Sunday, December 5
Iowa City, Iowa
4 PM
Michigan State University
at
No. 9/11 Iowa
Spartan Women Open B1G Action at No. 9/11 Iowa Sunday
12/4/2021 11:12:00 AM | Women's Basketball
This is the only regular-season meeting between MSU and Iowa.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State women's basketball is set to open Big Ten Conference action against No. 9/11 Iowa on Sunday, Dec. 5. Both the Spartans (6-3) and the Hawkeyes (4-1) are both coming off of losses in their Big Ten/ACC Challenge games. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. ET, and the game will be televised on the Big Ten Network with Chris Vosters and Meghan McKeown on the call.
• This is the only regular-season meeting this season between the Spartans and the Hawkeyes. Iowa holds the overall series lead between the two teams 40-30. Last season, the teams met twice, splitting the two meetings.
• Michigan State is first in the nation in assists with 181 through the first nine games. The Spartans are also fourth in the nation and first in the Big Ten in assists per game with 20.1 apg. Senior guard Nia Clouden is 27th in the country and third in the B1G in scoring with 19.6 ppg.
• Against Notre Dame, freshman guard/forward Matilda Ekh matched her career-high in scoring with 17 points, which included a four-of-five performance from beyond the arc. Ekh's four 3-pointers is a new career best.
• Clouden's 20 points give her 1,457 for her career, holding down the No. 11 spot and closing in on the No. 10 spot on the MSU career points list, held by Kristen Rasmussen (1996-2000). Her six assists give her 374 helpers for her career, passing Spartan All-American Linsday Bowen (2002-06) for the No. 10 spot. She is the first Spartan to have achieved this feat since All-American Tori Jankoska had seven-straight 20-point games from Feb. 12, 2017 to March 2, 2017.
SCOUTING IOWA
Iowa is off to a hot start, coming into the matchup with a 4-1 record. The Hawkeyes are returning after a three-game pause due to COVID-19 pandemic issues. Iowa has captured wins this season over New Hampshire, Samford, Northern Iowa and Southern University.
The always-tough Hawkeyes return all five starters from the 2020-21 season, including Caitlin Clark, Monika Czinano, Gabbie Marshall, Kate Martin and McKenna Warnock. Iowa is fourth in the Big Ten in scoring offense, scoring 83.4 points per game, while standing seventh in scoring defense allowing only 62.2. Caitlin Clark is first in the B1G in scoring, averaging 21.6 ppg. She is also first in the league in assists with 7.0 ppg. Monika Czinano is first in the league in field goal percentage (.679), while Clark is 15th (.415).
SERIES HISTORY VS. HAWKEYES
Iowa leads the overall series with Michigan State 40-30. The Hawkeyes hold a 22-10 advantage when playing in Iowa City. Iowa has won six of the last 10 meetings between the teams.
Last season, the teams split the two meetings. In the regular season, Alyza Winston helped the Spartans capture the home Big Ten opener, 86-82 on Dec. 12. Winston scored a career-high 25 points in the win, while then-freshman Caitlin Clark led all scorers with 35 points. The Hawkeyes took their revenge in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals with a 87-72 win. Clouden scored 24 points in the loss for the Spartans.
BIG TEN OPENERS
Michigan State is 20-19 in Big Ten openers, having won seven of their 10 nine. MSU is now 9-5 in league openers in Coach Merchant's 14 seasons. Last season, the Spartans won their opener in Minneapolis, 81-68 over the Gophers. The last time that Michigan State played Iowa in a B1G opener was to start the 2018-19, defeating the No. 16 Hawkeyes, 84-70 in East Lansing.
FAST BIG TEN START
MSU will open conference play on Dec. 5 against Iowa, which is the earliest Big Ten opener since falling to Indiana on Dec. 6, 2009. The Spartans first home Big Ten game will be against Illinois on Dec. 9. Michigan State will play a total of three league contests in December, concluding with hosting Nebraska on Dec. 30.
AROUND THE NATION
The Spartans are distributing the ball really well through the first nine games. Michigan State is first in the nation with 181 total assists and are fourth in assists per game, averaging 20.1 apg. MSU is also 10th in the nation in free throw percentage (.803). Senior guard Nia Clouden has been stellar in getting to the line. She is first in the nation in free throws made with 51. She is also 27th in the NCAA in assists per game, averaging 5.6 apg.
SPARTAN FUN FACTS
ACC/BIG TEN CHALLENGE HISTORY
This season, Michigan State played in the 14th annual Big Ten/ACC Challenge, falling to 6-8 after a 76-71 loss to No. 24/25 Notre Dame. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic there was no Challenge during the 2020-21 season. During the 2019-20 season, MSU lost to No. 8 Florida State, 78-68, to hold a 6-7 record in the ACC/B1G Challenge.
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. The 2018 game 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
2021 - Notre Dame 76, MSU 71
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
Bold = home games
MERCHANT MILESTONES
Spartan head coach Suzy Merchant reached the 300-win mark as head coach of the Spartans against Bryant on Nov. 19. She now holds a 302-190 record at Michigan State. Karen Langeland is the all-time leader with a 376-290 record at MSU. Merchant is also 12 wins away from tying Langeland for the most Big Ten wins by a MSU coach with 156. Merchant also reached 500 career wins against Valparaiso on Tuesday, Nov. 16. Overall, she holds a 503-280 record and stands 200-157 at Michigan State.
LOOKING ACROSS THE LEAGUE
Senior guard Nia Clouden stands fifth in the B1G in scoring with 19.6 points per game, while junior guard Alyza Winston is tied for 18th with 13.0 ppg. Clouden also holds the third spot in the league in assists with 5.6 helpers per contest, while freshman guard DeeDee Hagemann is seventh with 4.5 apg.
As a team, the Spartans are second in the Big Ten in free throw percentage (.803) and fourth scoring margin (+16.6). Michigan State is first in assists, averaging 20.1 apg.
SMITH COMING UP BIG
Senior forward Alisia Smith netted her MSU career-high with 20 points Sunday, topping her previous career-best of 19 at Wisconsin (1/24/21). The 20 points was her second-highest collegiate total, as she tallied 24 during the 2019-20 season at Penn State vs. NC Central (11/30/19). Smith was a perfect 6-of-6 at the free throw line, tying her MSU career-high for made free throws without a miss, matching a 6-of-6 outing at Michigan (2/16/21), and was also her second-best collegiate outing at the charity stripe behind a 10-of-10 performance at Princeton (11/18/18) while at Penn State.
SWEDISH SENSATION
Freshman Matilda Ekh has been stellar in the first nine games of the season. She is third on the team in scoring, averaging 11.1 points per game one of three players scoring in double figures. She has scored in double figures in six games, including a season-high 17 at Oakland on Nov. 26 and against No. 24/25 Notre Dame on Dec. 2. She also set a new season-high with eight rebounds against Marshall on Nov. 30.
CLIMBING THE CHARTS
With 20 points against No. 24/25 Notre on Dec. 2, senior guard Nia Clouden continues to rise up the charts. Clouden now has 1,457 career points, retaining the No. 11 spot on the all-time MSU scoring list. She is now 36 points from breaking the top 10 and passing Kristen Rasmussen (1996-2000), who scored 1,493 point during her MSU career. Clouden also now has 374 career assists, passing Spartan All-American, Lindsey Bowen (1998-02) for the No. 10 spot.
Clouden is looking to join Tori Jankoska as the only MSU players to finish their careers in the top 10 in scoring and assists.
WEATHER OUTSIDE IS FRIGHTFUL
December weather can be brutal, but the Spartans schedule is fearsome. Michigan State has six games schedule in the final month of 2021 and four of them are against teams currently ranked in the top 25 or receiving votes. MSU opened the month on Dec. 2 with a 76-71 loss to No. 24/25 Notre Dame in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. The Spartans then open up Big Ten action on Dec. 5 at No. 9/12 Iowa. At the West Palm Invitational Dec. 20-21, MSU will take on RV/RV West Virginia and No. 22/22 Florida Gulf Coast.
20 DIMES FOR WINS
MSU is also 5-1 this season when dishing out 20 or more assists, as led by freshman guard DeeDee Hagemann's career-high 10 assists, the Spartans tied a career-high with 27 assists at Oakland on Nov. 26. Michigan State also distributed 27 helpers in the win over Niagara (Nov. 14), while also dishing out 20+ assists vs. Morehead State (26), Valparaiso (20) and Bryant (24).
SOLID FROM THE STRIPE
The Spartans tied a school record going 10-for-10 from the charity stripe against the Beacons on Nov. 16. The last time MSU didn't miss from the free throw line with at least 10 attempts was against Central Michigan in the NCAA Tournament, going 11-for-11 on March, 23, 2019. The last time at the Breslin Center was when MSU went 19-for-19 against Michigan on Feb., 23, 2016.
SEASON OPENERS
All-time, the Spartans are now 34-15 in season openers, but 27-2 when the opener is in East Lansing. Coach Merchant is 12-3 in season openers at MSU, and has won 18 of her last 21, including her time at Eastern Michigan. This season, the Spartans earned a dominating 93-31 win over Morehead State on Nov. 9 paced by six MSU players reaching double figures.
IT'S RAINING THREES
The Spartans set a new school record with 17 3-pointers against Morehead State on Nov. 9. The previous record 15 by Michigan State vs. Bowling Green on Nov. 6, 2018 at the Breslin Center. Michigan State shot 60.7 percent from long range, led by junior guard Alyza Winston's 4-for-7 performance. Senior guard Laurel Jacqmain set a new career high with 11 points, highlighted by back-to-back-to-back treys in the fourth quarter.
HAGEMANN EARNS B1G HONOR
DeeDee Hagemann was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week on on Nov. 15. The Detroit, Michigan native captured the first Freshman of the Week honor of the season after a stellar first week of action, scoring in double figures in both games. For the week, she averaged 10.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game, while adding 6.0 helpers per contest. She is the first Spartan named Big Ten Freshman of the Week since Nia Clouden on Dec. 31, 2018.
LAST TIME OUT
Despite four players scoring in double figures, the Michigan State women's basketball team was stopped by No. 24/25 Notre Dame Thursday in the 14th annual Big Ten/ACC Challenge at the Breslin Center.
Michigan State had its two-game winning streak halted by Notre Dame and fall to 6-3, while the Fighting Irish improve to 7-1 with the win. The Spartans have lost two-straight in the Challenge, falling to 6-8 overall. Notre Dame now leads the all-time series against Michigan State, 12-10.
MASK UP, MICHIGAN
Currently, masks are required indoors for all individuals. Michigan State University requires all campus visitors, faculty, staff and students to wear a mask while indoors, regardless of vaccination status.
KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR CLOUDEN
Senior guard Nia Clouden added to her preseason accolades. Clouden was named to the John R. Wooden Award® Women's Preseason Top 50 Watch List and the 2022 Wade Trophy preseason Watch List, as well as the Naismith Watch List. She had already been named to the Lieberman Watch List and earned preseason All-Big Ten honors.
CLOSING OUT THE GAMES
The Spartans have been extremely effective closing out games over the last couple years, winning 228 of its last 240 games (.950) when leading with five minutes left, including 178 of their last 192. In Coach Merchant's tenure, Michigan State is 263-19 (.933) when holding a lead with five minutes left. This season, MSU is 5-0 when leading with five minutes remaining.
CLOUDEN EARNS PRESEASON HONORS
Michigan State women's basketball senior guard Nia Clouden has been named 2021-22 Preseason All-Big Ten by both the coaches and media, capturing the honor for the second-straight season. During the 2020-21 season, Clouden was fifth in the Big Ten in scoring, averaging 18.7 points per game. It was the most points per game by a Spartan since Tori Jankoska averaged 22.6 ppg during the 2016-17 season. An Owings Mills, Maryland, native, Clouden earned her third-straight All-Big Ten honor after being named to the first team last season.
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. The Green & White have won 163 of their last 188 games (.867) when scoring at least 70 points, and the Spartans are 183-32 (.851) under head coach Suzy Merchant when hanging at least 70 points on the scoreboard. This season, MSU is now 6-0 this season when scoring 70 points.
MEET THE NEW SIGNEES
Michigan State women's basketball head coach Suzy Merchant announced the signing of two National Letters of Intent, including Theryn Hallock (Grand Rapids, Michigan/ Forest Hills Central High School) and Abbey Kimball (Grand Rapids, Michigan/ West Catholic High School).
Hallock is a 5-11 guard, who is a native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, attends Forest Hills Central and is coached by Kristina Prins. As a junior, she averaged 23.4 points, 7.3 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 6.6 steals per game. She reached the 1,000-career point mark as a junior last season. She also earned first-team all-state honors.
Kimball is a 5-10 guard, who is a native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, plays for head coach Jill VanderEnde at West Catholic High School. She is rated No. 80 nationally overall and No. 18 at her position by HoopGurlz. During her junior season, she averaged 22.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 5.0 steals per game. Kimball has captured first-team all-conference honors for three-straight seasons.
• This is the only regular-season meeting this season between the Spartans and the Hawkeyes. Iowa holds the overall series lead between the two teams 40-30. Last season, the teams met twice, splitting the two meetings.
• Michigan State is first in the nation in assists with 181 through the first nine games. The Spartans are also fourth in the nation and first in the Big Ten in assists per game with 20.1 apg. Senior guard Nia Clouden is 27th in the country and third in the B1G in scoring with 19.6 ppg.
• Against Notre Dame, freshman guard/forward Matilda Ekh matched her career-high in scoring with 17 points, which included a four-of-five performance from beyond the arc. Ekh's four 3-pointers is a new career best.
• Clouden's 20 points give her 1,457 for her career, holding down the No. 11 spot and closing in on the No. 10 spot on the MSU career points list, held by Kristen Rasmussen (1996-2000). Her six assists give her 374 helpers for her career, passing Spartan All-American Linsday Bowen (2002-06) for the No. 10 spot. She is the first Spartan to have achieved this feat since All-American Tori Jankoska had seven-straight 20-point games from Feb. 12, 2017 to March 2, 2017.
SCOUTING IOWA
Iowa is off to a hot start, coming into the matchup with a 4-1 record. The Hawkeyes are returning after a three-game pause due to COVID-19 pandemic issues. Iowa has captured wins this season over New Hampshire, Samford, Northern Iowa and Southern University.
The always-tough Hawkeyes return all five starters from the 2020-21 season, including Caitlin Clark, Monika Czinano, Gabbie Marshall, Kate Martin and McKenna Warnock. Iowa is fourth in the Big Ten in scoring offense, scoring 83.4 points per game, while standing seventh in scoring defense allowing only 62.2. Caitlin Clark is first in the B1G in scoring, averaging 21.6 ppg. She is also first in the league in assists with 7.0 ppg. Monika Czinano is first in the league in field goal percentage (.679), while Clark is 15th (.415).
SERIES HISTORY VS. HAWKEYES
Iowa leads the overall series with Michigan State 40-30. The Hawkeyes hold a 22-10 advantage when playing in Iowa City. Iowa has won six of the last 10 meetings between the teams.
Last season, the teams split the two meetings. In the regular season, Alyza Winston helped the Spartans capture the home Big Ten opener, 86-82 on Dec. 12. Winston scored a career-high 25 points in the win, while then-freshman Caitlin Clark led all scorers with 35 points. The Hawkeyes took their revenge in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals with a 87-72 win. Clouden scored 24 points in the loss for the Spartans.
BIG TEN OPENERS
Michigan State is 20-19 in Big Ten openers, having won seven of their 10 nine. MSU is now 9-5 in league openers in Coach Merchant's 14 seasons. Last season, the Spartans won their opener in Minneapolis, 81-68 over the Gophers. The last time that Michigan State played Iowa in a B1G opener was to start the 2018-19, defeating the No. 16 Hawkeyes, 84-70 in East Lansing.
FAST BIG TEN START
MSU will open conference play on Dec. 5 against Iowa, which is the earliest Big Ten opener since falling to Indiana on Dec. 6, 2009. The Spartans first home Big Ten game will be against Illinois on Dec. 9. Michigan State will play a total of three league contests in December, concluding with hosting Nebraska on Dec. 30.
AROUND THE NATION
The Spartans are distributing the ball really well through the first nine games. Michigan State is first in the nation with 181 total assists and are fourth in assists per game, averaging 20.1 apg. MSU is also 10th in the nation in free throw percentage (.803). Senior guard Nia Clouden has been stellar in getting to the line. She is first in the nation in free throws made with 51. She is also 27th in the NCAA in assists per game, averaging 5.6 apg.
SPARTAN FUN FACTS
- Moira Joiner's 14 points against No. 24/25 Notre Dame represents a season-high for the junior guard, while her three 3-pointers match her season best.
- Junior forward Taiyier Parks posted a season-best three blocks to match her career-high set against Oakland on Nov. 19, 2019.
- Michigan State has only had two different starting lineups this season. Clouden, Matilda Ekh, Alyza Winston and Alisia Smith have started all nine games with Moira Joiner (3) and Tamara Farquhar (6) taking the final spot.
ACC/BIG TEN CHALLENGE HISTORY
This season, Michigan State played in the 14th annual Big Ten/ACC Challenge, falling to 6-8 after a 76-71 loss to No. 24/25 Notre Dame. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic there was no Challenge during the 2020-21 season. During the 2019-20 season, MSU lost to No. 8 Florida State, 78-68, to hold a 6-7 record in the ACC/B1G Challenge.
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. The 2018 game 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
2021 - Notre Dame 76, MSU 71
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
Bold = home games
MERCHANT MILESTONES
Spartan head coach Suzy Merchant reached the 300-win mark as head coach of the Spartans against Bryant on Nov. 19. She now holds a 302-190 record at Michigan State. Karen Langeland is the all-time leader with a 376-290 record at MSU. Merchant is also 12 wins away from tying Langeland for the most Big Ten wins by a MSU coach with 156. Merchant also reached 500 career wins against Valparaiso on Tuesday, Nov. 16. Overall, she holds a 503-280 record and stands 200-157 at Michigan State.
LOOKING ACROSS THE LEAGUE
Senior guard Nia Clouden stands fifth in the B1G in scoring with 19.6 points per game, while junior guard Alyza Winston is tied for 18th with 13.0 ppg. Clouden also holds the third spot in the league in assists with 5.6 helpers per contest, while freshman guard DeeDee Hagemann is seventh with 4.5 apg.
As a team, the Spartans are second in the Big Ten in free throw percentage (.803) and fourth scoring margin (+16.6). Michigan State is first in assists, averaging 20.1 apg.
SMITH COMING UP BIG
Senior forward Alisia Smith netted her MSU career-high with 20 points Sunday, topping her previous career-best of 19 at Wisconsin (1/24/21). The 20 points was her second-highest collegiate total, as she tallied 24 during the 2019-20 season at Penn State vs. NC Central (11/30/19). Smith was a perfect 6-of-6 at the free throw line, tying her MSU career-high for made free throws without a miss, matching a 6-of-6 outing at Michigan (2/16/21), and was also her second-best collegiate outing at the charity stripe behind a 10-of-10 performance at Princeton (11/18/18) while at Penn State.
SWEDISH SENSATION
Freshman Matilda Ekh has been stellar in the first nine games of the season. She is third on the team in scoring, averaging 11.1 points per game one of three players scoring in double figures. She has scored in double figures in six games, including a season-high 17 at Oakland on Nov. 26 and against No. 24/25 Notre Dame on Dec. 2. She also set a new season-high with eight rebounds against Marshall on Nov. 30.
CLIMBING THE CHARTS
With 20 points against No. 24/25 Notre on Dec. 2, senior guard Nia Clouden continues to rise up the charts. Clouden now has 1,457 career points, retaining the No. 11 spot on the all-time MSU scoring list. She is now 36 points from breaking the top 10 and passing Kristen Rasmussen (1996-2000), who scored 1,493 point during her MSU career. Clouden also now has 374 career assists, passing Spartan All-American, Lindsey Bowen (1998-02) for the No. 10 spot.
Clouden is looking to join Tori Jankoska as the only MSU players to finish their careers in the top 10 in scoring and assists.
WEATHER OUTSIDE IS FRIGHTFUL
December weather can be brutal, but the Spartans schedule is fearsome. Michigan State has six games schedule in the final month of 2021 and four of them are against teams currently ranked in the top 25 or receiving votes. MSU opened the month on Dec. 2 with a 76-71 loss to No. 24/25 Notre Dame in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. The Spartans then open up Big Ten action on Dec. 5 at No. 9/12 Iowa. At the West Palm Invitational Dec. 20-21, MSU will take on RV/RV West Virginia and No. 22/22 Florida Gulf Coast.
20 DIMES FOR WINS
MSU is also 5-1 this season when dishing out 20 or more assists, as led by freshman guard DeeDee Hagemann's career-high 10 assists, the Spartans tied a career-high with 27 assists at Oakland on Nov. 26. Michigan State also distributed 27 helpers in the win over Niagara (Nov. 14), while also dishing out 20+ assists vs. Morehead State (26), Valparaiso (20) and Bryant (24).
SOLID FROM THE STRIPE
The Spartans tied a school record going 10-for-10 from the charity stripe against the Beacons on Nov. 16. The last time MSU didn't miss from the free throw line with at least 10 attempts was against Central Michigan in the NCAA Tournament, going 11-for-11 on March, 23, 2019. The last time at the Breslin Center was when MSU went 19-for-19 against Michigan on Feb., 23, 2016.
SEASON OPENERS
All-time, the Spartans are now 34-15 in season openers, but 27-2 when the opener is in East Lansing. Coach Merchant is 12-3 in season openers at MSU, and has won 18 of her last 21, including her time at Eastern Michigan. This season, the Spartans earned a dominating 93-31 win over Morehead State on Nov. 9 paced by six MSU players reaching double figures.
IT'S RAINING THREES
The Spartans set a new school record with 17 3-pointers against Morehead State on Nov. 9. The previous record 15 by Michigan State vs. Bowling Green on Nov. 6, 2018 at the Breslin Center. Michigan State shot 60.7 percent from long range, led by junior guard Alyza Winston's 4-for-7 performance. Senior guard Laurel Jacqmain set a new career high with 11 points, highlighted by back-to-back-to-back treys in the fourth quarter.
HAGEMANN EARNS B1G HONOR
DeeDee Hagemann was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week on on Nov. 15. The Detroit, Michigan native captured the first Freshman of the Week honor of the season after a stellar first week of action, scoring in double figures in both games. For the week, she averaged 10.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game, while adding 6.0 helpers per contest. She is the first Spartan named Big Ten Freshman of the Week since Nia Clouden on Dec. 31, 2018.
LAST TIME OUT
Despite four players scoring in double figures, the Michigan State women's basketball team was stopped by No. 24/25 Notre Dame Thursday in the 14th annual Big Ten/ACC Challenge at the Breslin Center.
Michigan State had its two-game winning streak halted by Notre Dame and fall to 6-3, while the Fighting Irish improve to 7-1 with the win. The Spartans have lost two-straight in the Challenge, falling to 6-8 overall. Notre Dame now leads the all-time series against Michigan State, 12-10.
MASK UP, MICHIGAN
Currently, masks are required indoors for all individuals. Michigan State University requires all campus visitors, faculty, staff and students to wear a mask while indoors, regardless of vaccination status.
KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR CLOUDEN
Senior guard Nia Clouden added to her preseason accolades. Clouden was named to the John R. Wooden Award® Women's Preseason Top 50 Watch List and the 2022 Wade Trophy preseason Watch List, as well as the Naismith Watch List. She had already been named to the Lieberman Watch List and earned preseason All-Big Ten honors.
CLOSING OUT THE GAMES
The Spartans have been extremely effective closing out games over the last couple years, winning 228 of its last 240 games (.950) when leading with five minutes left, including 178 of their last 192. In Coach Merchant's tenure, Michigan State is 263-19 (.933) when holding a lead with five minutes left. This season, MSU is 5-0 when leading with five minutes remaining.
CLOUDEN EARNS PRESEASON HONORS
Michigan State women's basketball senior guard Nia Clouden has been named 2021-22 Preseason All-Big Ten by both the coaches and media, capturing the honor for the second-straight season. During the 2020-21 season, Clouden was fifth in the Big Ten in scoring, averaging 18.7 points per game. It was the most points per game by a Spartan since Tori Jankoska averaged 22.6 ppg during the 2016-17 season. An Owings Mills, Maryland, native, Clouden earned her third-straight All-Big Ten honor after being named to the first team last season.
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. The Green & White have won 163 of their last 188 games (.867) when scoring at least 70 points, and the Spartans are 183-32 (.851) under head coach Suzy Merchant when hanging at least 70 points on the scoreboard. This season, MSU is now 6-0 this season when scoring 70 points.
MEET THE NEW SIGNEES
Michigan State women's basketball head coach Suzy Merchant announced the signing of two National Letters of Intent, including Theryn Hallock (Grand Rapids, Michigan/ Forest Hills Central High School) and Abbey Kimball (Grand Rapids, Michigan/ West Catholic High School).
Hallock is a 5-11 guard, who is a native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, attends Forest Hills Central and is coached by Kristina Prins. As a junior, she averaged 23.4 points, 7.3 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 6.6 steals per game. She reached the 1,000-career point mark as a junior last season. She also earned first-team all-state honors.
Kimball is a 5-10 guard, who is a native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, plays for head coach Jill VanderEnde at West Catholic High School. She is rated No. 80 nationally overall and No. 18 at her position by HoopGurlz. During her junior season, she averaged 22.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 5.0 steals per game. Kimball has captured first-team all-conference honors for three-straight seasons.
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