Spartans Travel to No. 7/9 Buckeyes Sunday on ESPN2

Feb. 20, 2010

rv/rv MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS (18-8, 9-6) at
No. 7/9 OHIO STATE BUCKEYES (26-3, 14-2)

Date: Sunday, Feb. 21
Time: 3 p.m. ET
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Arena: Value City Arena
TV: ESPN2 (Beth Mowins - play-by-play; LaChina Robinson - analyst)
Radio: WVFN 730 AM (Rick Berkey - play-by-play)
Internet: Live audio and stats at MSUSpartans.com

Game Notes in PDF Format

ABOUT OHIO STATE
The Buckeyes clinched their sixth-straight Big Ten regular season title this past week, and enter the weekend ranked No. 7 in the AP and No. 9 in the USA Today/ESPN poll. OSU hold a 26-3 overall record and a 14-2 mark in Big Ten play. They are 18-0 this season at home and have won 24 consecutive games at Value City Arena dating back to last season. The Buckeyes lead the Big Ten in many statistical categories, including scoring offense (78.9), scoring margin (+17.4), field goal percentage (.462), 3-point field goal percentage (.409), rebound margin (+6.1), assists (17.21), turnover margin (+2.93) and assist-to-turnover margin (1.16). Jantel Lavender leads the conference and is 10th in the nation, averaging 20.6 points per game, while also second in the conference with 10.3 rebounds. Samantha Prahalis is second in the country with 8.0 assists, while also adding 16.6 points, good for fifth in the conference.

AGAINST THE BUCKEYES
Michigan State trails the all-time series, 46-22 and are 9-18 all-time in Columbus. Despite losing the matchup earlier this season, MSU has won three of the last five games.

A SPRINT TO THE BIG TEN TOURNAMENT
With three more games remaining in the Big Ten Tournament regular season, every seed except for No. 1 (Ohio State) is up in the air. Right now, MSU is tied with Purdue for second in the conference at 9-6, as the Boilermakers have road games against Illinois and Michigan sandwiched between their matchup with the Spartans. Iowa and Wisconsin are a game behind at 8-7, as the Hawkeyes go to Northwestern and host Indiana, and the Badgers travel to Michigan and Penn State, before the two schools meet in Madison to close out the season. Penn State (vs. Wisconsin, at Indiana) is in sixth at 8-8, followed by three teams - Indiana, Michigan and Northwestern - at 6-9. Minnesota (5-10) and Illinois (5-11) round out the standings.

PRODUCTION OFF THE BENCH
The depth of the 2009-10 Spartans has paid dividends this season. The MSU bench is averaging 29.1 points, 17.8 rebounds and 6.6 assists, while playing 80.9 minutes per game, compared the opposition's 13.2 points, 13.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 55.3 minutes. MSU's 29.1 points off the bench lead the Big Ten, by 10 points per game, as Purdue is second in the conference at 18.9 points. In conference games, MSU leads with 25.9 points (Purdue - 19.3). The Spartans have received 32 double-figure scoring efforts off the bench this season, including the leading scorer 11 times.

LOCKING DOWN THE OPPOSITION
During its last eight games, where MSU has won seven, the defensive effort has propelled the team to victory. During the stretch opponents are averaging only 53.4 point per game, even better in the seven wins, the Spartans have allowed only 50.0 points.

Michigan State has held 11 of its last 12 opponents below 40% from the field, vaulting them into the Big Ten lead in field goal percentage defense. Over the last 12 games, MSU has held its opponents to 33.5% from the field, improving its season mark to 35.0%, which is currently 17th in the nation. In Big Ten games only, the Spartans also lead with a 34.9% clip.

In four of the last six games, the Spartans have held its opposition to under 25% from 3-point range. For the stretch, the five teams have combined to shoot 23.6% and make only 21 shots. MSU now leads the conference in Big Ten play, holding teams to 28.0% from long range and is third in overall games at 29.8%.

HOW THE COMPUTERS RANK MSU
The Spartans are second in the Big Ten, behind Ohio State, in RPI this season, ranking 16th in the NCAA RPI, 19th according to CollegeRPI.com and 21st by RealTimeRPI.com. The MSU schedule is the toughest among conference foes and ranks 14th nationally by RealTimeRPI.com and 15th by CollegeRPI.com. In non-conference action, CollegeRPI.com has MSU fifth nationally in RPI. As a conference, the Big Ten is fifth in RPI overall, and in the non-conference schedule was second in both RPI and strength of schedule according to CollegeRPI.com.

BIG TEN'S BEST
As the Big Ten regular season winds down, the Spartans currently sit atop the conference statistical leaders in scoring defense, field goal percentage defense, 3-point field goal percentage defense and blocks. MSU's field goal percentage against of 34.9% is on pace to break the Big Ten record set by the Spartans last season at 35.3%. If they are able to hold onto these top spots, it would be the fifth time MSU has led the conference in blocks, and the third time for both field goal percentage defense and 3-point field goal percentage defense. The Spartans have never led the Big Ten in scoring defense. MSU is also 0.1 behind Ohio State for the lead in rebound margin, as the Spartans have led the league in four of the last seven seasons, including last year.

TOP-10 SPOILER
Michigan State has been a dangerous team this season against teams ranked in the nation's top-10. On Sunday, MSU will become the fourth team (Connecticut, Oklahoma, Rutgers) in the nation to have played at least five top-10 teams this season. The Spartans knocked off No. 4 North Carolina and No. 8 Xavier, and their two losses (No. 5 Notre Dame and No. 6 Ohio State) have come by a combined four points.

In all, MSU is one of five teams in the country with at least two top-10 wins, as No. 1 Connecticut has five top-10 wins, No. 4 Nebraska has three, and No. 2 Stanford and No. 10 Oklahoma State each also have two.

It was the only the second time in program history that a Spartan team has beaten two Associated Press top-10 teams in the same regular season. The 2002-03 Spartans knocked off No. 7/6 Purdue on Jan. 6 and No. 10 Minnesota on Jan. 23.

SWATTING HER WAY INTO THE NCAA RECORD BOOKS
Senior Allyssa DeHaan entered her senior season on pace to break the NCAA Division I blocked shots record and on Thursday she accomplished that feat. DeHaan posted three blocks to set a new NCAA mark at 487. (Note: St. Mary's Louella Tomlinson, who is second with 486 blocks, plays San Diego on Saturday at 5 p.m. ET.) At Michigan on Feb. 11, DeHaan tied the established record of 480 blocks set by TCU's Sandora Irvin (2001-05). Later that night, Tomlinson surpassed both DeHaan and Irvin.

DeHaan became the Big Ten's all-time blocked shots leader during MSU's Big Ten Tournament game vs. Wisconsin on March, 6, 2009. She surpassed Ohio State's Jessica Davenport (384) for the record. In addition, in last season's win over Stony Brook (Nov. 16), she became the fastest in conference history to reach the 300-block plateau, needing only 72 games.

HISTORIC COMPANY
Senior Allyssa DeHaan is now one of only three Spartans (Liz Shimek, Kris Emerson) to rank in the top-5 in both career points and rebounds. She moved into fourth place all-time at MSU in scoring vs. Northwestern (Feb. 14) and topped 1,600 career points on Thursday against Illinois. She currently has 1,602 points. Kisha Kelley (1991-95) is third with 1,668. DeHaan is fourth among active Big Ten players and is 58th all-time in conference history.

DeHaan moved into fourth all-time at MSU in rebounds at Northwestern on Jan. 28, and currently has 887. Her rebound total is third among active conference players. Kris Emerson is third with 933. In addition, she is third with both 337 made free throws and 617 made field goals in MSU career record books.

AMONG THE NATION'S BEST
Michigan State is fourth in the nation in blocked shots this season, averaging 6.7 blocks. Senior Allyssa DeHaan leads the charge, ranking fifth in the nation with 3.3 per game.

The Spartans are also among the nation's top-50 in three other categories, placing 17th in field goal percentage defense (35.0%), 28th in assists (15.6) and 33rd in rebound margin (+5.6).

THREE-PLUS YEARS OF SWATTING
Upon Allyssa DeHaan's arrival to East Lansing, the Spartans have been one of the effective teams in the country in protecting the rim. Since the beginning of the 2006-07 season, MSU is second in the nation with 784 blocks. North Carolina is first with 874, followed by MSU, Baylor (775), Duke (760), Connecticut (746) and St. Mary's (717).

The Spartans had been among the NCAA leaders in blocks each of those three years, finishing the season eighth in 2008-09, 11th in 2007-08 and fourth in 2006-07.

11th TO 1,000 AND 600
Redshirt senior Aisha Jefferson became 11th Spartan to total 1,000 points and 600 rebounds in their career. She is currently 15th all-time with both 1,123 points and 631 rebounds. On Dec. 6 against Indiana, Jefferson became the 20th 1,000 point scorer in MSU history, knocking in a free throw with 7:30 on the clock in the first half. In addition, she is 12th with 447 made field goals and 17th with 215 made free throws.

A BIG TEN SPARK
Junior Kalisha Keane has been a dangerous offensive weapon for the Spartans in Big Ten play, increasing her production in league games. She is 18th in the conference averaging 10.3 points per game, while having averaged 8.2 points in non-conference action. Keane has also improved her shooting percentages, making 42.3% from the field and 42.1% from 3-point range (fifth in the Big Ten) in league games, in comparison to 36.3% and 33.3%, respectively in non-conference.

NEW LEADER EVERY NIGHT
Each night, a different Spartan has stepped up as the offensive leader, as nine different players have led MSU in scoring. Porsche Poole became the ninth Spartan last Sunday against Northwestern. Through 15 conference games, eight different Spartans have paced the team offensively. It doesn't stop there as 11 different Spartans have led the team in assists this season and eight different have paced the team in rebounds.

In all, nine different Spartans have scored in double-figures in a game this season, including a school-record six in the win over Florida Gulf Coast. The last time a MSU team had six players in double-digits was Feb. 18, 1996 vs. Michigan.

AMONG BIG TEN LEADERS
The Spartans lead the Big Ten in field goal percentage defense (.350), blocked shots (6.73), offensive rebounds (14.35) and total rebounds (42.3). They are also second in scoring margin (+7.9) and rebound margin (+5.6), and third in scoring offense (67.5), scoring defense (59.6), assists (15.58), assist-to-turnover ratio (0.88) and 3-point field goal percentage defense (.298).

Individually, redshirt sophomore Lykendra Johnson ranks among the conference leaders in many categories: offensive rebounds (3.1; 1st), rebounds (8.0; 3rd), blocks (10th; 1.12), steals (13th, 1.58) and scoring (28th; 8.7). Senior Allyssa DeHaan is second in the league in blocks with 3.3, and is also 12th in rebounds (6.2), 10th in free throw percentage (.809), 13th in field goal percentage (.439) and 17th in scoring (11.7). Junior Brittney Thomas is 10th in assists with 3.27.

In conference games, the Spartans lead the Big Ten in scoring defense (56.9), field goal percentage defense (.349), 3-point field goal percentage defense (.280), blocks (5.80) and offensive rebounds (13.73), and rank second in scoring margin (+5.1) and rebound margin (+3.4). Individually, Johnson leads in offensive rebounds with 3.1, and is also fourth in rebounds (7.7) and sixth in steals (1.87). DeHaan issecond in blocks with 2.87 and Brittney Thomas is seventh in assists (3.67). Kalisha Keane has been efficient from behind the arc, ranking fifth in 3-point field goal percentage (.421).

THOMAS SPREADING THE WEALTH
At Iowa on Feb. 7, junior Brittney Thomas set a career high with 10 assists. It was the most assists by a Spartan this season and the most since Kristin Haynie had 10 against Vanderbilt on March 27, 2005. Thomas has increased her distribution in Big Ten play, averaging 3.7 assists per game in conference games, ranking her seventh in the Big Ten, in comparison to 2.7 assists in 11 non-conference contests.

THEY ALL CAN KNOCK IT DOWN
With Lauren Aitch's 3-pointer on Feb. 4 against Penn State last Thursday, she became the 12th Spartan to knock down a trey this season, the most in the Big Ten. Michigan has had 10 different players hit a 3-pointer.

SPARTANS' DYNAMIC DUO
In their two-plus years on the court together, the Spartans know good things will happen when seniors Aisha Jefferson and Allyssa DeHaan are both playing well. When both score in double-figures, MSU holds a 20-4 record, including a 2-2 record this season.

DeHaan's scoring has shown to be a deciding factor in most Spartan games. When she reaches double-digits, Michigan State is 64-21 in her career. Also, when she leads the team in scoring, MSU is 40-8. Meanwhile, MSU is 35-16 when Jefferson tallies double-figures.

INCOMING SPARTAN MADISON WILLIAMS NAMED McDONALD'S ALL-AMERICAN
Recent Michigan State women's basketball signee Madison Williams was selected to play in the 2010 McDonald's All-American Game, as announced Thursday night on ESPNU. Williams will become the second Spartan to compete in the prestigious game, which will be held on March 31 at 5:30 p.m. ET in Columbus, Ohio on ESPNU. Williams, a 6-7 senior center from Detroit Country Day, was one of 24 high school girls picked and will compete for the West team. In the nine years of the event for the girls, Williams joins Tiffanie Shives (2005) as the only other incoming Spartan to have been selected to the game.

CENTER OF ATTENTION
MSU has received great production from the center position this season. The duo of seniors Allyssa DeHaan and Lauren Aitch have combined to average 19.3 points, 10.2 rebounds and 3.6 blocks. The pair has been only on the floor together for 47:30 this season.

IMPROVEMENTS FROM BEHIND THE ARC
Sophomore Lykendra Johnson has improved her outside shooting early in the 2009-10 season, having already matched her made 3-point field goal total from last season. This season, she is 19-of-59 (.322) from the arc, while last year she went 4-of-20 (.200) in 33 games.

Aside from her increased production from 3-point range, Johnson has also been a do-it-all for the Spartans this season. She is among the team leaders in every statistical category - points (third), rebounds (first), assists (fourth), steals (first), blocks (second), field goal percentage (second) and 3-point field goal percentage (fourth).

HOLDING THEM UNDER 50
With its 48-45 loss to Wisconsin on Jan, 14, Michigan State snapped a string of 87 consecutive wins when holding its opponent under 50 points. MSU's last loss came on Feb. 16, 1979 (48-42 to Indiana). All-time, the Spartans are 129-4 when keeping the opposition below 50 points, including three of its last four wins.

LET'S PLAY MORE TIME
The Spartans have relished playing extra time over the past seven seasons. With its 93-90 double overtime win over Oklahoma State on Nov. 28, MSU won its 12th straight overtime game, dating back to the 2003-04 season. The streak is the longest such run among Big Ten schools. Surprisingly, only two of the 12 wins have come at home. MSU's last overtime loss came on Feb. 28, 2002 against Ohio State, 89-82, in the Big Ten Tournament.

The win was also MSU's first double overtime victory since Jan. 15, 1995 vs. Iowa (71-70). The Spartans had lost their previous three double overtime contest.

HOME COOKING
The 2009-10 basketball season is the Spartans' 21st inside the Jack Breslin Student Events Center. MSU has an all-time record of 211-78 (.730) at Breslin and have been even more dominant of late in its cozy confines, posting a mark of 77-16 (.828) since 2003.

FANS CONTINUE TO PACK THE BRESLIN
For the past five seasons, Michigan State has been one of the top programs in the country in regard to fan support. In each of the last five years, the Spartans have been among the nation's top 15, averaging over 6,000 fans per game. MSU was ninth in the country in 2006-07, averaging 6,737, while they were 10th in both 2005-06, with a school-record 6,787 average, and 2007-08 (6,317). In 2008-09, the Spartans finished second in the Big Ten and 13th in the country, averaging 6,024 fans.

This season, MSU has averaged 6,122 fans through 14 games, to place second in the Big Ten and 11th in the nation. The Ohio State crowd of 12,412 was the third largest crowd in MSU program history.

WINNING NO. 250
Head coach Suzy Merchant won her 250th career game against Oklahoma State on Nov. 28. In her 14th season as head coach, Merchant has compiled a career record of 264-153 between Michigan State, Eastern Michigan and Saginaw Valley State. In addition, MSU's upset over No. 4 North Carolina was her 50th win as a Spartan and her first career win over a top-5 team.

ON THIS DATE
Michigan State is 5-3 all-time on February 21.