 4. In 2015, Louisville came out fast and despite a second-half comeback by MSU, the Cardinals captured the win, 85-78. In 2016, the Spartans traveled to No. 21 Syracuse, falling to the Orange in the Carrier Dome, 75-64. In 2017, Michigan State lost to Miami in Coral Gables, 67-57, behind a game-high 14 points from Taryn McCutcheon. Last year was MSU's most dominating win with a 91-66 win over Virginia. Overall, it was the third-largest margin of victory in the challenge.
B1G/ACC Challenge History
2019 - Florida State 78, MSU 68
2018 - MSU 91, Virginia 66
2017 - Miami 67, MSU 57
2016 - Syracuse 75, MSU 64
2015 - Louisville 85, MSU 78
2014 - MSU 79, Georgia Tech 73 (OT)
2013 - Florida State 60, MSU 58
2012 - MSU 68, N.C. State 51
2011 - Miami 76, MSU 60
2010 - MSU 72, Florida State 64
2009 - MSU 72, North Carolina 66
2008 - Georgia Tech 57, MSU 50
2007 - MSU 68, Clemson 51
FACING TWO OR MORE ACC TEAMS IN SAME SEASON
This marks the third-straight season and the eighth time under head coach Suzy Merchant that the Spartans have faced two or more teams from the ACC in the same season, including the fifth time in seven years.
2019-20 (3) | Notre Dame / FSU ^ / Syracuse
2018-19 (3) | NC State / Virginia ^ / Notre Dame $
2017-18 (2) | Miami ^ / Notre Dame
2014-15 (2) | Notre Dame / Georgia Tech ^
2013-14 (3) | Notre Dame / FSU ^ / Virginia Tech
2012-13 (3) | Virginia Tech / NC State ^ / Maryland $&
2008-09 (2) | Georgia Tech ^ / Duke $
2007-08 (2) | Clemson ^ / NC State @
^ = Big Ten/ACC Challenge | @ = WNIT
$ = NCAA Tournament | & = Maryland was in ACC from 1953-03
MOVIN' ON UP
Senior guard Taryn McCutcheon moved into second place in the all-time career assists list, passing All-American Tori Jankoska. With a season-high seven assists against Kansas State on Nov. 30, she passed Jankoska. She now has 497 career helpers. Current assistant coach Kristin Haynie is the MSU all-time leader in assists with 574. She currently leads the team in assists with 25.
PULLING THEIR WEIGHT
Against Florida State on Dec. 5, the Spartans had 14 bench points compared to 10 by the Seminoles. For the season, Michigan State has had 42.1 percent of its scoring come off the bench, compared to 22.8 percent from it opponents. Coming off the bench, freshmen Julia Ayrault is averaging 6.1 ppg. Six times this season MSU has had bench players reach double figures off the bench.
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.
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-) 968 497
REACHING THE CENTURY MARK
With a start against Florida State, senior guard Taryn McCutcheon earned her 106th 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 113 career games as a Spartan. She is just 13 games away from reaching the top 20 in career games played.
LIKE THIEVES IN THE NIGHT
MSU swiped 10 steals in against No. 8/10 Florida State on Dec. 5. The Spartans rank first in the B1G and ninth in the NCAA in steals per game (14.0). The Spartans have been in double digits in steals in all eight games this season. The Spartans were led by four steals from sophomore Nia Clouden. For the season, the Spartans have 112 steals.
THE SPARTANS IN NOVEMBER
Michigan State is now 125-40 (.758) all-time in the month of November ... Under Coach Merchant, MSU is 65-12 (.844), including winning 39 of the last 44 in the 11th month of the calendar.
APPROACHING MILESTONES
Against Florida State, senior guard Taryn McCutcheon had nine points, moving up to 968 for her career and just 32 points away from becoming the 28th member of MSU's 1,000-point club.
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.
SPARTANS IN THE B1G/NCAA RANKINGS
After eight games, Michigan State is sixth in the nation in steals per game (14.0), which is also tops in the Big Ten. MSU is also ninth in offensive rebounds per game (17.3), which is also tops in the Big Ten. After holding Hartford and LSU to no 3-pointers earlier this season, the Spartans are fifth 3-point field goal defense, holding teams to 21.0 percent from beyond the arc.
Individually, Nia Clouden is get the job done at the charity stripe standing first in the league and 17th in country in free throws made with 38. She is also 55th in the nation and fifth in the Big Ten in total steals with 19.
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 199 of their last 212 games (.939) when leading with five minutes left, including 149 of their last 164. In Coach Merchant's tenure, Michigan State is 234-19 (.925) when holding a lead with five minutes left. This season, MSU is 8-1 when leading with five minutes remaining with the only loss coming against No. 8 Florida State.
UP NEXT
After facing Morehead State on Dec. 15, the Spartans will head South for the Florida Sunshine Classic. MSU will face Syracuse on Dec. 20 and West Virginia on Dec. 21 before breaking for the holidays.
GAME EIGHT REWIND: FLORIDA STATE 78, MSU 68
In a scrappy battle in Tallahassee, the No. 19/21 Michigan State women's basketball team fell to No. 8/10 Florida State 78-68 at FSU's Donald L. Tucker Center on Dec. 5 For the first time in 13 years, the Big Ten won the B1G/ACC Challenge.
The Spartans led for over 23 minutes, but a strong fourth quarter by the Seminoles helped FSU to improve to 8-0 this season. Michigan State falls to 6-2 overall. MSU is now 1-1 against ranked teams.
After struggling from beyond the arc against Kansas State on Nov. 30, the Spartans made 11 treys against the Seminoles.
Postgame Notes vs. Florida State
• With three assists, senior guard Taryn McCutcheon now has 497 career assists. She is three away from becoming just the second Spartan to reach the 500-assist mark. Current assistant coach Kristin Haynie is the all-time assist leader at Michigan State with 574.
• Sophomore guard Nia Clouden had a season-high eight assists to go along with 22 points. The eight assists were the most by a Spartan this season. It was her seventh double-digit scoring game of the season and third 20+ point games this year. Overall, she has six 20+ game during her Spartan career.
• The Spartans tied a season high with six blocks, also swatting six against Oakland on Nov. 19. Victoria Gaines, Julia Ayrault and Taiyier Parks all had two blocks. The pair of blocks by Gaines was a season high.
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.
• After eight games, Michigan State is sixth in the nation in steals per game (14.0 spg), which is also tops in the Big Ten. MSU is also ninth in offensive rebounds per game (17.3), which is also tops in the Big Ten. After holding Hartford and LSU to no 3-pointers earlier this season, the Spartans are fifth in 3-point field goal defense, holding teams to 21 percent from beyond the arc.
• On Dec. 5, the Big Ten clinched its first-ever win in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, earning a 9-5 victory that was fueled, in part, by a perfect 5-0 start the night before.
• Sophomore guard Nia Clouden had a season-high eight assists to go along with 22 points. The eight assists were the most by a Spartan this season. It was her seventh double-digit scoring game of the season and third 20+ point game this year. Overall, she has six 20+ games during her Spartan career.
• The game against Morehead State is one of only two games for the Spartans at the Breslin Center in the month of December. MSU will open the home portion of the Big Ten schedule on the final day of 2019, taking on Nebraska on Dec. 31 at 1 p.m. In the first month of 2020, the Spartans will happily have four home games.
SCOUTING MOREHEAD STATE
The Spartans will take on the Morehead State Eagles on Dec. 15 at the Breslin Center. MSU is currently 3-5 this season and have not had a conference opponent yet. This is the first-ever meeting between the two teams.
The Eagles have had a tough schedule so far. Most notably, they squared off against the No. 13-ranked Kentucky Wildcats. In that game, Morehead State junior guard Jazzmyn Elston and freshman guard Tomiyah Alford led the way with 11 points each. Most recently, the Eagles lost to the Dayton Flyers 58-41. In that game, Ariel Kirkwood was the best player on the court as she had a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds. Her performance earned her an Ohio Valley Conference Women's Basketball Freshman of the Week award on Dec. 10.
In their eight games, the Eagles are shooting 27 percent from behind the arc, 35 percent from the field and 74 percent at the line. They are averaging 39 rebounds, 9.1 assists and 18.4 turnovers per game. MSU is averaging 64.5 points per game, while allowing 64.9 ppg. The Eagles average 39.2 rebounds per game, while allowing 40.0.
SERIES HISTORY VS. MOREHEAD STATE
This is the first meeting between the Spartans and the Eagles.
MASTER THIEVES
Through the first eight games, the Spartans have reached double-figures in steals in all eight. This is the longest streak of this kind during Coach Merchant's tenure. The most double-figure steal games that MSU has had since Coach Merchant's arrival during the 2007-08 season was 17 during the 2010-11 season. During the 2005-06 season, MSU had 20 double-digit steal games.
CLOUDEN CLIMBS THE CHARTS
Sophomore guard Nia Clouden is among the best in several categories in the Big Ten. She is currently fourth in the league in scoring, averaging 16.3 points per game. Penn State's Kamaria McDaniel leads the lead in scoring with 19.9 ppg. She is also fourth in free throw percentage (.821). She is providing help on the defensive end of the ball as well, standing tied for second in steals (2.9 spg).
AROUND THE B1G
Aside from Nia Clouden standing fourth in scoring (16.3 ppg), several Spartans are amongst leaders in the Big Ten. Senior guard Taryn McCutcheon is fifth in the league in 3-pointer made with 2.4 per game. Freshmen Taiyier Parks (1.5 bpg) and Julia Ayrault (1.1 bpg) are seventh and 11th, respectively in blocks. The Spartans have three players in the top 15 in steals. Besides, Clouden standing tied for second (2.9 spg), McCutcheon is tied for ninth (2.0) and Shay Colley is tied for 15th (1.8 spg).
As a team, MSU is first in 3-point field goal defense (.210) and second in rebounding offense (43.3). The Spartans are also third in rebounding margin (+6.3) and first in steals (14.0 spg).
ACC/BIG TEN CHALLENGE HISTORY
Michigan State played the 13th annual Big Ten/ACC Challenge. After losing to No 8 Florida State, 78-68, the Spartans hold a 6-7 record in the ACC/B1G Challenge. This was the third time that MSU and Florida State have met in the Challenge with FSU leading 2-1.
In 2014, Michigan State came-from-behind to capture a 79-73 overtime win against Georgia Tech on Dec. 4. In 2015, Louisville came out fast and despite a second-half comeback by MSU, the Cardinals captured the win, 85-78. In 2016, the Spartans traveled to No. 21 Syracuse, falling to the Orange in the Carrier Dome, 75-64. In 2017, Michigan State lost to Miami in Coral Gables, 67-57, behind a game-high 14 points from Taryn McCutcheon. Last year was MSU's most dominating win with a 91-66 win over Virginia. Overall, it was the third-largest margin of victory in the challenge.
B1G/ACC Challenge History
2019 - Florida State 78, MSU 68
2018 - MSU 91, Virginia 66
2017 - Miami 67, MSU 57
2016 - Syracuse 75, MSU 64
2015 - Louisville 85, MSU 78
2014 - MSU 79, Georgia Tech 73 (OT)
2013 - Florida State 60, MSU 58
2012 - MSU 68, N.C. State 51
2011 - Miami 76, MSU 60
2010 - MSU 72, Florida State 64
2009 - MSU 72, North Carolina 66
2008 - Georgia Tech 57, MSU 50
2007 - MSU 68, Clemson 51
FACING TWO OR MORE ACC TEAMS IN SAME SEASON
This marks the third-straight season and the eighth time under head coach Suzy Merchant that the Spartans have faced two or more teams from the ACC in the same season, including the fifth time in seven years.
2019-20 (3) | Notre Dame / FSU ^ / Syracuse
2018-19 (3) | NC State / Virginia ^ / Notre Dame $
2017-18 (2) | Miami ^ / Notre Dame
2014-15 (2) | Notre Dame / Georgia Tech ^
2013-14 (3) | Notre Dame / FSU ^ / Virginia Tech
2012-13 (3) | Virginia Tech / NC State ^ / Maryland $&
2008-09 (2) | Georgia Tech ^ / Duke $
2007-08 (2) | Clemson ^ / NC State @
^ = Big Ten/ACC Challenge | @ = WNIT
$ = NCAA Tournament | & = Maryland was in ACC from 1953-03
MOVIN' ON UP
Senior guard Taryn McCutcheon moved into second place in the all-time career assists list, passing All-American Tori Jankoska. With a season-high seven assists against Kansas State on Nov. 30, she passed Jankoska. She now has 497 career helpers. Current assistant coach Kristin Haynie is the MSU all-time leader in assists with 574. She currently leads the team in assists with 25.
PULLING THEIR WEIGHT
Against Florida State on Dec. 5, the Spartans had 14 bench points compared to 10 by the Seminoles. For the season, Michigan State has had 42.1 percent of its scoring come off the bench, compared to 22.8 percent from it opponents. Coming off the bench, freshmen Julia Ayrault is averaging 6.1 ppg. Six times this season MSU has had bench players reach double figures off the bench.
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.
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-) 968 497
REACHING THE CENTURY MARK
With a start against Florida State, senior guard Taryn McCutcheon earned her 106th 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 113 career games as a Spartan. She is just 13 games away from reaching the top 20 in career games played.
LIKE THIEVES IN THE NIGHT
MSU swiped 10 steals in against No. 8/10 Florida State on Dec. 5. The Spartans rank first in the B1G and ninth in the NCAA in steals per game (14.0). The Spartans have been in double digits in steals in all eight games this season. The Spartans were led by four steals from sophomore Nia Clouden. For the season, the Spartans have 112 steals.
THE SPARTANS IN NOVEMBER
Michigan State is now 125-40 (.758) all-time in the month of November ... Under Coach Merchant, MSU is 65-12 (.844), including winning 39 of the last 44 in the 11th month of the calendar.
APPROACHING MILESTONES
Against Florida State, senior guard Taryn McCutcheon had nine points, moving up to 968 for her career and just 32 points away from becoming the 28th member of MSU's 1,000-point club.
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.
SPARTANS IN THE B1G/NCAA RANKINGS
After eight games, Michigan State is sixth in the nation in steals per game (14.0), which is also tops in the Big Ten. MSU is also ninth in offensive rebounds per game (17.3), which is also tops in the Big Ten. After holding Hartford and LSU to no 3-pointers earlier this season, the Spartans are fifth 3-point field goal defense, holding teams to 21.0 percent from beyond the arc.
Individually, Nia Clouden is get the job done at the charity stripe standing first in the league and 17th in country in free throws made with 38. She is also 55th in the nation and fifth in the Big Ten in total steals with 19.
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 199 of their last 212 games (.939) when leading with five minutes left, including 149 of their last 164. In Coach Merchant's tenure, Michigan State is 234-19 (.925) when holding a lead with five minutes left. This season, MSU is 8-1 when leading with five minutes remaining with the only loss coming against No. 8 Florida State.
UP NEXT
After facing Morehead State on Dec. 15, the Spartans will head South for the Florida Sunshine Classic. MSU will face Syracuse on Dec. 20 and West Virginia on Dec. 21 before breaking for the holidays.
GAME EIGHT REWIND: FLORIDA STATE 78, MSU 68
In a scrappy battle in Tallahassee, the No. 19/21 Michigan State women's basketball team fell to No. 8/10 Florida State 78-68 at FSU's Donald L. Tucker Center on Dec. 5 For the first time in 13 years, the Big Ten won the B1G/ACC Challenge.
The Spartans led for over 23 minutes, but a strong fourth quarter by the Seminoles helped FSU to improve to 8-0 this season. Michigan State falls to 6-2 overall. MSU is now 1-1 against ranked teams.
After struggling from beyond the arc against Kansas State on Nov. 30, the Spartans made 11 treys against the Seminoles.
Postgame Notes vs. Florida State
• With three assists, senior guard Taryn McCutcheon now has 497 career assists. She is three away from becoming just the second Spartan to reach the 500-assist mark. Current assistant coach Kristin Haynie is the all-time assist leader at Michigan State with 574.
• Sophomore guard Nia Clouden had a season-high eight assists to go along with 22 points. The eight assists were the most by a Spartan this season. It was her seventh double-digit scoring game of the season and third 20+ point games this year. Overall, she has six 20+ game during her Spartan career.
• The Spartans tied a season high with six blocks, also swatting six against Oakland on Nov. 19. Victoria Gaines, Julia Ayrault and Taiyier Parks all had two blocks. The pair of blocks by Gaines was a season high.
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
Center
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Guard
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Guard
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Forward
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