Monday, December 5
East Lansing, Mich.
7 PM
Michigan State University
vs
Purdue
Photo by: Matthew Mitchell
Spartan Women Open B1G Action Hosting Purdue Monday
12/4/2022 12:38:00 PM | Women's Basketball
MSU is 20-20 in Big Ten openers.
EAST LANSING, MIch. - Michigan State women's basketball will open its 41st Big Ten season, hosting Purdue on Monday, Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. on the Big Ten Network. Sloane Martin and Krista Blunk will be calling the action for BTN. The Spartans are looking to snap a three-game losing streak against the Boilermakers.
• MSU stands 6-3 this season after falling to Georgia Tech in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge on Dec. 1. Purdue is off to a fast 7-1 start, including a win over Syracuse in the Challenge.
• Sophomore guard Matilda Ekh returned to the lineup for the Spartans against Oregon on Nov. 27. After playing against Central Michigan on Nov. 19, Ekh traveled to Sweden for a National Team game against Israel. She has scored in double figures in both games since returning from Sweden.
• Graduate guard Kamaria McDaniel earned her second-straight performance with 25 or more points, scoring 26 on 50 percent shooting from the field. McDaniel logged her seventh game in double figures since transferring to MSU earlier this year.
• Michigan State is 20-20 in Big Ten openers, having won seven of their last 11. MSU is 9-6 in league openers in Coach Merchant's 15 seasons after losing to Iowa in last season's league opener.
SCOUTING PURDUE
The Boilermakers tote a 7-1 record into Monday's Big Ten opener against the Spartans. Purdue is coming off a palindromic 87-78 win over Syracuse in the ACC/B1G Challenge on Nov. 30. After winning their first five games of the year, the Boilermakers suffered their first loss of the season by the slimmest of margins at 76-75 to Florida State in their second game of the Cancun Challenge at the Hard Rock Hotel in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico, which came after beating Harvard, 85-63, in the opener. Purdue got back on track with a 71-65 win over Oklahoma State to round out tournament action, before the win over Syracuse.
Fifth-year senior guard Lasha Petree netted 31 in the Syracuse win, and now leads the Boilermakers and ranking fourth in the B1G and 27th in the NCAA averaging 19.9 points per game. Petree is shooting 53.4 percent from the field (63-of-118), as well as 35.1 percent (13-of-37) behind the arc and 71.4 percent (20-of-28) at the free throw line. Senior guard Abbey Ellis is averaging 11.6 ppg off the bench, as well as leading the team with 55.6 percent (10-of-18) from 3-point range and 92.0 percent (23-of-25) at the charity stripe. Senior guard Jeanae Terry dishes out 8.0 assists per game, leading the B1G and ranking second in the NCAA and also leads Purdue and ranks third in the B1G with 8.6 rebounds per game.
Purdue is fifth in the B1G and 20th in the NCAA in scoring offense (82.2 ppg), while ranking eighth in the league in scoring defense (64.5 ppg), to rank sixth in the B1G in scoring margin (+17.8). The Boilermakers are also ninth in the conference in rebound margin (4.4), pulling down 38.4 rpg. Purdue also is fourth in the B1G and 17th in the NCAA in assists per game, distributing 18.1 helpers per game.
Katie Gearlds is in her second year steering the Boilermaker program, posting a 24-16 record. Overall, Gearlds is in her 10th year as a collegiate head coach with a 252-66 record after amassing a 228-50 mark in eight seasons at Marian, winning two NAIA national titles as part of seven NAIA National Tournament appearances.
SERIES HISTORY VS. BOILERMAKERS
Purdue leads the overall series with Michigan State 43-27, however the Spartans have won three of the last four, four of the last six and six of the last nine match-ups, including the last meeting, which came in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament, with MSU advancing with a 73-69 win.
Purdue won last season's meeting in East Lansing, 69-59, on Jan. 9, 2022, while MSU won the season before, 76-73, on Feb. 21, 2021. Overall, the Spartans are 24-15 against the Boilermakers in meetings in East Lansing.
The series has had several streaks with MSU winning four-straight from 2014-2016, but since then neither team has won more than two in a row, including alternating the last three meetings.
BIG TEN OPENERS
Michigan State is 20-20 in Big Ten openers, having won seven of their 11. MSU is 9-6 in league openers in Coach Merchant's 15 seasons after losing to Iowa in last season's league opener. During the 2020-21 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
Last season, MSU opened 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 was against Illinois on Dec. 9. For the second-straight season, Michigan State will kickoff league contests on Dec. 5.
ACC/BIG TEN CHALLENGE HISTORY
This season, Michigan State played in the 15th ACC/Big Ten Challenge, falling to Georgia Tech, 66-63. This was the third time that MSU faced GT in the Challenge with a 1-2 record. Last season, MSU fell to 6-8 overall 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.
ACC/Big Ten Challenge History
2022 - Georgia Tech 66, MSU 63
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
LAST TIME VS PURDUE
With four players in double figures, the No. 8-seeded Michigan State women's basketball team defeated No. 9-seeded Purdue, 73-69, in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament on March 3 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Senior guard Nia Clouden led all scorers with 23 points, including 10 from the charity stripe. Junior forward Taiyier Parks reached double-figures for the second-straight game with 12 points, while senior forward Alisia Smith scored 15. Freshman guard/forward Matilda Ekh broke out of a scoring slump with 10 points to along with four rebounds and three assists. Purdue was led by 17 points from both Abbey Ellis and Madison Layden.
FREQUENT FLYER
Sophomore guard Matilda Ekh returned to the lineup for the Spartans. After playing against Central Michigan on Nov. 19, Ekh traveled to Sweden for a National Team game against Israel. She arrived in Portland on Friday and scored 14 points for the Spartans against Oregon on Nov. 25. She also scored 14 points against Georgia Tech on Dec. 1.
DID YOU KNOW?
Kamaria McDaniel's back-to-back 20-point performances are the first for Michigan State since Nia Clouden achieved the feat on Feb, 6 and Feb. 10 last season.
KMAC ON THE RIGHT TRACK
Graduate guard Kamaria McDaniel netted 28 points against No. 18/18 Oregon on Nov. 27, not only posting her first 20-point outing of the season, but doubling her previous season-high of 14, tallied three times, most recently vs. Florida A&M (11/17). McDaniel's 28 points is the most by an MSU player this season, as well as the Spartans' second 20-point scorer this season, joining 20 points by Matilda Ekh vs. Western Michigan (11/13). She now has two-straight 20-point games with 26 against Georgia Tech on Dec. 1. McDaniel also registered her fifth-straight double-figure game and has posted 10+ points in seven of the nine games this season.
MO THREES
Senior guard Moira Joiner has had a resurgence since returning from concussion symptoms that shortened her 2021-22 season. In nine games this season, she has averaged 8.2 points per game. Against Central Michigan on Nov. 19, she scored a season-high 17 points. She also tied her career high with five made 3-pointers. She also made five treys against Rutgers on Jan. 20, 2020 and Northwestern on Jan. 23, 2020, which were back-to-back games.
Against Oregon, Joiner had a double-seven game with seven points and seven rebounds. Joiner's seven rebounds is a new season-high, bettering her previous top mark of the season of five, done twice, last vs. Florida A&M (11/17). She now has snared three or more rebounds in each of the last eight games.
DOING IT ALL
Sophomore guard Matilda Ekh has been doing it all for MSU. Against Georgia Tech not only did she score 14 points, but she also shattered her season high in boards and matched her career high with a game-best eight rebounds. Her tally on the glass matched her effort against the Marshall Thundering Herd from Nov. 30, 2021. She has now scored in double figures five times this season.
BY THE NUMBERS VS. GEORGIA TECH
• Sophomore guard DeeDee Hagemann finished with a game-high seven assists, setting a new season high in the process. Her previous season-high of five was set in an 80-37 win on opening day against Delaware State on Nov. 7.
• Graduate guard Kamaria McDaniel published her second-straight performance with 25-or-more points, scoring 26 on 50% shooting from the field. McDaniel logged her seventh game in double figures since transferring to MSU earlier this year.
BALANCED ATTACK
Without All-American Nia Clouden to dominate the box score this season, the Spartans are looking for a more balanced attack. In nine games this season, Michigan State has spread out the scoring. Senior forward Taiyier Parks led in scoring with a career-high 18 against Purdue Fort Wayne. Sophomore guard Matilda Ekh was atop the score sheet with 20 against Western Michigan and 16 against Florida A&M. Three players led MSU in scoring against Central Michigan with sophomore forward Isaline Alexander, junior guard Gabby Elliott and senior guard Moira Joiner all scored 17 points. Graduate guard Kamaria McDaniel scored 28 points against Oregon, the most by a Spartan this season.
TOPPING THE CHARTS
Michigan State is among the Big Ten's leaders early on this season. The Spartans are currently fourth in the B1G in scoring margin (+25.3) and third in scoring defense (56.4 ppg). MSU is also third in rebound margin (+9.2) and third in steals (12.1 apg).
Sophomore guard Matilda Ekh is fourth in the Big Ten in 3-point field percentage, shooting .389. Sophomore guard DeeDee Hagemann stands fifth in the Big Ten in assist/turnover ration (2.77). Graduate guard Kamaria McDaniel is 16th in the league in scoring, averaging 14.3 ppg.
AROUND THE NATION
Early this season, Michigan State is 13th in the nation and third in the Big Ten in assists, averaging 18.8, behind Ohio State (21.6 apg). MSU is also 16th in the nation and fourth in the Big Ten in scoring margin (+25.3).
SEASON OPENERS
All-time, the Spartans are 35-15 in season openers, but 28-2 when the opener is in East Lansing. Coach Merchant is 13-3 in season openers at MSU, and has won 19 of her last 22, including her time at Eastern Michigan. Last season, the Spartans earned a dominating 86-37 win over Delaware State on Nov. 7.
UP NEXT
The Spartans will now face another tough challenge, hitting the road to face No. 4/5 Ohio State for the Big Ten road open on Sunday, Dec. 11 at 4 p.m.
TITLE IX CELEBRATION
Throughout the season, Michigan State will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of Title IX. MSU Athletics kicked off its year-round celebration on June 23, 2022. While the work in advancing women's athletics is not complete, the Spartans will celebrate the advancements that have been made in the last 50 years.
LEGENDARY SPARTAN
Former Michigan State women's basketball guard Nia Clouden was drafted 12th in the first round by the Connecticut Sun at the 2022 WNBA Draft. Clouden was the 12th Big Ten student-athlete drafted by the Sun franchise (which began as the Orlando Miracle from 1999-2002). Clouden, an Owings Mills, Maryland native, became the eighth Spartan to be selected in the WNBA draft. Tori Jankoska was the ninth overall pick in the 2017 draft by the Chicago Sky, while Aerial Powers was the fifth overall pick in 2016 going to the Dallas Wings.
Maxann Reese and Kristen Rasmussen were the first Spartans selected in the WNBA, drafted in 2000. Reese was taken in the third round, while Rasmussen was selected in the fourth. In 2003, Syreeta Broomfield was drafted in the third round. In 2005, Kristin Haynie was the ninth overall pick by Sacramento, while Liz Shimek was taken in the second round by Phoenix in 2006.
SPARTANS: THE NEW CLASS
Michigan State women's basketball head coach Suzy Merchant announced the signing of two National Letters of Intent on Thursday, including Jordan Wood (Chicago, Illinois/Carmel Catholic High School) and Bree Robinson (Mississauga, Ontario/ Webb School).
Wood is a 6-4 forward, who is a native of Chicago, Illinois. She attends Carmel Catholic High School and is coached by Ben Berg. Wood is currently ranked No. 62 in the ESPNW HoopGurlz Recruiting Rankings. As a junior, she scored 1,000 points, as well as leading the Corsairs to a Class 3A Illinois State Championship. Last season, she averaged 14.4 points and 6.6 rebounds per game, while also leading the team in assists (3.2 apg). She is a three-time All-East Suburban Catholic Conference and All-Area honoree, as well as capturing First-Team All-State accolades. Wood played AAU for Midwest Elite, competing on the EYBL Nike National circuit for coach Ralph Gesuado.
Robinson is a 5-8 guard, who is a native of Mississauga, Ontario, plays for head coach Matthew Shewmake at the Webb School (Tenn.). She helped lead the Webb school to a Tennessee State Championship, earning First-Team All-District 3 honors in the process. She also has a vast amount of international experience playing for Team Canada. She was the captain for Team Canada, playing in the U16 FIBA Americas in 2021, capturing a silver medal. She was also named Canletes 2022 All Canadian Player of the Year. She played for AAU Become One, competing on the GUAA Under Armour circuit for coach Handel Kipp.
CLOSING OUT THE GAMES
The Spartans have been extremely effective closing out games over the last couple years, winning 244 of its last 257 games (.949) when leading with five minutes left, including 194 of their last 209. In Coach Merchant's tenure, Michigan State is 278-21 (.930) when holding a lead with five minutes left. This season, MSU is 6-0 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 176 of their last 207 games (.850) when scoring at least 70 points, and the Spartans are 196-42 (.824) under head coach Suzy Merchant when hanging at least 70 points on the scoreboard. This season, MSU is 6-1 this season when scoring 70 points. The loss to Oregon was the only time MSU reached the 70-point mark and didn't win.
• MSU stands 6-3 this season after falling to Georgia Tech in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge on Dec. 1. Purdue is off to a fast 7-1 start, including a win over Syracuse in the Challenge.
• Sophomore guard Matilda Ekh returned to the lineup for the Spartans against Oregon on Nov. 27. After playing against Central Michigan on Nov. 19, Ekh traveled to Sweden for a National Team game against Israel. She has scored in double figures in both games since returning from Sweden.
• Graduate guard Kamaria McDaniel earned her second-straight performance with 25 or more points, scoring 26 on 50 percent shooting from the field. McDaniel logged her seventh game in double figures since transferring to MSU earlier this year.
• Michigan State is 20-20 in Big Ten openers, having won seven of their last 11. MSU is 9-6 in league openers in Coach Merchant's 15 seasons after losing to Iowa in last season's league opener.
SCOUTING PURDUE
The Boilermakers tote a 7-1 record into Monday's Big Ten opener against the Spartans. Purdue is coming off a palindromic 87-78 win over Syracuse in the ACC/B1G Challenge on Nov. 30. After winning their first five games of the year, the Boilermakers suffered their first loss of the season by the slimmest of margins at 76-75 to Florida State in their second game of the Cancun Challenge at the Hard Rock Hotel in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico, which came after beating Harvard, 85-63, in the opener. Purdue got back on track with a 71-65 win over Oklahoma State to round out tournament action, before the win over Syracuse.
Fifth-year senior guard Lasha Petree netted 31 in the Syracuse win, and now leads the Boilermakers and ranking fourth in the B1G and 27th in the NCAA averaging 19.9 points per game. Petree is shooting 53.4 percent from the field (63-of-118), as well as 35.1 percent (13-of-37) behind the arc and 71.4 percent (20-of-28) at the free throw line. Senior guard Abbey Ellis is averaging 11.6 ppg off the bench, as well as leading the team with 55.6 percent (10-of-18) from 3-point range and 92.0 percent (23-of-25) at the charity stripe. Senior guard Jeanae Terry dishes out 8.0 assists per game, leading the B1G and ranking second in the NCAA and also leads Purdue and ranks third in the B1G with 8.6 rebounds per game.
Purdue is fifth in the B1G and 20th in the NCAA in scoring offense (82.2 ppg), while ranking eighth in the league in scoring defense (64.5 ppg), to rank sixth in the B1G in scoring margin (+17.8). The Boilermakers are also ninth in the conference in rebound margin (4.4), pulling down 38.4 rpg. Purdue also is fourth in the B1G and 17th in the NCAA in assists per game, distributing 18.1 helpers per game.
Katie Gearlds is in her second year steering the Boilermaker program, posting a 24-16 record. Overall, Gearlds is in her 10th year as a collegiate head coach with a 252-66 record after amassing a 228-50 mark in eight seasons at Marian, winning two NAIA national titles as part of seven NAIA National Tournament appearances.
SERIES HISTORY VS. BOILERMAKERS
Purdue leads the overall series with Michigan State 43-27, however the Spartans have won three of the last four, four of the last six and six of the last nine match-ups, including the last meeting, which came in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament, with MSU advancing with a 73-69 win.
Purdue won last season's meeting in East Lansing, 69-59, on Jan. 9, 2022, while MSU won the season before, 76-73, on Feb. 21, 2021. Overall, the Spartans are 24-15 against the Boilermakers in meetings in East Lansing.
The series has had several streaks with MSU winning four-straight from 2014-2016, but since then neither team has won more than two in a row, including alternating the last three meetings.
BIG TEN OPENERS
Michigan State is 20-20 in Big Ten openers, having won seven of their 11. MSU is 9-6 in league openers in Coach Merchant's 15 seasons after losing to Iowa in last season's league opener. During the 2020-21 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
Last season, MSU opened 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 was against Illinois on Dec. 9. For the second-straight season, Michigan State will kickoff league contests on Dec. 5.
ACC/BIG TEN CHALLENGE HISTORY
This season, Michigan State played in the 15th ACC/Big Ten Challenge, falling to Georgia Tech, 66-63. This was the third time that MSU faced GT in the Challenge with a 1-2 record. Last season, MSU fell to 6-8 overall 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.
ACC/Big Ten Challenge History
2022 - Georgia Tech 66, MSU 63
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
LAST TIME VS PURDUE
With four players in double figures, the No. 8-seeded Michigan State women's basketball team defeated No. 9-seeded Purdue, 73-69, in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament on March 3 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Senior guard Nia Clouden led all scorers with 23 points, including 10 from the charity stripe. Junior forward Taiyier Parks reached double-figures for the second-straight game with 12 points, while senior forward Alisia Smith scored 15. Freshman guard/forward Matilda Ekh broke out of a scoring slump with 10 points to along with four rebounds and three assists. Purdue was led by 17 points from both Abbey Ellis and Madison Layden.
FREQUENT FLYER
Sophomore guard Matilda Ekh returned to the lineup for the Spartans. After playing against Central Michigan on Nov. 19, Ekh traveled to Sweden for a National Team game against Israel. She arrived in Portland on Friday and scored 14 points for the Spartans against Oregon on Nov. 25. She also scored 14 points against Georgia Tech on Dec. 1.
DID YOU KNOW?
Kamaria McDaniel's back-to-back 20-point performances are the first for Michigan State since Nia Clouden achieved the feat on Feb, 6 and Feb. 10 last season.
KMAC ON THE RIGHT TRACK
Graduate guard Kamaria McDaniel netted 28 points against No. 18/18 Oregon on Nov. 27, not only posting her first 20-point outing of the season, but doubling her previous season-high of 14, tallied three times, most recently vs. Florida A&M (11/17). McDaniel's 28 points is the most by an MSU player this season, as well as the Spartans' second 20-point scorer this season, joining 20 points by Matilda Ekh vs. Western Michigan (11/13). She now has two-straight 20-point games with 26 against Georgia Tech on Dec. 1. McDaniel also registered her fifth-straight double-figure game and has posted 10+ points in seven of the nine games this season.
MO THREES
Senior guard Moira Joiner has had a resurgence since returning from concussion symptoms that shortened her 2021-22 season. In nine games this season, she has averaged 8.2 points per game. Against Central Michigan on Nov. 19, she scored a season-high 17 points. She also tied her career high with five made 3-pointers. She also made five treys against Rutgers on Jan. 20, 2020 and Northwestern on Jan. 23, 2020, which were back-to-back games.
Against Oregon, Joiner had a double-seven game with seven points and seven rebounds. Joiner's seven rebounds is a new season-high, bettering her previous top mark of the season of five, done twice, last vs. Florida A&M (11/17). She now has snared three or more rebounds in each of the last eight games.
DOING IT ALL
Sophomore guard Matilda Ekh has been doing it all for MSU. Against Georgia Tech not only did she score 14 points, but she also shattered her season high in boards and matched her career high with a game-best eight rebounds. Her tally on the glass matched her effort against the Marshall Thundering Herd from Nov. 30, 2021. She has now scored in double figures five times this season.
BY THE NUMBERS VS. GEORGIA TECH
• Sophomore guard DeeDee Hagemann finished with a game-high seven assists, setting a new season high in the process. Her previous season-high of five was set in an 80-37 win on opening day against Delaware State on Nov. 7.
• Graduate guard Kamaria McDaniel published her second-straight performance with 25-or-more points, scoring 26 on 50% shooting from the field. McDaniel logged her seventh game in double figures since transferring to MSU earlier this year.
BALANCED ATTACK
Without All-American Nia Clouden to dominate the box score this season, the Spartans are looking for a more balanced attack. In nine games this season, Michigan State has spread out the scoring. Senior forward Taiyier Parks led in scoring with a career-high 18 against Purdue Fort Wayne. Sophomore guard Matilda Ekh was atop the score sheet with 20 against Western Michigan and 16 against Florida A&M. Three players led MSU in scoring against Central Michigan with sophomore forward Isaline Alexander, junior guard Gabby Elliott and senior guard Moira Joiner all scored 17 points. Graduate guard Kamaria McDaniel scored 28 points against Oregon, the most by a Spartan this season.
TOPPING THE CHARTS
Michigan State is among the Big Ten's leaders early on this season. The Spartans are currently fourth in the B1G in scoring margin (+25.3) and third in scoring defense (56.4 ppg). MSU is also third in rebound margin (+9.2) and third in steals (12.1 apg).
Sophomore guard Matilda Ekh is fourth in the Big Ten in 3-point field percentage, shooting .389. Sophomore guard DeeDee Hagemann stands fifth in the Big Ten in assist/turnover ration (2.77). Graduate guard Kamaria McDaniel is 16th in the league in scoring, averaging 14.3 ppg.
AROUND THE NATION
Early this season, Michigan State is 13th in the nation and third in the Big Ten in assists, averaging 18.8, behind Ohio State (21.6 apg). MSU is also 16th in the nation and fourth in the Big Ten in scoring margin (+25.3).
SEASON OPENERS
All-time, the Spartans are 35-15 in season openers, but 28-2 when the opener is in East Lansing. Coach Merchant is 13-3 in season openers at MSU, and has won 19 of her last 22, including her time at Eastern Michigan. Last season, the Spartans earned a dominating 86-37 win over Delaware State on Nov. 7.
UP NEXT
The Spartans will now face another tough challenge, hitting the road to face No. 4/5 Ohio State for the Big Ten road open on Sunday, Dec. 11 at 4 p.m.
TITLE IX CELEBRATION
Throughout the season, Michigan State will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of Title IX. MSU Athletics kicked off its year-round celebration on June 23, 2022. While the work in advancing women's athletics is not complete, the Spartans will celebrate the advancements that have been made in the last 50 years.
LEGENDARY SPARTAN
Former Michigan State women's basketball guard Nia Clouden was drafted 12th in the first round by the Connecticut Sun at the 2022 WNBA Draft. Clouden was the 12th Big Ten student-athlete drafted by the Sun franchise (which began as the Orlando Miracle from 1999-2002). Clouden, an Owings Mills, Maryland native, became the eighth Spartan to be selected in the WNBA draft. Tori Jankoska was the ninth overall pick in the 2017 draft by the Chicago Sky, while Aerial Powers was the fifth overall pick in 2016 going to the Dallas Wings.
Maxann Reese and Kristen Rasmussen were the first Spartans selected in the WNBA, drafted in 2000. Reese was taken in the third round, while Rasmussen was selected in the fourth. In 2003, Syreeta Broomfield was drafted in the third round. In 2005, Kristin Haynie was the ninth overall pick by Sacramento, while Liz Shimek was taken in the second round by Phoenix in 2006.
SPARTANS: THE NEW CLASS
Michigan State women's basketball head coach Suzy Merchant announced the signing of two National Letters of Intent on Thursday, including Jordan Wood (Chicago, Illinois/Carmel Catholic High School) and Bree Robinson (Mississauga, Ontario/ Webb School).
Wood is a 6-4 forward, who is a native of Chicago, Illinois. She attends Carmel Catholic High School and is coached by Ben Berg. Wood is currently ranked No. 62 in the ESPNW HoopGurlz Recruiting Rankings. As a junior, she scored 1,000 points, as well as leading the Corsairs to a Class 3A Illinois State Championship. Last season, she averaged 14.4 points and 6.6 rebounds per game, while also leading the team in assists (3.2 apg). She is a three-time All-East Suburban Catholic Conference and All-Area honoree, as well as capturing First-Team All-State accolades. Wood played AAU for Midwest Elite, competing on the EYBL Nike National circuit for coach Ralph Gesuado.
Robinson is a 5-8 guard, who is a native of Mississauga, Ontario, plays for head coach Matthew Shewmake at the Webb School (Tenn.). She helped lead the Webb school to a Tennessee State Championship, earning First-Team All-District 3 honors in the process. She also has a vast amount of international experience playing for Team Canada. She was the captain for Team Canada, playing in the U16 FIBA Americas in 2021, capturing a silver medal. She was also named Canletes 2022 All Canadian Player of the Year. She played for AAU Become One, competing on the GUAA Under Armour circuit for coach Handel Kipp.
CLOSING OUT THE GAMES
The Spartans have been extremely effective closing out games over the last couple years, winning 244 of its last 257 games (.949) when leading with five minutes left, including 194 of their last 209. In Coach Merchant's tenure, Michigan State is 278-21 (.930) when holding a lead with five minutes left. This season, MSU is 6-0 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 176 of their last 207 games (.850) when scoring at least 70 points, and the Spartans are 196-42 (.824) under head coach Suzy Merchant when hanging at least 70 points on the scoreboard. This season, MSU is 6-1 this season when scoring 70 points. The loss to Oregon was the only time MSU reached the 70-point mark and didn't win.
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