Saturday, December 28
Bloomington, Ind.
6 PM
Michigan State University
at
#14 Indiana
Photo by: Dale G. Young
MSU Women's Basketball Opens B1G Play at No. 14 Indiana Saturday
12/27/2019 1:10:00 PM | Women's Basketball
This is the only meeting during the regular season for the teams.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State women's basketball returns to action after the holidays, traveling to No. 14/15 Indiana in its Big Ten opener on Saturday, Dec. 28 at 6 p.m. The game will be televised on the Big Ten Network with Lisa Byington and Brenda VanLengen on the call.
• MSU is looking to snap a two-game losing streak. The Spartans fell to 7-4 after a loss to No. 22 West Virginia on Dec. 21. Michigan State concluded non-conference action with losses to two ranked teams. MSU also has a loss against No. 8 Florida State. Indiana dropped to 10-2 after falling to No. 10 UCLA at home on Dec. 22, 68-58.
• Michigan State is 19-18 all-time in Big Ten openers, having won six of its last eight. Last season, the Spartans stopped No. 16 Iowa, 84-70 in its B1G opener at home.
• With five points against West Virginia on Dec. 21, senior guard Taryn McCutcheon inches closer to becoming the 28th member of the Michigan State 1,000-point club. She is now just six points shy of 1,000 points. Indiana's Jaelynn Penn is also chasing history looking to become the 27th member of the 1,000-point club at IU. She currently has 993 career points.
• The game against the Hoosiers is only MSU's third true road game. All three road games have been against ranked opponents. The Spartans have a road win against then- No. 15 Notre Dame and a loss to No. 8 Florida State.
SCOUTING INDIANA
No. 14/15 Indiana has had a tremendous non-conference season. The Hoosiers only losses are to No. 10 UCLA and then-No. 2 Baylor. IU also has wins over then- No. 5 South Carolina and then-No. 21 Miami this season. The Hoosiers are 5-1 at home so far this season with the only loss coming against UCLA on Dec. 22.
Indiana has four players averaging in double figures led by Grace Berger, who is 16th in the Big Ten in scoring (12.9 ppg). Ali Patberg continues to be a force to be reckoned with, standing 21st in the league in scoring with 12.2 ppg. She is also fifth in the B1G in assists (5.2 apg) and fourth in assist/turnover ratio (2.4). As a team, the Hoosiers are third in the league in scoring margin (+21.8). IU is third in field goal percentage (.483).
The Hoosiers have a strong defensive presence this season. Indiana is holding its opponents to low scoring affairs. IU's opponents are shooting just 32.3 from the field, which stands 10th in the nation.
HOOSIERS SERIES HISTORY
Michigan State leads the overall series 48-28, but the series has been tight of late. The last six games have been split 3-3. Last year, the teams split two games, both winning at home. IU won in Bloomington on Jan. 6, 68-64. MSU had a dominating win at home Feb. 11, 77-61.
BIG TEN OPENERS
Michigan State is 19-18 all-time in Big Ten openers, having won six of its last eight. Under Coach Merchant, the Spartans are 8-4 in Big Ten openers. Last season, Michigan State captured a 84-70 upset win over No. 16 Iowa at the Breslin Center. The last time MSU opened against the Hoosiers was during the 2017-18 season. Michigan State earned a dominating 68-46 win over Indiana in Bloomington on Dec. 28, 2017.
INCHING CLOSER
Senior guard Taryn McCutcheon is getting closer and closer to joining the 1,000th point club. With five against, West Virginia she needs just six to become the 28th member. The senior currently has 994 career points.
FAMILIAR FACE
The Spartans will see a familiar face against the Hoosiers. Freshman Jorie Allen is the sister of All-Big Ten performer Jenna Allen who graduated last season.
SWITCHING STARTERS
Through 11 games this season, Nia Clouden and Taryn McCutcheon are the only two players to have started every game. Overall, the Spartans have had five different starting lineups. The lineup of Clouden, McCutcheon, Tory Ozment, Kayla Belles and Moira Joiner has happened three times and is the most frequent (2-1). Victoria Gaines has become a fixture in the starting five after returning from a sprained ankle and has started the last five games.
FINDING CONSISTENCY
Nia Clouden has been the most consistent Spartan this season, leading the team in scoring six times this year. Taryn McCutcheon has led three times, while Julia Ayrault has led twice including tying with McCutcheon once. Alyza Winston is the only other player to lead MSU in scoring.
On the boards is a very different story, seven different players have led the squad in rebounds. Taiyier Parks, Julia Ayrault and Victoria Gaines all lead the team in rebounds three times apiece.
MASTER THIEVES
Through the first 11 games, the Spartans have reached double-figures in steals in nine. In the loss against Syracuse, MSU only had seven steals, while earning six in the loss to West Virginia. This wsas 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. As a team, Michigan State is averaging 12.5 spg, which is second in the Big Ten.
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 16.0 points per game. Rutgers' Arella Guirantes leads the league in scoring with 19.1 ppg. She is also second in free throw percentage (.838). She is providing help on the defensive end of the ball as well, standing tied for fourth in steals (2.5 spg).
WELCOME TO SPARTAN NATION
All five Spartan newcomers have played in at least five games this season. Freshman Moira Joiner has started seven games and continues to make strides on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. She is averaging 4.2 ppg with a 1.2 assist to turnover ratio. Fellow freshman Julia Ayrault leads the team in rebounding (4.8 rpg), while rookie Taiyier Parks is first in blocks (1.2 bpg).
IN THE LOSSES
Michigan State's four losses this season have come against No. 22 West Virginia, No. 8 Florida State, LSU and Syracuse. In those four games, the first and fourth quarters have told the tale. In the first quarter, the Spartans have been out-scored 77-60 and have been out-scored 78-56 in the final period.
Nia Clouden has averaged 17.5 ppg in the three losses, while Taryn McCutcheon and Shay Colley have averaged 10.8 ppg and 10.0 ppg, respectively. They are the only three scoring in double figures. The Spartans' shooting from beyond the arc in the losses is only 28.0 percent, while shooting 31.7 percent for the season.
MAKING HISTORY
Senior guard Taryn McCutcheon dished out four assists against Morehead State on Dec. 15, as she became just the second player in MSU women's basketball history with 500 career assists. With two more against West Virginia on Dec. 21, she now with 507 for her career. McCutcheon needs just 67 more helpers to tie current Spartan assistant coach Kristin Haynie for the all-time assists record with 574. McCutcheon currently leads the team in assists with 35.
SPARTANS IN THE B1G/NCAA RANKINGS
After 11 games, Michigan State is 14th in the nation in steals per game (12.5, which is second in the Big Ten. MSU is also 17th in offensive rebounds per game (16.2), which is also first in the league. After holding Hartford and LSU to no 3-pointers earlier this season, the Spartans are seventh in the country and first in the B1G in 3-point field goal defense, holding teams to 21.9 percent from beyond the arc.
Individually, Nia Clouden is getting the job done at the charity stripe standing second in the league and 16th in country and first in the league in free throws made with 57. She is also 57th in the nation and fourth in the Big Ten in steals per game with 2.5.
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. With four assists against Morehead State on Dec. 15, she becomes just the second player with 500 assists in Spartan history.
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-) 994 507
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 23 of the last 24 games at home. This season, the Spartans are 5-0 at home.
PUTTING UP BIG NUMBERS
Nia Clouden is the only Spartan this season to reach the 20-point mark, and she has done it four times this season. She reached 20 points only three times in 33 games as a freshman. The sophomore set her career-high in MSU's win over Notre Dame on Nov. 14 with 28 points. She has also scored in double figures in 10 of 11 games this season.
REACHING THE CENTURY MARK
With a start against Morehead State, senior guard Taryn McCutcheon earned her 109th career start. She has missed only one game during her MSU career against Michigan on Jan. 23, 2018. She is now tied for eighth in the MSU record books in career starts. Fellow senior Victoria Gaines has now played in 116 career games as a Spartan. She is just 10 games away from reaching the top 20 in career games played.
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.
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.
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 143 of its last 161 games when scoring at least 70 points, and MSU is 161-27 (.856) under head coach Suzy Merchant when hanging at least 70 points on the scoreboard. The Spartans have reached the 70-point margin in six games this season and are 6-0.
CLOSING OUT THE GAMES
The Spartans have been extremely effective closing out games over the last couple years, winning 200 of their last 213 games (.939) when leading with five minutes left, including 150 of their last 165. In Coach Merchant's tenure, Michigan State is 235-19 (.925) when holding a lead with five minutes left. This season, MSU is 7-1 when leading with five minutes remaining with the only loss coming against No. 8 Florida State.
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.
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.
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.
UP NEXT
After the Big Ten opener against No. 14/15 Indiana on Dec. 28, the Spartans will close out 2019 with a New Year's Eve battle with Nebraska at 1 p.m. at home on BTN.
GAME REWIND: West Virginia 63, MSU 57
Sophomore guard Nia Clouden scored in double figures for the ninth-straight game, but the No. 19 Michigan State women's basketball team was edged by No. 22 West Virginia, 63-57, at the Florida Sunshine Classic on Saturday. After averaging 18.0 points and 7.5 rebounds per game in the two contests, she earned a spot on the Florida Sunshine Classic All-Tournament team.
MSU falls to 7-4 with the loss, losing two-straight for the first time this season. West Virginia improves to 8-1 with the win.
The Spartans were led once again by Clouden, who scored 16 points and topped her career-high with eight boards. She had seven rebounds against Syracuse on Dec. 20. Senior guard Shay Colley returned to the starting lineup after missing two games to score 11 points, three rebounds and two steals.
Postgame Notes vs. WVU
• Sophomore guard Nia Clouden earned All-Tournament honors at the Florida Sunshine Classic. This is the second time she earned all-tournament honors, also capturing accolades at the Junkanoo Jam in the Bahamas over Thanksgiving. She averaged 18.0 points and 7.5 rebounds per game in two contests. Clouden topped her career high in rebounds twice during the tournament. She had seven against Syracuse and eight against West Virginia.
• Senior forward Nia Hollie set a career high going 2-for-2 from long range, en route to eight points off the bench.
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.
• MSU is looking to snap a two-game losing streak. The Spartans fell to 7-4 after a loss to No. 22 West Virginia on Dec. 21. Michigan State concluded non-conference action with losses to two ranked teams. MSU also has a loss against No. 8 Florida State. Indiana dropped to 10-2 after falling to No. 10 UCLA at home on Dec. 22, 68-58.
• Michigan State is 19-18 all-time in Big Ten openers, having won six of its last eight. Last season, the Spartans stopped No. 16 Iowa, 84-70 in its B1G opener at home.
• With five points against West Virginia on Dec. 21, senior guard Taryn McCutcheon inches closer to becoming the 28th member of the Michigan State 1,000-point club. She is now just six points shy of 1,000 points. Indiana's Jaelynn Penn is also chasing history looking to become the 27th member of the 1,000-point club at IU. She currently has 993 career points.
• The game against the Hoosiers is only MSU's third true road game. All three road games have been against ranked opponents. The Spartans have a road win against then- No. 15 Notre Dame and a loss to No. 8 Florida State.
SCOUTING INDIANA
No. 14/15 Indiana has had a tremendous non-conference season. The Hoosiers only losses are to No. 10 UCLA and then-No. 2 Baylor. IU also has wins over then- No. 5 South Carolina and then-No. 21 Miami this season. The Hoosiers are 5-1 at home so far this season with the only loss coming against UCLA on Dec. 22.
Indiana has four players averaging in double figures led by Grace Berger, who is 16th in the Big Ten in scoring (12.9 ppg). Ali Patberg continues to be a force to be reckoned with, standing 21st in the league in scoring with 12.2 ppg. She is also fifth in the B1G in assists (5.2 apg) and fourth in assist/turnover ratio (2.4). As a team, the Hoosiers are third in the league in scoring margin (+21.8). IU is third in field goal percentage (.483).
The Hoosiers have a strong defensive presence this season. Indiana is holding its opponents to low scoring affairs. IU's opponents are shooting just 32.3 from the field, which stands 10th in the nation.
HOOSIERS SERIES HISTORY
Michigan State leads the overall series 48-28, but the series has been tight of late. The last six games have been split 3-3. Last year, the teams split two games, both winning at home. IU won in Bloomington on Jan. 6, 68-64. MSU had a dominating win at home Feb. 11, 77-61.
BIG TEN OPENERS
Michigan State is 19-18 all-time in Big Ten openers, having won six of its last eight. Under Coach Merchant, the Spartans are 8-4 in Big Ten openers. Last season, Michigan State captured a 84-70 upset win over No. 16 Iowa at the Breslin Center. The last time MSU opened against the Hoosiers was during the 2017-18 season. Michigan State earned a dominating 68-46 win over Indiana in Bloomington on Dec. 28, 2017.
INCHING CLOSER
Senior guard Taryn McCutcheon is getting closer and closer to joining the 1,000th point club. With five against, West Virginia she needs just six to become the 28th member. The senior currently has 994 career points.
FAMILIAR FACE
The Spartans will see a familiar face against the Hoosiers. Freshman Jorie Allen is the sister of All-Big Ten performer Jenna Allen who graduated last season.
SWITCHING STARTERS
Through 11 games this season, Nia Clouden and Taryn McCutcheon are the only two players to have started every game. Overall, the Spartans have had five different starting lineups. The lineup of Clouden, McCutcheon, Tory Ozment, Kayla Belles and Moira Joiner has happened three times and is the most frequent (2-1). Victoria Gaines has become a fixture in the starting five after returning from a sprained ankle and has started the last five games.
FINDING CONSISTENCY
Nia Clouden has been the most consistent Spartan this season, leading the team in scoring six times this year. Taryn McCutcheon has led three times, while Julia Ayrault has led twice including tying with McCutcheon once. Alyza Winston is the only other player to lead MSU in scoring.
On the boards is a very different story, seven different players have led the squad in rebounds. Taiyier Parks, Julia Ayrault and Victoria Gaines all lead the team in rebounds three times apiece.
MASTER THIEVES
Through the first 11 games, the Spartans have reached double-figures in steals in nine. In the loss against Syracuse, MSU only had seven steals, while earning six in the loss to West Virginia. This wsas 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. As a team, Michigan State is averaging 12.5 spg, which is second in the Big Ten.
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 16.0 points per game. Rutgers' Arella Guirantes leads the league in scoring with 19.1 ppg. She is also second in free throw percentage (.838). She is providing help on the defensive end of the ball as well, standing tied for fourth in steals (2.5 spg).
WELCOME TO SPARTAN NATION
All five Spartan newcomers have played in at least five games this season. Freshman Moira Joiner has started seven games and continues to make strides on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. She is averaging 4.2 ppg with a 1.2 assist to turnover ratio. Fellow freshman Julia Ayrault leads the team in rebounding (4.8 rpg), while rookie Taiyier Parks is first in blocks (1.2 bpg).
IN THE LOSSES
Michigan State's four losses this season have come against No. 22 West Virginia, No. 8 Florida State, LSU and Syracuse. In those four games, the first and fourth quarters have told the tale. In the first quarter, the Spartans have been out-scored 77-60 and have been out-scored 78-56 in the final period.
Nia Clouden has averaged 17.5 ppg in the three losses, while Taryn McCutcheon and Shay Colley have averaged 10.8 ppg and 10.0 ppg, respectively. They are the only three scoring in double figures. The Spartans' shooting from beyond the arc in the losses is only 28.0 percent, while shooting 31.7 percent for the season.
MAKING HISTORY
Senior guard Taryn McCutcheon dished out four assists against Morehead State on Dec. 15, as she became just the second player in MSU women's basketball history with 500 career assists. With two more against West Virginia on Dec. 21, she now with 507 for her career. McCutcheon needs just 67 more helpers to tie current Spartan assistant coach Kristin Haynie for the all-time assists record with 574. McCutcheon currently leads the team in assists with 35.
SPARTANS IN THE B1G/NCAA RANKINGS
After 11 games, Michigan State is 14th in the nation in steals per game (12.5, which is second in the Big Ten. MSU is also 17th in offensive rebounds per game (16.2), which is also first in the league. After holding Hartford and LSU to no 3-pointers earlier this season, the Spartans are seventh in the country and first in the B1G in 3-point field goal defense, holding teams to 21.9 percent from beyond the arc.
Individually, Nia Clouden is getting the job done at the charity stripe standing second in the league and 16th in country and first in the league in free throws made with 57. She is also 57th in the nation and fourth in the Big Ten in steals per game with 2.5.
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. With four assists against Morehead State on Dec. 15, she becomes just the second player with 500 assists in Spartan history.
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-) 994 507
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 23 of the last 24 games at home. This season, the Spartans are 5-0 at home.
PUTTING UP BIG NUMBERS
Nia Clouden is the only Spartan this season to reach the 20-point mark, and she has done it four times this season. She reached 20 points only three times in 33 games as a freshman. The sophomore set her career-high in MSU's win over Notre Dame on Nov. 14 with 28 points. She has also scored in double figures in 10 of 11 games this season.
REACHING THE CENTURY MARK
With a start against Morehead State, senior guard Taryn McCutcheon earned her 109th career start. She has missed only one game during her MSU career against Michigan on Jan. 23, 2018. She is now tied for eighth in the MSU record books in career starts. Fellow senior Victoria Gaines has now played in 116 career games as a Spartan. She is just 10 games away from reaching the top 20 in career games played.
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.
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.
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 143 of its last 161 games when scoring at least 70 points, and MSU is 161-27 (.856) under head coach Suzy Merchant when hanging at least 70 points on the scoreboard. The Spartans have reached the 70-point margin in six games this season and are 6-0.
CLOSING OUT THE GAMES
The Spartans have been extremely effective closing out games over the last couple years, winning 200 of their last 213 games (.939) when leading with five minutes left, including 150 of their last 165. In Coach Merchant's tenure, Michigan State is 235-19 (.925) when holding a lead with five minutes left. This season, MSU is 7-1 when leading with five minutes remaining with the only loss coming against No. 8 Florida State.
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.
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.
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.
UP NEXT
After the Big Ten opener against No. 14/15 Indiana on Dec. 28, the Spartans will close out 2019 with a New Year's Eve battle with Nebraska at 1 p.m. at home on BTN.
GAME REWIND: West Virginia 63, MSU 57
Sophomore guard Nia Clouden scored in double figures for the ninth-straight game, but the No. 19 Michigan State women's basketball team was edged by No. 22 West Virginia, 63-57, at the Florida Sunshine Classic on Saturday. After averaging 18.0 points and 7.5 rebounds per game in the two contests, she earned a spot on the Florida Sunshine Classic All-Tournament team.
MSU falls to 7-4 with the loss, losing two-straight for the first time this season. West Virginia improves to 8-1 with the win.
The Spartans were led once again by Clouden, who scored 16 points and topped her career-high with eight boards. She had seven rebounds against Syracuse on Dec. 20. Senior guard Shay Colley returned to the starting lineup after missing two games to score 11 points, three rebounds and two steals.
Postgame Notes vs. WVU
• Sophomore guard Nia Clouden earned All-Tournament honors at the Florida Sunshine Classic. This is the second time she earned all-tournament honors, also capturing accolades at the Junkanoo Jam in the Bahamas over Thanksgiving. She averaged 18.0 points and 7.5 rebounds per game in two contests. Clouden topped her career high in rebounds twice during the tournament. She had seven against Syracuse and eight against West Virginia.
• Senior forward Nia Hollie set a career high going 2-for-2 from long range, en route to eight points off the bench.
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.
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