Spartans Host Purdue on Alumni Day Sunday

Masks are required indoors for all individuals. Michigan State University requires all campus visitors, faculty, staff and students to wear a mask while indoors.

East Lansing, Mich. - Michigan State women's basketball will open the 2022 portion of the season, hosting Purdue on Sunday, Jan. 9 at 2 p.m. for Alumni Day. MSU will honor past Spartans at halftime. After having its Jan. 3 game at Northwestern postponed due to COVID-19 issues within the Wildcat program, the Spartans will now open the New Year at the Breslin Center.

• Effective January 1, 2022, Michigan State athletics will require spectators at indoor athletic events to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of the event. The policy applies to men's and women's basketball, hockey, wrestling and gymnastics home events. For more information click HERE.

• The Spartans hold an 8-6 overall record and stand 2-1 in Big Ten action after a 72-69 home win against Nebraska on Dec. 30. MSU handed the Cornhuskers their first loss of the season. Purdue holds a 10-4 record this season and are 1-2 in league play. The Boilermakers come to the Breslin Center as winners of four-straight games.

• Nia Clouden's 50 points against Florida Gulf Coast on Dec. 20 ties the most of any MSU men's or women's basketball player, tying Terry Furlow (men's basketball), who scored 50 in 1976. The 50 points is also the most scored by a DI women's basketball player this season, ahead of Delaware's Jasmine Dickey, who scored 48 against Eastern Michigan on Nov. 26.

• Junior forward Taiyier Parks earned her second double-double of the season and fourth of her career against Nebraska on Dec. 30 with 10 points and 12 rebounds.

SCOUTING PURDUE
Purdue comes to East Lansing with a 10-4 overall record and a 1-2 record in the Big Ten. The Boilermakers have won four-straight game, including a 60-58 win over Rutgers on Jan. 2. Purdue's Big Ten losses came against Ohio State, 70-53, and No. 10/9 Maryland, 86-71.

The Boilermakers have four players scoring in double figures led by Madison Layden, who averages 12.7 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. Ra Shaya Kyle (11.0 ppg), Cassidy Hardin (10.9 ppg) and Abbey Ellis (10.1 ppg) are all reaching double digits. Jeanae Terry is fourth in the Big Ten in assists with 5.1 helpers per game. Layden (1.6) and Terry (1.5) stand 13th and 14th in league, respectively in assist/turnover ratio. Rickie Woltman is third in the league in blocks (1.3 bpg), while Hardin is fifth in 3-point field goal percentage (.374).

SERIES HISTORY VS. THE BOILERMAKERS
Purdue leads the overall series with Michigan State, 42-36. The Spartans have won five of the last seven meetings with the Boilermakers, including both meetings last season. Purdue's last win against Michigan State came in the Big Ten Tournament, 71-64, on March 5, 2020.

Last season, junior guard Tory Ozment's 3-pointer with time expiring completed a Michigan State comeback, defeating Purdue 76-73, on Feb. 21, 2021 at the Breslin Center.

Trailing by nine points with 3:18 left in the fourth quarter at 71-62, the Spartan defense turned up the heat to spearhead the MSU comeback. Michigan State fought for three steals in less than a minute to tie the score at 71-71 with 1:23 remaining. Nia Clouden's jumper in the paint later tied the score at 73-73 to set up Ozment's dramatic finish.

FAMILIAR FACES
Graduate student forward Tamara Farquhar will see some familiar faces on the opposing bench after playing four seasons at Purdue. She played in 85 games for the Boilermakers, averaging 4.2 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.

SPARTAN FUN FACTS

Junior forward Taiyier Parks (2) and graduate student forward Tamara Farquhar are the only two Spartans with double-doubles this season with MSU winning all three of those games.
The Spartans are second in the Big Ten in free throw shooting (.784). Senior guard Nia Clouden leads the nation with 104 free throws made.
The MSU freshman have been strong in the scoring column this season with Matilda Ekh scoring in double figures nine times, while DeeDee Hagemann has reached double figures six times.
Senior guard Nia Clouden is now seventh in the nation in scoring, averaging 22.5 ppg.

CHANGES AT THE BRESLIN CENTER
Effective January 1, 2022, Michigan State athletics will require spectators at indoor athletic events to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of the event. The policy applies to men's and women's basketball, hockey, wrestling and gymnastics home events. card or a digital image along with a photo ID matching the name on the card. Michigan State University students, faculty and staff can show their University ID as proof of compliance with the university's vaccine mandate

HOME SWEET HOME
During the difficult month of December, MSU has already faced five teams either ranked or receiving votes. Among those games, only two were at home (Notre Dame and Nebraska). The Spartans played only two home games in December. So far this season, MSU is 7-1 at home this season with the only loss coming against Notre Dame on Dec. 2.

ANATOMY OF RECORD BREAKER

Several records fell against FGCU for Nia Clouden. She set the record for made field goals with 17. She also tied Aerial Powers school record with 15 made free throws.
With 50 points against Florida Gulf Coast on Dec. 20, Nia Clouden broke Tori Jankoska's record of 42 points, which was set against Ohio State on 1/19/17.
The 50 points is also the most scored by a DI women's basketball player this season, ahead of Delaware's Jasmine Dickey, who scored 48 against Eastern Michigan on Nov. 26.

REACHING THE TOP 10
Senior guard Nia Clouden's 32 points against Nebraska gives her 1,596 for her career, passing Maxann Reese (1996-00) with 1,589 points and Kris Emerson (1983-87) with 1,590 points. She is now 53 points away from tying Allyssa DeHaan (2006-10), who scored 1,649 points during her MSU career. Clouden is also now No. 8 in all-time Spartan assists with 387, passing Eileen Shea (382) and Kim Archer (381).

Clouden joins Tori Jankoska as the only MSU players to finish their careers in the top 10 in scoring and assists.

SHORT BENCH
Losing senior Tory Ozment and junior Julia Ayrault to season-ending injuries at the beginning, MSU was already playing with a short bench. Against Nebraska on Dec. 30, the bench got even shorter. The Spartans played without freshman DeeDee Hagemann and senior Laurel Jacqmain because of COVID-19 protocols and junior Moira Joiner was out with concussion symptoms. Against the Huskers, MSU had nine players available and played eight.

BRINGING DOWN THE BOARDS
Against Nebraska, Michigan State out-rebounded the Cornhuskers, 45-38. Nebraska is first in the league in rebounding offense with 44.1 rebounds per game and rebound margin, +8.6. The 45 rebounds were the most this season since MSU's 54 in the double overtime loss to Florida Gulf Coast on Dec. 20. Michigan State is 7-3 when out-rebounding its opponents.

BIG TIME B1G HONOR
Senior guard Nia Clouden was named Big Ten Player of the Week on Dec. 27. The Owings Mills, Maryland native had a record setting-week at the West Palm Beach Invitational. Clouden scored 50 points in the Spartans' double overtime loss to Florida Gulf Coast on Dec. 20. The 50 points is also the most points scored in the NCAA this season. She became just third Big Ten player ever to score 50 points, joining Minnesota's Rachel Banham (2015-16) and Michigan's Naz Hillman (2020-21).

LOOKING ACROSS THE LEAGUE
Senior guard Nia Clouden stands second in the B1G in scoring with 22.5 points per game. Clouden also holds the ninth spot in the league in assists with 4.5 helpers per contest, while freshman guard DeeDee Hagemann is up to fifth with 5.1 apg. Freshman guard/forward Matilda Ekh and Clouden are 13th (1.6) and 20th (1.5), respectively in the league in 3-point field goals per game. Clouden is also second in the league in free-throw percentage (.904).

As a team, the Spartans are second in the Big Ten in free throw percentage (.784) and fifth in field goal percentages (.462). Michigan State is third in assists, averaging 17.9 apg.

AROUND THE NATION
The Spartans are distributing the ball really well through the first 14 games. Michigan State is 12th in the nation and second in the Big Ten with 250 total assists and are 17th in assists per game, averaging 17.9 apg. MSU is also 13th in the nation in free throw percentage (.784). Senior guard Nia Clouden has been stellar in getting to the line. She is first in the nation in free throws made (104) and 21st in the NCAA in free throw percentage (.904). Clouden is also seventh in the country in scoring with 22.5 ppg.

A NUMBERS GAME
Nia Clouden's numbers never cease to amaze this season. She is currently 10th in the Big Ten in field goal percentage (.470), while also standing second in free throw percentage (.904). From long range, she is shooting .362 percent.

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 304-193 record at Michigan State. Karen Langeland is the all-time leader with a 376-290 record at MSU. Merchant is also 10 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 505-283 record overall.

UP NEXT
After taking on the Boilermakers, Michigan State will travel to Ohio State on Wednesday, Jan. 12 at 7 p.m., before returning home to take on Northwestern on Sunday, Jan. 16 at 2 p.m.

20 DIMES FOR WINS
MSU is also 6-0 this season when dishing out 20 or more assists. Against Illinois, Michigan State dished out 20 assists for the first time since the game at Oakland (11/26) when MSU had 27. 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).

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.

SOLID FROM THE STRIPE
Going 15-for-17 from the free throw line against Florida Gulf Coast on Dec. 20, Nia Clouden tied the MSU record for single-game free throws made. All-American Aerial Powers also went 15-for-17 against Rutgers on Feb. 18, 2016. As a team, Michigan State is second in the Big Ten in free throw percentage (.780). Clouden matched that record going 15-for-17 from the charity stripe against Nebraska on Dec. 30.

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.

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. Senior guard Laurel Jacqmain set a new career high with 11 points, highlighted by back-to-back-to-back treys in the fourth quarter.

LAST TIME OUT
Playing short-handed, the Michigan State handed Nebraska its first loss of the season 72-69 at the Breslin Center. Playing without junior guard Moira Joiner, freshman guard DeeDee Hagemann and senior guard Laurel Jacqmain, the Spartans were forced to use a bigger lineup. All five MSU starters played at least 29 minutes with freshman guard/forward Matilda Ekh leading the way with 39 minutes.

With a game-high 32 points, senior guard Nia Clouden moves to No. 7 all-time in Spartan career scoring with 1,596 points, passing Maxann Reese (1996-00) with 1,589 points and Kris Emerson (1983-87) with 1,590 points. Junior forward Taiyier Parks earned her second double-double of the season with 10 points and a game-high 12 rebounds.

EKH EARNS B1G HONOR
On Dec. 13, guard/forward Matilda Ekh captured her first Big Ten Freshman of the Week honor after leading the Spartans in scoring in a win against Illinois. She marked a new career high with 20 points in Michigan State's 75-60 win over the Illini on Dec. 9. Ekh has now scored in double figures seven times this season, second only to senior guard Nia Clouden. Fellow freshman guard DeeDee Hagemann also earned B1G Freshman of the Week honors on Nov. 15.

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 230 of its last 243 games (.947) when leading with five minutes left, including 180 of their last 195. In Coach Merchant's tenure, Michigan State is 265-20 (.930) when holding a lead with five minutes left. This season, MSU is 7-1 when leading with five minutes remaining.

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 165 of their last 192 games (.859) when scoring at least 70 points, and the Spartans are 185-35 (.841) under head coach Suzy Merchant when hanging at least 70 points on the scoreboard. This season, MSU is now 8-2 this season when scoring 70 points. The Spartans scored 71 points in losses to Notre Dame on Dec. 2 and Florida Gulf Coast on Dec. 20.

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.

Masks are required indoors for all individuals. Michigan State University requires all campus visitors, faculty, staff and students to wear a mask while indoors.

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Players Mentioned

Julia Ayrault

Nia Clouden

Matilda Ekh

Tamara Farquhar

DeeDee Hagemann

Laurel Jacqmain

Moira Joiner

Tory Ozment

Taiyier Parks