Spartans Travel to Austin to Face Top-25 Texas
12/9/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 9, 2011
| Michigan State (7-3) at No. 24/25 Texas (5-2) 2012 Big Ten/Big 12 Challenge | |
| Date | Saturday, Dec. 10 |
| Time | 3 p.m. ET |
| Location | Austin, Texas | Frank Erwin Center |
| Television | Longhorn Network Andrew Monaco (play-by-play); Rebecca Lobo (analyst) |
| Radio | WJIM 1240AM Rick Berkey (play-by-play) Spartan Sports Network (Listen Live) |
| Internet Coverage | |
| Game Notes | Michigan State | Texas |
| Statistics | Michigan State (html | pdf) | Texas |
| Social Media | @MSU_wbasketball  | Facebook  |
ABOUT TEXAS
The Longhorns enter the weekend at 5-2 overall and in both the top-25 national polls. Their two losses this season are to top-10 Tennessee and Stanford. Texas is led offensively by Chassidy Fussell who is averaging 17.1 points. Ashleigh Fontenette (11.7) and Yvonne Anderson (11.6) are also averaging the double-figures for the Longhorns. Texas is fifth in the nation in blocks with 6.9 a game, led by Ashley Gayle who is third in the country with 4.1 a game. Gayle also lead the Longhorns in rebounds with 8.4, while Anderson is the top distributor with 5.4 assists a game.
AGAINST THE LONGHORNS
Michigan State and Texas have split its previous four meetings, including the two games in Austin. Last season, MSU beat Texas, 71-57 at Breslin Center, behind 20-point efforts from Kalisha Keane and Lykendra Johnson, who also added 11 rebounds. The Spartans won in Austin, 80-78 in overtime on Nov. 29, 1997, but lost to the Longhorns, 80-61, in the NCAA Second Round at the Frank Erwin Center on March 23, 2004.
IN THE LONGHORN STATE
The Spartans make their sixth trip to the state of Texas, having posted a 5-2 record in their previous journeys. The first game in Texas was Nov. 29, 1997 in Austin, a 80-78 overtime win over Texas. The Spartans returned south the next season for the Southwestern Bell Cotton Bowl Tournament on Nov. 27-28, where MSU came home with a 80-71 win over SMU and a 74-59 victory over Texas A&M. The Spartans were picked to the Austin host site for the 2004 NCAA Tournament First and Second Round. MSU knocked off No. 9-seed Arizona in the opening game, 72-60, but fell to the No. 1-seed Longhorns, 80-61 in the second round. The Spartans returned during the 2006-07 season, winning at Houston, 68-55 on Nov. 26, 2006. Last season, MSU lost at No. 2 Baylor, 78-52 in Waco.
BIG 12/BIG TEN CHALLENGE
The second edition of the Big 12/Big Ten Challenge is reaching its end. The Big 12 currently leads 5-4 with two games remaining - MSU at Texas (Saturday) and Texas Tech at Illinois (Dec. 17). The Big Ten won the inaugural Challenge last season, 7-5. The Spartan/Longhorn match up last season was part of the 2010 Challenge games. (The Big Ten and ACC tied the Big Ten/ACC Challenge at 6-6 earlier this season.)
LAST TIME OUT (MSU 64, Detroit 41)
The Spartans jumped out to a quick start, behind accurate shooting from behind the arc, and never looked back, beating Detroit, 64-41 on Tuesday night at the Breslin Center. Jasmine Thomas led the Spartans for the second straight game, totaling a season-high 14 points, while Lykendra Johnson gathered back-to-back double-doubles with 13 points and 12 rebounds. The Spartans shot 60.0% (9-for-15) from the 3-point line tonight, after combining for a 7-for-33 (21.2%) effort in the last two games.
Unlike the last couple games, the Spartan offensive was clicking early, scoring the first seven points and jumping out to an 18-6 lead over the first seven minutes. Detroit hung tight though throughout the half, going into the break down only nine at 33-24. The Spartans began the second half with a 3-pointer from Taylor Alton and built their lead to 16 at 44-28 with just over 14 minutes to play. The Titans would get within 12, but an 8-0 run over four and a half minutes late in the half by MSU, put the game away. A 3-pointer from sophomore Bryonna Davis capped the scoring in the final minute for the 64-41 final.
Kiana Johnson, who started at the point for the second consecutive game, dished out a season-high eight assists with only one turnover, and picked up a season-high four steals. Joining Thomas and L. Johnson as the scoring leaders, Jasmine Hines chipped in nine points in 14 minutes of action. L. Johnson added a season-high four blocks to her double-double total. Michigan State held Detroit to 22.4% shooting, and won its 13th straight game over the Titans.
APPROACHING A MILESTONE
Senior Lykendra Johnson is only five points away from becoming the 22nd 1,000-point scorer in Spartan history. When she reaches that milestone, she will also become just the fifth Spartan with at least 1,000 points and 800 rebounds, joining Liz Shimek, Kristen Rasmussen, Kris Emerson and Allyssa DeHaan.
Currently she is among the program's leaders in many statistical categories, ranking second all-time in offensive rebounds (340), fourth in blocks (118), sixth in rebounds (844), 13th in free throws made (250), 14th with 184 steals and 16th with 51 3-point field goals. Johnson is also 13th in career starts (94).
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARDS
Senior Lykendra Johnson entered the season with the reputation as one of the best rebounders in the nation, and she has lived up to that billing early in the 2011-12 campaign. She currently leads the Big Ten with 10.0 rebounds a game, despite playing just 26.7 minutes a game. She is also third in the conference in offensive rebounds with 3.6 and is tied for the league lead with four double-doubles.
Johnson moved into the top-10 on the MSU career rebounding list last season and is currently sixth with 844 rebounds, only 15 away from reaching the top-5. In terms of offensive rebounds, she is at an even quicker pace up the Spartan all-time charts. Since the stat began being recorded in 1986-87, Johnson has the second-most offensive rebounds all-time (340) and her 3.1 a game average is second to Liz Shimek (3.4).
Earlier this season she set a career-high with 20 on Nov. 15 vs. IPFW. Those 20 rebounds were the seventh most ever by a Spartan and the most since Kristen Rasmussen grabbed 20 on Dec. 30, 1997. They are also the most in the Big Ten since Penn State's Nikki Greene had 20 on Jan. 23, 2011.
Johnson's value on the floor for the Spartans is undeniable. So far this season, MSU is +127 with her on the court, but are +1 when she is sitting on the bench. In Big Ten games last year, the Spartans were +187 with Johnson on the floor, but -49 when she was on the bench.
FRESHMAN REVITALIZED
Freshman point guard Kiana Johnson started the first four games for the Spartans, but lost her starting spot for four games, before regaining the honor for the last two contests. During her time coming off the bench, Johnson struggled, averaging just 4.3 points and 2.3 assists (compared to 2.3 turnovers), while shooting 26.1% from the field. Since returning to the starting five, she is averaging 7.0 points, 6.0 assists (compared to only 1.0 turnovers) and 3.5 steals, while shooting 46.7%. In those two games, MSU is +35 with her on the floor, but have been -11 with her on the bench.
LOCKING DOWN THE TOP THREAT
Michigan State has been effective in shutting down the opponent's top scorer in each game this season. After the season-opening loss to Villanova, each team's leading scorer has been held below her scoring average. They have combined to average 18.5 points entering the game, but have managed only 10.2 points on 28.8% shooting in the eight games.
GETTING TO THE LINE
A common theme between Michigan State's wins and losses has been its ability to get to the free throw line. The Spartans are 7-0 this season when attempting at least 12 free throws, but have attempted 11 of fewer in their three losses. In the wins, MSU has shot 147 free throws (21.0 a game), in comparison to 9.7 a game in the losses (29 total).
LET'S PLAY MORE TIME
The Spartans have relished playing extra time over the past nine seasons. With last Saturday's overtime win over Eastern Michigan, Michigan State has won 15th straight overtime games, dating back to the 2003-04 season. The streak is the longest such run among Big Ten schools. Surprisingly, only three of the 15 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.
BOUNCE BACK ABILITY
Michigan State has done a great job of bouncing back after a loss over the last couple seasons, winning its last 11 games in-season after a defeat. With their win vs. Eastern Michigan last Saturday, the Spartans have not lost back-to-back games in a season since Jan. 2010. In Coach Merchant's four seasons, the Spartans are 34-9 (79.1%) following a loss.
Kelsey Smith TO TRANSFER
Redshirt sophomore Kelsey Smith has decided to transfer from the Spartan women's basketball program earlier this week. The St. Charles, Ill., native averaged 2.0 points and 3.5 rebounds in four games this season.
300 AND 100
With the win over Oakland on Nov. 27, head coach Suzy Merchant became the fastest head coach to 100 wins as a Spartan. In her five seasons, she has posted a 102-44 (.699) record since her arrival prior to the 2007-08 season. Both Karen Langeland and Joanne P. McCallie needed 155 games to win 100, while Merchant accomplished the feat in 143 games.
Coach Merchant claimed her 300th career victory on Nov. 22 at Milwaukee. All-time, Merchant is 303-165 (.647) in her 17 years as a head coach, including stops at Eastern Michigan (1998-07) and Saginaw Valley State (1995-98). Merchant is facing her former school for the first time.
SPLASH IN THE POOLE
Senior Porsche Poole has increased her scoring average in each of her seasons at MSU, averaging 3.8 as a freshman, 4.6 as a sophomore and 6.1 last season. Through 10 games this season, she leads the team with 12.2 points per game, which is among the top-25 in the Big Ten. Poole has scored in double-figures in six games, including five-straight at one point, the longest stretch of her career. She also ranks among the top-15 in the Big Ten in all three shooting percentages (fifth in free throw, 11th in field goal and ninth in 3-point field goal).
Poole has also done a great job distributing the ball, leading the team and ranking seventh in the Big Ten with 3.7 assists per game. She already has 37 assists this season, tying her total from all of last season and closing in on her career high of 40 set as a sophomore.
STREAKING FROM THE LINE
Senior Porsche Poole has made 39 of her last 43 (90.7%) free throw attempts, dating back to last season. She had an 18 consecutive made streak snapped last Saturday, after previously having a streak of 21-straight snapped earlier this season. The 21 in a row stretch was tied for the ninth longest in MSU history.
Currently, Poole is first on the team and fifth in the Big Ten in free throw percentage (86.2%). Oddly enough, she entered this season as only a career 61.2% free throw shooter.
GETTING TO THE LINE
A common theme between Michigan State's wins and losses has been its ability to get to the free throw line. The Spartans are 6-0 this season when attempting at least 12 free throws, but have attempted 11 of fewer in their three losses. In the wins, MSU has shot 131 free throws (21.8 a game), in comparison to 9.7 a game in the losses (29 total).
CRASHING THE BOARDS
The Spartans are off to a positive start on the boards early in the 2011-12 season. Through the first 10 games, MSU leads the Big Ten and is 10th in the country in rebound margin (+12.4). The Spartans also lead the Big Ten in both rebound percentage categories, grabbing 42.7% of all offensive rebound opportunities and 72.8% of all defensive rebound chances. Two Spartans rank among the top-10 in the conference individually with senior Lykendra Johnson leading the Big Ten with 10.0 a game and freshman Becca Mills is 10th with 7.0. Johnson is third in the conference with 3.6 offensive boards, while Mills is eighth with 2.9.
MSU has out-rebounded 33 of its last 36 opponents dating back to last season, including all 10 teams this season.
Last season, Michigan State led the Big Ten in rebound margin, offensive rebounds and both rebound percentage categories. MSU was +8-4 in rebound margin, which was also ninth in the nation and broke the school's single-season record. The Spartans also topped the league with 15.5 offensive rebounds a game, which tied the previous single-season record (2005-06).
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. When the Spartans have scored at least 70 points, their record is 44-4 (91.7%), including winning their last 27 games, while when they hold opponents to 60 points or less, their record is 79-8 (90.8%).
FROM DOWNTOWN
Last season, the Spartans set a new single-season record by making 221 3-point field goals, shattering the previous record of 176 (2004-05). Twelve different MSU players made a 3-pointer in 2010-11. However, this offseason the NCAA moved the women's 3-point line back to the men's line of 20-feet, 9-inches. It hasn't effected the Spartans to this point, as MSU has made 64 3-pointers (6.4 a game) in the first 10 games, ranking second in the Big Ten.
Taylor Alton is the top long-distance threat returning in 2011-12. She led the team and was eighth in the Big Ten in 3-point field goal percentage (36.9%). After joining the starting lineup for the final 15 games, Alton made 1.9 3-pointers a game, including seven in the two combined NCAA Tournament games. So far this season, Alton has made 22 3-pointers (2.2 a game), fourth in the Big Ten, and is 12th in the conference with a 34.4% mark from behind the arc.
AGAINST THE NATION'S BEST
Under head coach Suzy Merchant, MSU is 11-12 against ranked teams, after the Dec. 1 loss to No. 9 Miami. Since the beginning of the 2004-05 season, the Spartans have 32 wins over nationally-ranked opponents, including 12 over top-10 teams and 16 on either the road or neutral floor.
ON THIS DATE
Michigan State is 3-1 all-time on December 10, including a 62-50 win over Western Michigan last season.
