Tuesday, December 31
East Lansing, Mich.
1 PM
Michigan State University
vs
Nebraska
Photo by: Matthew Mitchell
Spartan Women Host Nebraska in New Year's Eve Tilt
12/30/2019 1:45:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Michigan State prepares for its Big Ten home opener.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State women's basketball returns home to conclude the 2019 portion of the season in its Big Ten home opener against Nebraska in a New Year's Eve battle at 1 p.m. The Spartans will host the Cornhuskers in a game that will be televised on the Big Ten Network with Chris Vosters and Vera Jones on the call.
• Michigan State is 7-5 and looking to halt a three-game losing streak, while Nebraska is 11-1 this year and opened B1G play with a win against Iowa on Dec. 28.
• With a 3-pointer with 2:05 left in the second quarter against Indiana on Dec. 28, Taryn McCutcheon joined exclusive company with her 1,000th career point. She is the 28th Spartan to reach 1,000 points and the 10th under head coach Suzy Merchant. With 15 points on the night, she now has 1,009 career points.
• Michigan State sophomore guard Nia Clouden is having another stellar season for the Spartans. She is still leading the team and is sixth in the Big Ten in scoring, averaging 15.7 ppg. She is tied for third in the league in steals per game (2.5 spg). The guard is also tied for fourth in free throw percentage (.811).
• Scoring in the paint is a key part to the Spartans' success. MSU is 4-0 when out-scoring its opponents in the paint and 7-1 when it has more second-chance points. Another key factor to success is rebounding, as the Spartans are 6-0 when out-rebounding their foes.
SCOUTING NEBRASKA
The Huskers tote an 11-1 overall record into East Lansing for Tuesday's tangle with the Spartans, riding a six-game win streak after suffering their lone loss of the season on Nov. 24 at home to in-state foe Creighton, 79-74. Nebraska has opened B1G play with a 1-0 mark after a 78-69 win over Iowa at home on Dec. 28. The Huskers had five players in double-figures, led by junior center Kate Cain's double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds.
Sophomore forward Leigha Brown leads three Huskers averaging in double-figures with 14.3 ppg, ranking 12th in the B1G, while sophomore guard Sam Haiby adds 10.7 ppg and Cain nets 10.6 ppg to go with a team-leading 6.7 rebounds per game, good for 17th in the league. Cain is also second in the conference and 14th in the NCAA in blocked shots (2.8 bpg).
Nebraska is fifth in the B1G in scoring offense (74.5 ppg), just 0.2 ppg ahead of Michigan State, while the Husker defense is tied for seventh in scoring defense (60.2 ppg), just 0.1 ppg less than the Spartans, to rank sixth in scoring margin (+14.3 ppg), only +0.4 ppg ahead of MSU.
The Huskers are tied for the B1G lead in rebounding offense (42.0 rpg) and seventh in rebounding defense (36.3 rpg), to rank fourth in rebounding margin (+5.8). The Nebraska defense also tops the league and ranks 14th in the NCAA in blocked shots (5.7 bpg)
CORNHUSKERS SERIES HISTORY
Michigan State and Nebraska are meeting only once in the regular-season for the third-straight year, and the Huskers have a three-game win streak in the series on the way to an 8-3 overall advantage. MSU leads, 3-2, in meetings in East Lansing. In last season's lone match-up, forward Jenna Allen reached the 1,000 career points plateau in an 82-71 loss at Lincoln, despite a furious fourth-quarter comeback. The Spartans' last win in the series was a 93-73 victory for MSU on Jan. 7, 2017 in East Lansing
BIG TEN OPENERS
Michigan State is now 19-19 in Big Ten openers, having won six of their last nine. MSU is now 8-5 in league openers in Coach Merchant's 13 seasons. Last season, the Spartans won their opener in East Lansing against No. 16 Iowa, 84-70. The last time that Michigan State played Indiana in a B1G opener was to start the 2017-18 league action with MSU winning 68-46.
REACHING THE PINNACLE
With a 3-pointer with 2:05 left in the second quarter against Indiana on Dec. 28, Taryn McCutcheon joined exclusive company with her 1,000th career point. She is the 28th Spartan to reach 1,000 points and the 10th under head coach Suzy Merchant. With 15 points on the night, she now has 1,009 career points.
AMAZING AYRAULT
Freshman guard Julia Ayrault has had a solid freshman campaign. She has led MSU in rebound four times this season, which is the most on the team. Overall, the rookie leads the Spartans on the boards, averaging 4.9 rpg. Among freshmen in the Big Ten, Ayrault is tied for fourth in rebounding and third in blocks (1.2 bpg). She is also 16th among freshmen in scoring in the league, averaging 6.1 ppg.
SWITCHING STARTERS
Through 12 games this season, Nia Clouden and Taryn McCutcheon are the only two players to have started every game. Overall, the Spartans have had six different starting lineups. Against Indiana, the Spartans debuted a new lineup in Clouden, McCutcheon, Moira Joiner, Victoria Gaines and Nia Hollie. Gaines has become a fixture in the starting five after returning from a sprained ankle and has started the last six games. Shay Colley and Mardrekia Cook have both missed time to injury, forcing them to come in and out of the starting five.
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 four 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, eight different players have led the squad in rebounds. Julia Ayrault has led the team in rebounding four times.
MASTER THIEVES
With 12 steals against Indiana, the Spartans reached double figures in takeaways for the 10th time in 12 games. This was the first double-digit steal game since Morehead State on Dec. 15 when MSU also had 12. Freshman guard Julia Ayrault tied her career high with four takeaways. She also had four against Detroit Mercy on Nov. 8. Sophomore guard Tory Ozment also tied her career high with three, which she has now done four times.
This was 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 sixth in the league in scoring, averaging 15.7 points per game. Rutgers' Arella Guirantes leads the league in scoring with 19.4 ppg. She is also tied for fourth in free throw percentage (.811). She is providing help on the defensive end of the ball as well, standing tied for third in steals (2.5 spg).
IN THE LOSSES
Michigan State's five losses this season have come against No. 14/15 Indiana, No. 22 West Virginia, No. 8 Florida State, LSU and Syracuse. In those five games, the first and fourth quarters have told the tale. In the first quarter, the Spartans have been out-scored 98-82 and have been out-scored 103-74 in the final period.
Nia Clouden has averaged 16.4 ppg in the five losses, while Taryn McCutcheon has averaged 11.6 ppg. They are the only two scoring in double figures. The Spartans' shooting from beyond the arc in the losses is only 27.3 percent, while shooting 31.1 percent for the season.
EXCLUSIVE COMPANY
Guard Taryn McCutcheon is part of an exclusive Michigan State group. 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. McCutcheon and Haynie are now the only Spartans with at least 1,000 points and 500 assists.
Player Pts Assists
Tori Jankoska (2013-17) 2,212 489
Kristin Haynie (2001-05) 1,199 574
Taryn McCutcheon (2017-) 1,009 507
Brittney Thomas (2007-11) 932 401
Deb Traxinger (1978-82) 926 443
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.
MAKING HISTORY
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 is tied for the team lead in assists with Nia Clouden with 35.
SPARTANS IN THE B1G/NCAA RANKINGS
After 12 games, Michigan State is 14th in the nation in steals per game (12.4 spg), which is also second in the Big Ten. After holding Hartford and LSU to no 3-pointers earlier this season, the Spartans are fifth in the nation and first in the league in 3-point field goal defense, holding teams to 21.6 percent from beyond the arc.
Sophomore guard Nia Clouden is 51st in the nation and third in the league in steals, averaging 2.5 spg. She is 12th in the nation and second in the league in total free throws made with 60.
REACHING THE CENTURY MARK
With a start against Indiana, senior guard Taryn McCutcheon earned her 110th career start. She has missed only one game during her MSU career against Michigan on Jan. 23, 2018. She is now eighth in the MSU record books in career starts. Fellow senior Victoria Gaines has now played in 117 career games as a Spartan. She is just nine games away from reaching the top 20 in career games played.
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 home opener against Nebraska on Dec. 31, the Spartans open the 2020 portion of the season on the road against Michigan on Sunday, Jan. 5.
GAME REWIND: Indiana 79, MSU 67
Despite senior guard Taryn McCutcheon reaching 1,000 career points, Michigan State women's basketball dropped its Big Ten home opener to No. 14 Indiana, 79-67, Saturday night in Bloomington.
Late in the second quarter, McCutcheon drained a three to become the 28th member of the 1,000-point club and the first since Jenna Allen last season. The senior also led the team in scoring with 15 points.
Michigan State is now 7-5 overall and 0-1 in Big Ten action, while Indiana improves to 11-2 and 1-0 in league action. MSU is now 19-19 overall in league openers.
Postgame Notes vs. Indiana
• With a 3-pointer with 2:05 left in the second quarter Taryn McCutcheon joined exclusive company with her 1,00th career point. She is the 28th Spartan to reach 1,000 points and the 10th under head coach Suzy Merchant. With 15 points on the night, she now has 1,009 career points.
• Sophomore guard Nia Clouden scored 12 points against the Hoosiers, reaching double figures for the 11th time this season.
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
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.
• Michigan State is 7-5 and looking to halt a three-game losing streak, while Nebraska is 11-1 this year and opened B1G play with a win against Iowa on Dec. 28.
• With a 3-pointer with 2:05 left in the second quarter against Indiana on Dec. 28, Taryn McCutcheon joined exclusive company with her 1,000th career point. She is the 28th Spartan to reach 1,000 points and the 10th under head coach Suzy Merchant. With 15 points on the night, she now has 1,009 career points.
• Michigan State sophomore guard Nia Clouden is having another stellar season for the Spartans. She is still leading the team and is sixth in the Big Ten in scoring, averaging 15.7 ppg. She is tied for third in the league in steals per game (2.5 spg). The guard is also tied for fourth in free throw percentage (.811).
• Scoring in the paint is a key part to the Spartans' success. MSU is 4-0 when out-scoring its opponents in the paint and 7-1 when it has more second-chance points. Another key factor to success is rebounding, as the Spartans are 6-0 when out-rebounding their foes.
SCOUTING NEBRASKA
The Huskers tote an 11-1 overall record into East Lansing for Tuesday's tangle with the Spartans, riding a six-game win streak after suffering their lone loss of the season on Nov. 24 at home to in-state foe Creighton, 79-74. Nebraska has opened B1G play with a 1-0 mark after a 78-69 win over Iowa at home on Dec. 28. The Huskers had five players in double-figures, led by junior center Kate Cain's double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds.
Sophomore forward Leigha Brown leads three Huskers averaging in double-figures with 14.3 ppg, ranking 12th in the B1G, while sophomore guard Sam Haiby adds 10.7 ppg and Cain nets 10.6 ppg to go with a team-leading 6.7 rebounds per game, good for 17th in the league. Cain is also second in the conference and 14th in the NCAA in blocked shots (2.8 bpg).
Nebraska is fifth in the B1G in scoring offense (74.5 ppg), just 0.2 ppg ahead of Michigan State, while the Husker defense is tied for seventh in scoring defense (60.2 ppg), just 0.1 ppg less than the Spartans, to rank sixth in scoring margin (+14.3 ppg), only +0.4 ppg ahead of MSU.
The Huskers are tied for the B1G lead in rebounding offense (42.0 rpg) and seventh in rebounding defense (36.3 rpg), to rank fourth in rebounding margin (+5.8). The Nebraska defense also tops the league and ranks 14th in the NCAA in blocked shots (5.7 bpg)
CORNHUSKERS SERIES HISTORY
Michigan State and Nebraska are meeting only once in the regular-season for the third-straight year, and the Huskers have a three-game win streak in the series on the way to an 8-3 overall advantage. MSU leads, 3-2, in meetings in East Lansing. In last season's lone match-up, forward Jenna Allen reached the 1,000 career points plateau in an 82-71 loss at Lincoln, despite a furious fourth-quarter comeback. The Spartans' last win in the series was a 93-73 victory for MSU on Jan. 7, 2017 in East Lansing
BIG TEN OPENERS
Michigan State is now 19-19 in Big Ten openers, having won six of their last nine. MSU is now 8-5 in league openers in Coach Merchant's 13 seasons. Last season, the Spartans won their opener in East Lansing against No. 16 Iowa, 84-70. The last time that Michigan State played Indiana in a B1G opener was to start the 2017-18 league action with MSU winning 68-46.
REACHING THE PINNACLE
With a 3-pointer with 2:05 left in the second quarter against Indiana on Dec. 28, Taryn McCutcheon joined exclusive company with her 1,000th career point. She is the 28th Spartan to reach 1,000 points and the 10th under head coach Suzy Merchant. With 15 points on the night, she now has 1,009 career points.
AMAZING AYRAULT
Freshman guard Julia Ayrault has had a solid freshman campaign. She has led MSU in rebound four times this season, which is the most on the team. Overall, the rookie leads the Spartans on the boards, averaging 4.9 rpg. Among freshmen in the Big Ten, Ayrault is tied for fourth in rebounding and third in blocks (1.2 bpg). She is also 16th among freshmen in scoring in the league, averaging 6.1 ppg.
SWITCHING STARTERS
Through 12 games this season, Nia Clouden and Taryn McCutcheon are the only two players to have started every game. Overall, the Spartans have had six different starting lineups. Against Indiana, the Spartans debuted a new lineup in Clouden, McCutcheon, Moira Joiner, Victoria Gaines and Nia Hollie. Gaines has become a fixture in the starting five after returning from a sprained ankle and has started the last six games. Shay Colley and Mardrekia Cook have both missed time to injury, forcing them to come in and out of the starting five.
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 four 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, eight different players have led the squad in rebounds. Julia Ayrault has led the team in rebounding four times.
MASTER THIEVES
With 12 steals against Indiana, the Spartans reached double figures in takeaways for the 10th time in 12 games. This was the first double-digit steal game since Morehead State on Dec. 15 when MSU also had 12. Freshman guard Julia Ayrault tied her career high with four takeaways. She also had four against Detroit Mercy on Nov. 8. Sophomore guard Tory Ozment also tied her career high with three, which she has now done four times.
This was 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 sixth in the league in scoring, averaging 15.7 points per game. Rutgers' Arella Guirantes leads the league in scoring with 19.4 ppg. She is also tied for fourth in free throw percentage (.811). She is providing help on the defensive end of the ball as well, standing tied for third in steals (2.5 spg).
IN THE LOSSES
Michigan State's five losses this season have come against No. 14/15 Indiana, No. 22 West Virginia, No. 8 Florida State, LSU and Syracuse. In those five games, the first and fourth quarters have told the tale. In the first quarter, the Spartans have been out-scored 98-82 and have been out-scored 103-74 in the final period.
Nia Clouden has averaged 16.4 ppg in the five losses, while Taryn McCutcheon has averaged 11.6 ppg. They are the only two scoring in double figures. The Spartans' shooting from beyond the arc in the losses is only 27.3 percent, while shooting 31.1 percent for the season.
EXCLUSIVE COMPANY
Guard Taryn McCutcheon is part of an exclusive Michigan State group. 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. McCutcheon and Haynie are now the only Spartans with at least 1,000 points and 500 assists.
Player Pts Assists
Tori Jankoska (2013-17) 2,212 489
Kristin Haynie (2001-05) 1,199 574
Taryn McCutcheon (2017-) 1,009 507
Brittney Thomas (2007-11) 932 401
Deb Traxinger (1978-82) 926 443
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.
MAKING HISTORY
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 is tied for the team lead in assists with Nia Clouden with 35.
SPARTANS IN THE B1G/NCAA RANKINGS
After 12 games, Michigan State is 14th in the nation in steals per game (12.4 spg), which is also second in the Big Ten. After holding Hartford and LSU to no 3-pointers earlier this season, the Spartans are fifth in the nation and first in the league in 3-point field goal defense, holding teams to 21.6 percent from beyond the arc.
Sophomore guard Nia Clouden is 51st in the nation and third in the league in steals, averaging 2.5 spg. She is 12th in the nation and second in the league in total free throws made with 60.
REACHING THE CENTURY MARK
With a start against Indiana, senior guard Taryn McCutcheon earned her 110th career start. She has missed only one game during her MSU career against Michigan on Jan. 23, 2018. She is now eighth in the MSU record books in career starts. Fellow senior Victoria Gaines has now played in 117 career games as a Spartan. She is just nine games away from reaching the top 20 in career games played.
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 home opener against Nebraska on Dec. 31, the Spartans open the 2020 portion of the season on the road against Michigan on Sunday, Jan. 5.
GAME REWIND: Indiana 79, MSU 67
Despite senior guard Taryn McCutcheon reaching 1,000 career points, Michigan State women's basketball dropped its Big Ten home opener to No. 14 Indiana, 79-67, Saturday night in Bloomington.
Late in the second quarter, McCutcheon drained a three to become the 28th member of the 1,000-point club and the first since Jenna Allen last season. The senior also led the team in scoring with 15 points.
Michigan State is now 7-5 overall and 0-1 in Big Ten action, while Indiana improves to 11-2 and 1-0 in league action. MSU is now 19-19 overall in league openers.
Postgame Notes vs. Indiana
• With a 3-pointer with 2:05 left in the second quarter Taryn McCutcheon joined exclusive company with her 1,00th career point. She is the 28th Spartan to reach 1,000 points and the 10th under head coach Suzy Merchant. With 15 points on the night, she now has 1,009 career points.
• Sophomore guard Nia Clouden scored 12 points against the Hoosiers, reaching double figures for the 11th time this season.
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
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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