Sunday, January 14
Columbus, Ohio
4 PM
Michigan State University
at
No. 17/16 Ohio State
Spartan Women's Basketball Travels to No. 17 Ohio State Sunday
1/12/2024 6:04:00 PM | Women's Basketball
MSU is in search for its first win in Columbus since 2014
EAST LANSING, Mich. - After one game at home, Michigan State women's basketball will hit the road again to take on No. 17/16 Ohio State on Sunday, Jan. 14 at 4 p.m. The Spartans now stand 12-3 overall and 2-2 in Big Ten games this season after a 74-69 win over Maryland on Jan. 9. Sloane Martin and Shimmy Gray Miller will be on the call for the Big Ten Network.
• No. 17/16 Ohio State is 12-3 overall and 3-1 in league contests. The Buckeyes have been hot of late scoring at least 90 points in the last two games. On Jan. 11, OSU defeated Rutgers, 90-55 at Value City Arena.
• Last season, the Spartans went 5-8 in games away from the Breslin Center. This season, Michigan State is 5-2, including going 2-1 in true road games and 3-1 in neutral site contests. MSU is averaging 89.3 ppg away from home, allowing only 74.4 ppg. Graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault leads the team with 18.9 points and 8.1 rebounds per game in these seven games.
• Against Maryland on Jan. 9, junior guard DeeDee Hagemann tallied 12 points for her third double-digit outing in a row and fourth in the last five games as part of the 10th time this season and 32nd of her career. Hagemann also dished out a game-high seven assists, her seventh game this season with 5+ helpers.
• With 20 points against Maryland on Jan. 9, graduate guard Moira Joiner is inching toward the 1,000 point mark. She now has 961 career points.
SCOUTING OHIO STATE
The Buckeyes improved to 12-3 overall and 3-1 in B1G action after routing Rutgers, 90-55, Thursday night, for OSU's third-straight win, including netting 90 points for the second game in a row following a 90-60 win at Northwestern on Jan. 5.
In Thursday's victory over Rutgers, Ohio State bolted out of the gates with 10 unanswered points, expanding the 10-0 lead to a 27-13 advantage at the end of the quarter. OSU out-scored RU, 24-9 in the second stanza to stretch its halftime lead to 51-22, and coasted to the win.
Four Buckeye players posted double-figures, led by redshirt-senior guard Madison Greene's season-high 16 points, followed by graduate guard Celeste Taylor's 12 points, while graduate guard Jacy Sheldon and sophomore forward Cotie McMahon added 11 points each.
On the season, Ohio State is fourth in the B1G and 18th in the NCAA in scoring offense (82.1 ppg), while ranking fourth in the league in scoring defense (60.7 ppg), to also rank fourth in the conference and 19th in the country in scoring margin (+21.4). OSU also tops the league and is 17th in the nation in free throw attempts per game (22.4), while ranking second in the conference and 12th in the country in free throws made per game (16.4).
Individually, Sheldon leads OSU in scoring, while ranking fourth in the B1G in scoring at 17.7 ppg, along with fourth in the league in field goal percentage (.536) and fourth in free throw percentage (.870), in addition to second in the B1G with 2.5 steals per game, just ahead of Taylor in third with 2.2 swipes per contest. Thierry tops the team with 6.0 rebounds per game, ranking 17th in the league, and adds 12.9 ppg, while McMahon rounds out the trio of Buckeyes averaging double-digits with 12.8 ppg, adding 4.7 rpg.
OSU head coach Kevin McGuff is in his 11th year leading the Buckeyes, posting a 184-103 record, and is in his 22nd year overall as a collegiate head coach, amassing a 439-202 ledger.
SERIES HISTORY VS. THE BUCKEYES
Ohio State leads the all-time series with Michigan State, 60-29, including 26-11 in Columbus, while leading 22-14 in East Lansing and 12-4 on neutral courts. OSU has won the last four meetings in the series, as MSU's last win in the series was on Jan. 16, 2020, winning 68-65. The last match-up between the Spartans and Buckeyes was won by OSU, 74-68 on Dec. 11, 2022 last season in Columbus, part of the Buckeyes' six-game home win streak in the series. MSU's last win in Columbus was an 82-68 ballgame on Jan. 26, 2014.
LAST TIME VS OHIO STATE
Against one of the top-scoring offenses in the nation, Michigan State's frantic come back fell short against No. 3/4 Ohio State, 74-68, on Dec. 11, 2022 at Value City Arena in Columbus. Trailing by as many as 18 in the first half, the Spartans got as close as one point with 1:44 remaining in the fourth quarter.
MSU was led by 16 points by senior guard Moira Joiner, just shy of her season high of 17 against Central Michigan on Nov. 19. Junior guard Gabby Elliott added 11 points with sophomore forward Isaline Alexander scoring nine.
ROAD WARRIORS
Last season, the Spartans went 5-8 in games away from the Breslin Center. This season, Michigan State is 5-2, including going 2-1 in true road games and 3-1 in neutral site contests. MSU is averaging 89.3 ppg away from home, allowing only 74.4 ppg. Graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault leads the team with 18.9 points and 8.1 rebounds per game in this seven games.
BY THE NUMBERS VS. MARYLAND
• Julia Ayrault's 20 points was her third 20+ point outing of the season and third-highest behind her career-high 32 points vs. Coastal Carolina (12/21) and 25 vs. James Madison (11/23). Tuesday's 20 points was Ayrault's sixth-straight game in double-figures and the 12th double-digit scoring outing of the season.
• The Spartans snapped a seven-game losing streak to Maryland in the all-time series, and MSU nabbed just its second-ever home win over Maryland at East Lansing as part of its third overall win. Tuesday was MSU's first home win and first overall triumph over UMD since Jan. 17, 2019 when MSU won, 77-60. With Tuesday's 74-69 final score, the last two meetings have both been determined by five points after last year's 66-61 Maryland win on Feb. 18, 2023 in East Lansing. Overall, the last four match-ups have been decided by nine points or less.
• With just 22 points in the first half, the Spartans scored their fewest first-half points for the second-straight game after the previous low was 37 from last outing, at Iowa (1/2).
THE CAPTAINS LEADING THE CHARGE
The key to the Spartans success has always been with its two captains, Julia Ayrault and Moira Joiner. Joiner leads the team in scoring, averaging 16.2 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. Ayrault is second in scoring with 15.9 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.
MOVIN' ON UP
Several Spartans are moving up the MSU record books. With two blocks against Maryland on Jan. 9, graduate guard Julia Ayrault now has 109 blocks and stands tied for fifth all-time at MSU, passing Spartan Hall of Famer Liz Shimek (2002-06), who had 108. Graduate guard Moira Joiner now has 169 made 3-pointers and now stands sixth all-time. Even though she is just a junior, guard DeeDee Hagemann already has 352 career assists. She currently stands 13th all-time in MSU history. She is just four away from Vnemina Reese who is 12th with 356 career assists.
THERYN TEARIN' IT UP
Sophomore guard Theryn Hallock has not suffered a sophomore slump this season. Against Maryland, she scored 14 points off the bench, including 10 in the second half. Against Penn State, she set a new career high with 21 points off the bench against Penn State on Dec. 30. Her previous career high was 17 points which she did three times, against Miami (12/3), Nebraska (12/9) and Central Michigan (12/17). Overall, she has reached double figures six times this season and seven times in her MSU career. This season, she is averaging 9.7 points and 3.5 assists per game.
FRALICK HITS MILESTONE
Michigan State head coach Robyn Fralick reached a career milestone with a win against CMU on Dec. 17. She captured her 200th career win, now holding a 204-79 career record in eight seasons as a head coach at Ashland, Bowling Green and Michigan State.
AYRAULT GETTING THE JOB DONE
Against Maryland on Jan. 9, graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault registered her third double-double of the season and fifth of her career with a team-high tying 20 points and 10 rebounds, joining 25 points and 15 rebounds vs. James Madison (11/23) along with a 13 points and 10 rebounds outing vs. Central Michigan (12/17). Ayrault's 20 points was her third 20+ point outing of the season and third-highest behind her career-high 32 points vs. Coastal Carolina (12/21) and 25 vs. James Madison (11/23). Tuesday's 20 points was Ayrault's sixth-straight game in double-figures and the 12th double-digit scoring outing of the season.
Ayrault's 10 rebounds were her third double-figure rebounding outing and tied for second-most of the season behind her career-high 15 vs. James Madison (11/23) and matching 10 boards vs. Central Michigan (12/17). She now has 38 blocks this season through 15 games, already the most by a Spartan in a single season since 2017-18 when Taya Reimer had 38 on the season.
TRIPLE-DIGIT THREATS
With a 105-66 win over Coastal Carolina on Dec. 21, MSU has now broken the triple-digit mark four times in the 10 games this season. This is the first-time ever that Michigan State has had four 100-point games in a season.
IF YOU CAN'T BEAT HER...JOINER
Against Richmond, graduate guard Moira Joiner had her first double-double of the season with 18 points and 10 rebounds. With 20 points against Maryland on Jan. 9, she has now scored in double-figures in all 15 contests this season as part of 17-straight games back to 2022-23 season, and in 18 of her last 19 games. She leads the team in scoring, averaging 16.2 ppg, which is eighth in the Big Ten.
AMONG THE BEST IN THE LAND
The Spartans are 10th in the nation field goal percentage, shooting 49.3 percent from the field. Michigan State is also sixth in the country in assists per game, averaging 20.6 apg. They are also second in the nation in assist/turnover ratio (1.81). The Spartans high-flying offense currently stands 10th in the nation in scoring margin, as well (+25.2). MSU is currently second in the nation in 3-pointers made (10.3/game).
Individually, Julia Ayrault is 14th in the nation in blocks with 36 and 12th in blocks per game (2.6 bpg). DeeDee Hagemann is 22nd in the country assist/turnover ratio (2.75).
LIVE BY THE THREE
Michigan State made seven 3-pointers against Maryland on Jan. 9, as the Spartans earned their first win of the season when making less than eight treys, as all three losses on the season have come when MSU made seven or fewer from 3-point range. The seven 3-pointers is tied for Michigan State's second-fewest of the season for the third time this season. The Spartans were held to seven triples in their first loss of the season vs. Creighton (11/24), four in the only home loss of the season, vs. Nebraska (12/9), and seven in their last outing, at Iowa (1/2).
Michigan State drained 14 3-pointers against Coastal Carolina on Dec. 21, tying the second-most for the third time, also netting 14 triples vs. Detroit Mercy (11/16) and at DePaul (11/30), and just behind the season-high 15 treys vs. James Madison (11/23). Overall with 10 treys against Penn State on Dec. 30, MSU registered its fourth-straight game in double-digit treys as part of the eighth time this season.
AROUND THE BIG TEN
This season, Michigan State is second in the Big Ten in scoring margin (+23.9) and first in assists (20.3 apg). The Spartans are also first in the league in 3-point field goals made, averaging 10.1 per game. MSU is third in the conference in steals, averaging 10.0 spg after one against Maryland on Jan. 9.
Graduate guard Moira Joiner leads the Spartans in scoring, averaging 16.2 points per game, which is eighth in the Big Ten. Graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault is tied for sixth in rebounding with 7.5 rpg. Junior guard DeeDee Hagemann is ninth in the league in assists, averaging 4.4 apg. Joiner is second in the league in 3-point field goal percentage (.424). Ayrault is also second in the conference in blocks, averaging 2.5 bpg, behind Wisconsin's Serah Williams.
DID YOU KNOW?
Graduate forward Tory Ozment continues to be a force to be reckoned with this season. Against Iowa, she added 10 points off the bench, posting double-digits for the second time in as many games on the way to her sixth double-figure scoring game this season and the 20th of her career. Ozment also shared the team-lead on the glass with eight rebounds, marking the third-straight game with eight rebounds, and fourth game in a row with five or more boards, part of the eighth overall time this season.
NICELY MAKING IT THROUGH DECEMBER
So far has been so very good for the Spartans, as they have made Merle Haggard proud by more than making it through December, as MSU enters Tuesday's tangle with the Hawkeyes with an 11-2 overall record, marking the Spartans' second-straight season with double-digit wins through the end of December. Overall, it marks Michigan State's 11th overall season in the 2000s with 10+ Victories for MSU rolling into the new year portion of the schedule. A win Tuesday would match the 2010-11 and 2012-13 seasons for most wins through December during the 2000s.
ALCOHOL SALES COME TO BRESLIN
Alcohol sales have been implemented at Breslin Center for men's and women's basketball and at Munn Ice Arena for hockey in 2024. At Breslin Center, alcohol sales begin on Jan 4 for men's basketball (vs. Penn State) and Jan. 9 for women's basketball (vs. Maryland). January 5 (vs. US National Team Development Program) will mark the first game of alcohol sales at Munn Ice Arena.
Sales will start one hour prior to announced start time at each location. At Breslin Center, sales will close at the beginning of the second half of the basketball game. At Munn Ice Arena, sales will close at the end of the second intermission. Both beer and seltzer options will be available. All beer sold will be in 16 oz cans, while seltzer will be 12 oz cans. Cost will be $10 or $12 depending on selection. Exact locations for points of sale will be announced at a later date. Food will not be able to be purchased at the same location as alcohol.
THE DEFENSE AIN'T BAD EITHER
Michigan State has made a name for itself with its offense so far this season. But the Spartan defense hasn't been too shabby this season. MSU is third in the Big Ten in steals, averaging 10.6 spg. The Spartans are also fourth in the league in blocks with 4.4 per game. While scoring 91.1 ppg, Michigan State is allowing only 65.9 ppg.
COMING NEXT YEAR
MSU head coach Robyn Fralick announced the signing of four National Letters of Intent, including Sinai Douglas, Helen Holley, Juliann Woodard (North Vernon, Indiana/Jennings County High School) and Inés Sotelo.
Douglas is a 5-4 guard, who is a native of Toledo, Ohio. She attends Toledo Start High School and is coached by Dane Franklin. Douglas is currently ranked No. 87 in the ESPNW HoopGurlz Recruiting Rankings.
Holley is a 6-1 forward, who is a native of Cleveland Ohio, plays for head coach Kevin Byrne at the Gilmour Academy. As a junior, she averaged 14.7 points and 11.7 rebounds per game. She captured second-team All-Ohio honors last season.
Woodard is a 6-0 forward, who is a native of North Vernon, Indiana, plays for head coach Kristi Sigler at Jennings County High School. Woodard is currently ranked No. 58 in the ESPNW HoopGurlz Recruiting Rankings.
Sotelo Miguez is a 6-3 forward, who is a native of Ourense, Spain. She has extensive international experience, including playing with the U18 Spanish National Team last summer in Konya, Turkey at the Eurobasket Tournament.
O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN!
Michigan State head coach Robyn Fralick has announced guard/forward Julia Ayrault and guard Moira Joiner as team captains, as voted on by the players on the 2023-24 women's basketball team. The duo are the first captains that Michigan State has had since the 2019-20 season, when Victoria Gaines and Taryn McCutcheon were tabbed team leaders.
LAST TIME OUT
In its first game at home over three weeks, the Michigan State women's basketball team used a dominating third quarter to stop Maryland, 74-69, at the Breslin Center on Tuesday evening. This is only the Spartans' third-ever win against the Terrapins, now standing 18-3. MSU's last win came in East Lansing on Jan. 17, 2019.
Michigan State had four players in double figures led by graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault, who earned her third double-double of the season with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Graduate guard Moira Joiner also added 20 points with four assists and four rebounds. Joiner has reached double figures in scoring in all 15 games this season. Junior guard DeeDee Hagemann scored 12 points with a game-high seven assists, while sophomore guard Theryn Hallock added 14 points off the bench.
• No. 17/16 Ohio State is 12-3 overall and 3-1 in league contests. The Buckeyes have been hot of late scoring at least 90 points in the last two games. On Jan. 11, OSU defeated Rutgers, 90-55 at Value City Arena.
• Last season, the Spartans went 5-8 in games away from the Breslin Center. This season, Michigan State is 5-2, including going 2-1 in true road games and 3-1 in neutral site contests. MSU is averaging 89.3 ppg away from home, allowing only 74.4 ppg. Graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault leads the team with 18.9 points and 8.1 rebounds per game in these seven games.
• Against Maryland on Jan. 9, junior guard DeeDee Hagemann tallied 12 points for her third double-digit outing in a row and fourth in the last five games as part of the 10th time this season and 32nd of her career. Hagemann also dished out a game-high seven assists, her seventh game this season with 5+ helpers.
• With 20 points against Maryland on Jan. 9, graduate guard Moira Joiner is inching toward the 1,000 point mark. She now has 961 career points.
SCOUTING OHIO STATE
The Buckeyes improved to 12-3 overall and 3-1 in B1G action after routing Rutgers, 90-55, Thursday night, for OSU's third-straight win, including netting 90 points for the second game in a row following a 90-60 win at Northwestern on Jan. 5.
In Thursday's victory over Rutgers, Ohio State bolted out of the gates with 10 unanswered points, expanding the 10-0 lead to a 27-13 advantage at the end of the quarter. OSU out-scored RU, 24-9 in the second stanza to stretch its halftime lead to 51-22, and coasted to the win.
Four Buckeye players posted double-figures, led by redshirt-senior guard Madison Greene's season-high 16 points, followed by graduate guard Celeste Taylor's 12 points, while graduate guard Jacy Sheldon and sophomore forward Cotie McMahon added 11 points each.
On the season, Ohio State is fourth in the B1G and 18th in the NCAA in scoring offense (82.1 ppg), while ranking fourth in the league in scoring defense (60.7 ppg), to also rank fourth in the conference and 19th in the country in scoring margin (+21.4). OSU also tops the league and is 17th in the nation in free throw attempts per game (22.4), while ranking second in the conference and 12th in the country in free throws made per game (16.4).
Individually, Sheldon leads OSU in scoring, while ranking fourth in the B1G in scoring at 17.7 ppg, along with fourth in the league in field goal percentage (.536) and fourth in free throw percentage (.870), in addition to second in the B1G with 2.5 steals per game, just ahead of Taylor in third with 2.2 swipes per contest. Thierry tops the team with 6.0 rebounds per game, ranking 17th in the league, and adds 12.9 ppg, while McMahon rounds out the trio of Buckeyes averaging double-digits with 12.8 ppg, adding 4.7 rpg.
OSU head coach Kevin McGuff is in his 11th year leading the Buckeyes, posting a 184-103 record, and is in his 22nd year overall as a collegiate head coach, amassing a 439-202 ledger.
SERIES HISTORY VS. THE BUCKEYES
Ohio State leads the all-time series with Michigan State, 60-29, including 26-11 in Columbus, while leading 22-14 in East Lansing and 12-4 on neutral courts. OSU has won the last four meetings in the series, as MSU's last win in the series was on Jan. 16, 2020, winning 68-65. The last match-up between the Spartans and Buckeyes was won by OSU, 74-68 on Dec. 11, 2022 last season in Columbus, part of the Buckeyes' six-game home win streak in the series. MSU's last win in Columbus was an 82-68 ballgame on Jan. 26, 2014.
LAST TIME VS OHIO STATE
Against one of the top-scoring offenses in the nation, Michigan State's frantic come back fell short against No. 3/4 Ohio State, 74-68, on Dec. 11, 2022 at Value City Arena in Columbus. Trailing by as many as 18 in the first half, the Spartans got as close as one point with 1:44 remaining in the fourth quarter.
MSU was led by 16 points by senior guard Moira Joiner, just shy of her season high of 17 against Central Michigan on Nov. 19. Junior guard Gabby Elliott added 11 points with sophomore forward Isaline Alexander scoring nine.
ROAD WARRIORS
Last season, the Spartans went 5-8 in games away from the Breslin Center. This season, Michigan State is 5-2, including going 2-1 in true road games and 3-1 in neutral site contests. MSU is averaging 89.3 ppg away from home, allowing only 74.4 ppg. Graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault leads the team with 18.9 points and 8.1 rebounds per game in this seven games.
BY THE NUMBERS VS. MARYLAND
• Julia Ayrault's 20 points was her third 20+ point outing of the season and third-highest behind her career-high 32 points vs. Coastal Carolina (12/21) and 25 vs. James Madison (11/23). Tuesday's 20 points was Ayrault's sixth-straight game in double-figures and the 12th double-digit scoring outing of the season.
• The Spartans snapped a seven-game losing streak to Maryland in the all-time series, and MSU nabbed just its second-ever home win over Maryland at East Lansing as part of its third overall win. Tuesday was MSU's first home win and first overall triumph over UMD since Jan. 17, 2019 when MSU won, 77-60. With Tuesday's 74-69 final score, the last two meetings have both been determined by five points after last year's 66-61 Maryland win on Feb. 18, 2023 in East Lansing. Overall, the last four match-ups have been decided by nine points or less.
• With just 22 points in the first half, the Spartans scored their fewest first-half points for the second-straight game after the previous low was 37 from last outing, at Iowa (1/2).
THE CAPTAINS LEADING THE CHARGE
The key to the Spartans success has always been with its two captains, Julia Ayrault and Moira Joiner. Joiner leads the team in scoring, averaging 16.2 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. Ayrault is second in scoring with 15.9 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.
MOVIN' ON UP
Several Spartans are moving up the MSU record books. With two blocks against Maryland on Jan. 9, graduate guard Julia Ayrault now has 109 blocks and stands tied for fifth all-time at MSU, passing Spartan Hall of Famer Liz Shimek (2002-06), who had 108. Graduate guard Moira Joiner now has 169 made 3-pointers and now stands sixth all-time. Even though she is just a junior, guard DeeDee Hagemann already has 352 career assists. She currently stands 13th all-time in MSU history. She is just four away from Vnemina Reese who is 12th with 356 career assists.
THERYN TEARIN' IT UP
Sophomore guard Theryn Hallock has not suffered a sophomore slump this season. Against Maryland, she scored 14 points off the bench, including 10 in the second half. Against Penn State, she set a new career high with 21 points off the bench against Penn State on Dec. 30. Her previous career high was 17 points which she did three times, against Miami (12/3), Nebraska (12/9) and Central Michigan (12/17). Overall, she has reached double figures six times this season and seven times in her MSU career. This season, she is averaging 9.7 points and 3.5 assists per game.
FRALICK HITS MILESTONE
Michigan State head coach Robyn Fralick reached a career milestone with a win against CMU on Dec. 17. She captured her 200th career win, now holding a 204-79 career record in eight seasons as a head coach at Ashland, Bowling Green and Michigan State.
AYRAULT GETTING THE JOB DONE
Against Maryland on Jan. 9, graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault registered her third double-double of the season and fifth of her career with a team-high tying 20 points and 10 rebounds, joining 25 points and 15 rebounds vs. James Madison (11/23) along with a 13 points and 10 rebounds outing vs. Central Michigan (12/17). Ayrault's 20 points was her third 20+ point outing of the season and third-highest behind her career-high 32 points vs. Coastal Carolina (12/21) and 25 vs. James Madison (11/23). Tuesday's 20 points was Ayrault's sixth-straight game in double-figures and the 12th double-digit scoring outing of the season.
Ayrault's 10 rebounds were her third double-figure rebounding outing and tied for second-most of the season behind her career-high 15 vs. James Madison (11/23) and matching 10 boards vs. Central Michigan (12/17). She now has 38 blocks this season through 15 games, already the most by a Spartan in a single season since 2017-18 when Taya Reimer had 38 on the season.
TRIPLE-DIGIT THREATS
With a 105-66 win over Coastal Carolina on Dec. 21, MSU has now broken the triple-digit mark four times in the 10 games this season. This is the first-time ever that Michigan State has had four 100-point games in a season.
IF YOU CAN'T BEAT HER...JOINER
Against Richmond, graduate guard Moira Joiner had her first double-double of the season with 18 points and 10 rebounds. With 20 points against Maryland on Jan. 9, she has now scored in double-figures in all 15 contests this season as part of 17-straight games back to 2022-23 season, and in 18 of her last 19 games. She leads the team in scoring, averaging 16.2 ppg, which is eighth in the Big Ten.
AMONG THE BEST IN THE LAND
The Spartans are 10th in the nation field goal percentage, shooting 49.3 percent from the field. Michigan State is also sixth in the country in assists per game, averaging 20.6 apg. They are also second in the nation in assist/turnover ratio (1.81). The Spartans high-flying offense currently stands 10th in the nation in scoring margin, as well (+25.2). MSU is currently second in the nation in 3-pointers made (10.3/game).
Individually, Julia Ayrault is 14th in the nation in blocks with 36 and 12th in blocks per game (2.6 bpg). DeeDee Hagemann is 22nd in the country assist/turnover ratio (2.75).
LIVE BY THE THREE
Michigan State made seven 3-pointers against Maryland on Jan. 9, as the Spartans earned their first win of the season when making less than eight treys, as all three losses on the season have come when MSU made seven or fewer from 3-point range. The seven 3-pointers is tied for Michigan State's second-fewest of the season for the third time this season. The Spartans were held to seven triples in their first loss of the season vs. Creighton (11/24), four in the only home loss of the season, vs. Nebraska (12/9), and seven in their last outing, at Iowa (1/2).
Michigan State drained 14 3-pointers against Coastal Carolina on Dec. 21, tying the second-most for the third time, also netting 14 triples vs. Detroit Mercy (11/16) and at DePaul (11/30), and just behind the season-high 15 treys vs. James Madison (11/23). Overall with 10 treys against Penn State on Dec. 30, MSU registered its fourth-straight game in double-digit treys as part of the eighth time this season.
AROUND THE BIG TEN
This season, Michigan State is second in the Big Ten in scoring margin (+23.9) and first in assists (20.3 apg). The Spartans are also first in the league in 3-point field goals made, averaging 10.1 per game. MSU is third in the conference in steals, averaging 10.0 spg after one against Maryland on Jan. 9.
Graduate guard Moira Joiner leads the Spartans in scoring, averaging 16.2 points per game, which is eighth in the Big Ten. Graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault is tied for sixth in rebounding with 7.5 rpg. Junior guard DeeDee Hagemann is ninth in the league in assists, averaging 4.4 apg. Joiner is second in the league in 3-point field goal percentage (.424). Ayrault is also second in the conference in blocks, averaging 2.5 bpg, behind Wisconsin's Serah Williams.
DID YOU KNOW?
Graduate forward Tory Ozment continues to be a force to be reckoned with this season. Against Iowa, she added 10 points off the bench, posting double-digits for the second time in as many games on the way to her sixth double-figure scoring game this season and the 20th of her career. Ozment also shared the team-lead on the glass with eight rebounds, marking the third-straight game with eight rebounds, and fourth game in a row with five or more boards, part of the eighth overall time this season.
NICELY MAKING IT THROUGH DECEMBER
So far has been so very good for the Spartans, as they have made Merle Haggard proud by more than making it through December, as MSU enters Tuesday's tangle with the Hawkeyes with an 11-2 overall record, marking the Spartans' second-straight season with double-digit wins through the end of December. Overall, it marks Michigan State's 11th overall season in the 2000s with 10+ Victories for MSU rolling into the new year portion of the schedule. A win Tuesday would match the 2010-11 and 2012-13 seasons for most wins through December during the 2000s.
ALCOHOL SALES COME TO BRESLIN
Alcohol sales have been implemented at Breslin Center for men's and women's basketball and at Munn Ice Arena for hockey in 2024. At Breslin Center, alcohol sales begin on Jan 4 for men's basketball (vs. Penn State) and Jan. 9 for women's basketball (vs. Maryland). January 5 (vs. US National Team Development Program) will mark the first game of alcohol sales at Munn Ice Arena.
Sales will start one hour prior to announced start time at each location. At Breslin Center, sales will close at the beginning of the second half of the basketball game. At Munn Ice Arena, sales will close at the end of the second intermission. Both beer and seltzer options will be available. All beer sold will be in 16 oz cans, while seltzer will be 12 oz cans. Cost will be $10 or $12 depending on selection. Exact locations for points of sale will be announced at a later date. Food will not be able to be purchased at the same location as alcohol.
THE DEFENSE AIN'T BAD EITHER
Michigan State has made a name for itself with its offense so far this season. But the Spartan defense hasn't been too shabby this season. MSU is third in the Big Ten in steals, averaging 10.6 spg. The Spartans are also fourth in the league in blocks with 4.4 per game. While scoring 91.1 ppg, Michigan State is allowing only 65.9 ppg.
COMING NEXT YEAR
MSU head coach Robyn Fralick announced the signing of four National Letters of Intent, including Sinai Douglas, Helen Holley, Juliann Woodard (North Vernon, Indiana/Jennings County High School) and Inés Sotelo.
Douglas is a 5-4 guard, who is a native of Toledo, Ohio. She attends Toledo Start High School and is coached by Dane Franklin. Douglas is currently ranked No. 87 in the ESPNW HoopGurlz Recruiting Rankings.
Holley is a 6-1 forward, who is a native of Cleveland Ohio, plays for head coach Kevin Byrne at the Gilmour Academy. As a junior, she averaged 14.7 points and 11.7 rebounds per game. She captured second-team All-Ohio honors last season.
Woodard is a 6-0 forward, who is a native of North Vernon, Indiana, plays for head coach Kristi Sigler at Jennings County High School. Woodard is currently ranked No. 58 in the ESPNW HoopGurlz Recruiting Rankings.
Sotelo Miguez is a 6-3 forward, who is a native of Ourense, Spain. She has extensive international experience, including playing with the U18 Spanish National Team last summer in Konya, Turkey at the Eurobasket Tournament.
O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN!
Michigan State head coach Robyn Fralick has announced guard/forward Julia Ayrault and guard Moira Joiner as team captains, as voted on by the players on the 2023-24 women's basketball team. The duo are the first captains that Michigan State has had since the 2019-20 season, when Victoria Gaines and Taryn McCutcheon were tabbed team leaders.
LAST TIME OUT
In its first game at home over three weeks, the Michigan State women's basketball team used a dominating third quarter to stop Maryland, 74-69, at the Breslin Center on Tuesday evening. This is only the Spartans' third-ever win against the Terrapins, now standing 18-3. MSU's last win came in East Lansing on Jan. 17, 2019.
Michigan State had four players in double figures led by graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault, who earned her third double-double of the season with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Graduate guard Moira Joiner also added 20 points with four assists and four rebounds. Joiner has reached double figures in scoring in all 15 games this season. Junior guard DeeDee Hagemann scored 12 points with a game-high seven assists, while sophomore guard Theryn Hallock added 14 points off the bench.
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