Spartans Open Cancun Challenge Against No. 13 NC State

CANCUN, Mexico - Michigan State hits the road for the first time this season, traveling to the Cancun Challenge. The Spartans will begin the tournament, taking on No. 13/15 NC State on Thursday, Nov. 22 at 6:30 p.m. MSU will then face Kennesaw State on Friday, Nov. 23 at 9 p.m.

The Spartans will be playing in the Riviera Division, which includes George Washington, Georgia Tech, Idaho State, Kennesaw State and NC State. The Mayan Division includes Kansas State, DePaul, Princeton and Syracuse.

STARTING LINEUP
• Through three games, senior Jenna Allen is leading the team in scoring, averaging 14.7 ppg, while redshirt-junior Shay Colley is second at 14.0 ppg.

• Junior guard Taryn McCutcheon netted her 15th-consecutive game with multiple 3-pointers and her 37th career game with multi treys. With three 3-pointers made on Sunday vs. Wright State, McCutcheon has had nine-straight games with three or more treys dating back to last season.

• This is only the third meeting between Michigan State and NC State. MSU leads the series 2-0.

• The MSU defense has been solid this season with 36 steals, averaging 12.0 spg. McCutcheon tied her career high with five against Wright State on Nov. 18.

SCOUTING N.C. STATE
The No. 13-ranked Wolfpack are 4-0 on the young season with wins over Belmont, Kent St., Vanderbilt and Radford. NC State hasn't allowed more than 62 points to an opponent thus far and have held each of their last two opponents to under 60 points. Upon their arrival in Cancun, Mexico, NC State ranks No. 18 in NCAA Division I in field-goal percentage (49.6) and No. 19 in three-point field goal percentage (42.0). The Wolfpack also rank No. 20 in total assists (70) and No. 30 in three-pointers made (34).

6-foot guard Kiara Leslie leads the team in scoring and rebounding with 14.3 points and 10.0 rebounds per game. Leslie has recorded double-doubles in three of NC State's four games. Aislinn Konig is a sharpshooter from beyond the arc connecting on 16-of-30 attempts from deep. Konig's 16 made three-pointers ranks No. 6 nationally. NC State also receives double-figure scoring efforts from center Elissa Cunane and guard Grace Hunter.

series history vs. NC state
The Spartans and the Wolfpack have met twice before. The last time the teams met was in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge in Raleigh on Nov. 29, 2012 with MSU coming out on top 68-51. The teams met for the first time in 2008 in East Lansing on April 2, 2008 when Michigan State won, 58-57.

SCOUTING KENNESAW STATE
Sitting at 2-3 on the season, Kennesaw State will face-off against Idaho State on Thursday, November 22 prior to meeting the Spartans in Cancun. The Owls are 1-3 over their last four contests featuring a 74-63 home victory over Furman on November 14. Kennesaw State has recent losses to East Carolina, UMBC and Seton Hall after opening their season with an 80-70 victory over Middle Georgia State.

Kamiyah Street leads the Owls in scoring at 21.2 points per game and ranks No. 1 nationally in field goals made (1), No. 4 in points (106) and No. 5 in steals (17). Also scoring in double-figures for the Owls are Alexis Poole (13.6) and Carlotta Gianolla (11.2). Poole leads the team in rebounding with 8.6 rebounds per game. The pair of Street and Poole have each attempted 31 free-throws through five games. Starting point guard Amani Johnson is sixth nationally in assists with 28.

SERIES HISTORY KENNESAW STATE
This is the first meeting between Michigan State.

THE CENTURY MARK
Against Wright State on Nov. 18, senior center Jenna Allen played in her 100th career game in a Spartan uniform. She has scored 728 points during her time at MSU, averaging 7.3 ppg. She has started 31 games at Michigan State.

MERCHANT HONORED WITH ATHENA AWARD
Michigan State head women's basketball coach Suzy Merchant has been named the recipient of the 2018 ATHENA Leadership award, as announced by the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce on Monday. The ATHENA Award honors individuals who strive towards the highest levels of professional accomplishment, who excel in their chosen field, have devoted time and energy to their community, and who pave paths for other women to follow.

FILLING UP THE STAT SHEET
For the three-straight games, Michigan State had at least four players in double figures. Against Wright State, redshirt-junior Shay Colley led the way with 21 points. Three other Spartans joined Colley in double figures, including 17 from senior center Jenna Allen. After a slow start, junior guard Taryn McCutcheon ended with 15 points and five assists. She also tied her career high with five steals. Freshman guard Nia Clouden added 10 points.

SEASON OPENERS
All-time, the Spartans are now 32-15 in season openers, but 24-2 when the opener is in East Lansing. Coach Merchant is 9-3 in season openers at MSU, and has won 15 of her last 18, including her time at Eastern Michigan.

IN THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER
The Spartans are 118-38 (75.5%) all-time in the month of November. Under Coach Merchant, Michigan State is 58-10 (85.1%) in November, with six of the nine losses coming against top-10 opponents. The Spartans have won 32 of their last 36 in the month.

SPARTANS IN THE NCAA RANKINGS
Junior guard Taryn McCutcheon is currently 19th in the nation and second in the Big Ten in assists, averaging 6.7 apg. She is also 26th in the country and first in the league in steals per game, averaging 3.67 spg.

As a team, MSU is 10th in the NCAA and second in the B1G in assist per game, averaging 21.7. Iowa is first in the nation and the league with 30.7 apg. The Spartans are also 39th in country and first in the Big Ten in steals per game made with 12.0 spg.

THE SCHEDULE
For the first time since the 2015-16 season, the Big Ten will have an 18-game schedule after two seasons of a 16-game docket. The conference played an 18-game league schedule in both 2015-16 and 2014-15. It is the sixth time in the last 12 years the conference has played an 18-game schedule.

The Spartans will spend the Thanksgiving holiday in Mexico at the Cancun Challenge, November 22-23. Michigan State will take on N.C. State on Thursday Nov. 22, before facing Kennesaw State on Friday, Nov. 23. The Spartans will close out the month of November hosting Virginia on Wednesday, Nov. 28 in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
During the 2018-19 season at least 12 Michigan State women's basketball games will be televised on either the ESPN2 or the Big Ten Network. MSU will also have seven regular-season home contests aired on BTN Plus.

FREQUENT FLIER
Redshirt-junior guard Shay Colley spent time overseas this summer playing for the Canadian National Team. Playing in Europe, Colley helped guide Canada to the quarterfinals of the FIBA Women's World Cup.

FANS CONTINUE TO PACK THE BRESLIN
Michigan State women's basketball continues to pack the Breslin Center, finishing the 2017-18 season 10th in the nation and second in the Big Ten home attendance. The Spartans averaged 5,689 fans in 16 home games this season. MSU had a total of 91,026 fans pass through the gates. This is the 14th-straight season that the Spartans have been ranked in the top 15 nationally in attendance. MSU has had a total attendance of at least 80,000 since 2005-06.

TV TIME
Big Ten schools will be featured on national television at least 78 times during the 2018-19 season. BTN will televise at least 69 games and ESPN2 will carry nine contests. In addition, for the fifth consecutive year, every Big Ten women's basketball conference game, including 126 regular-season contests and all 13 Big Ten Tournament games, will be produced and distributed by BTN, BTN Plus or an ESPN network. During the 2018-19 season at least 12 Michigan State women's basketball games will be televised on either the ESPN2 or the Big Ten Network. MSU will also have seven regular-season home contests aired on BTN Plus.

COLLEY EARNS PRESEASON HONOR
To kickoff the beginning of Big Ten Women's Basketball Media Week, the conference released the Preseason Coaches and Media Polls, in addition to the preseason All-Big Ten teams. Michigan State redshirt-junior guard Shay Colley was earned Preseason All-Big Ten honors by the coaches.

Maryland was voted to finish first in both the coaches and the media polls, while Iowa was picked second in both. In the coaches poll, Michigan was voted third, while Minnesota earned the third spot in the media poll. Reigning Big Ten Player of the Year Megan Gustafson of Iowa was voted Preseason Player of the Year by both the coaches and the media.

Last season, Colley led the Spartans in scoring and was 23rd in the Big Ten, averaging 12.4 points per game. Colley was also tied for eighth in assists with 4.3 apg. In her first season with the Spartans, the guard also ended the season tied for fifth in steals with 1.9 spg.

UP NEXT
After taking on No. 13/15 N.C. State on Thanksgiving day on Nov.22, MSU will complete the tournament against Kennesaw State on Friday, Nov. 23. The Spartans will then host Virginia on Nov. 28 in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.

LAST TIME OUT
Redshirt-junior guard Shay Colley's dominating all-around performance led Michigan State women's basketball to an 84-68 win over Wright State at the Breslin Center on Sunday. Colley led all scorers with 21 points, nine assists and eight rebounds, closing in on a triple-double.

With the victory, the Spartans improved to 3-0 for the fourth-straight season. Wright State fell to 1-3 with the loss.

Three other Spartans joined Colley in double figures, including 17 from senior center Jenna Allen. After a slow start, junior guard Taryn McCutcheon ended with 15 points and five assists. She also tied her career high with five steals. Freshman guard Nia Clouden added 10 points.

Postgame Notes vs. Wright State
• After two-straight games with five players in double figures, MSU had four reach double digits against Wright State. Redshirt-junior guard Shay Colley led the way with 21 points, followed by 17 from senior center Jenna Allen. Junior guard Taryn McCutcheon added 15, while freshman guard Nia Clouden had 10.

• The Spartans were solid in the paint against the Raiders with 58 points in the paint, including 30 in the first half alone.

• The 15 steals that MSU had against Wright State were the most since the Spartans had 14 against Iowa on Feb. 1, 2018 against Iowa.

WELCOME TO SPARTAN NATION - SIGNING DAY
Michigan State women's basketball head coach Suzy Merchant announced the signing of five National Letters of Intent, including Julia Ayrault (Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan/Grosse Pointe North), Cydni Dodd (Indianapolis, Indiana/Warren Central), Moira Joiner (Saginaw, Michigan/Heritage), Taiyier Parks (Cleveland, Ohio/North Royalton) and Alyza Winston (Muskegon, Michigan/ Muskegon). The class was ranked No. 6 by ESPNW Hoop Gurlz as of Nov. 15.

Ayrault is a 6-2 guard who plays for head coach Gary Bennett at Grosse Pointe North High School in Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan and played AAU basketball for Rob Ruhstorfer and the Michigan Mystics. Ayrault is currently ranked No. 14 in her position and No. 75 overall by ESPN HoopGurlz. Last season, she averaged 19.1 points, 10.3 rebounds and 4.5 blocks per game and led Grosse Pointe North to the Class A Final Four. Ayrault set program records of scoring 497 points scored in a season.

Dodd is a 6-5 center who plays for head coach Stacy Mitchell at Warren Central High School in Indianapolis, Indiana and AAU basketball for Danny Riego and the Indiana Gym Rats EYBL. She is currently ranked No. 14 in her position and No. 84 overall by ESPN HoopGurlz. As a junior, Dodd averaged 11.0 points, 6.6. rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game on 70 percent shooting from the field. Dodd was named to the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association Underclass Large School All-State team.

Joiner is a 5-10 guard who plays for head coach Vonnie Delong at Heritage High School in Saginaw, Michigan and played AAU basketball for Jeff Taylor and the Michigan Storm. She is ranked No. 13 in her position and No. 57 overall by ESPN HoopGurlz. Joiner is a three-time Associated Press All-State honoree. In 2018, she led Heritage to the Class A state championship, averaging 16.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 4.0 steals. Joiner was also named the Associated Press Class A Player of the Year. The three-time captain earned the Army National Guard Team award last season.

Parks is a 6-2 forward who plays for head coach Matt Stricker at North Royalton High School in North Royalton, Ohio and played AAU basketball for Andre Gault and the SMAC. She is ranked No. 11 in her position and No. 93 overall by ESPN HoopGurlz. As a junior, she averaged 19.0 points to go along with 16.0 rebounds, 3.0 steals and 3.0 blocks per game. She earned first-team All-Conference honors as both a freshman and a junior.

Winston is a 5-7 guard who plays for head coach Rodney Walker at Muskegon High School in Muskegon, Michigan, which is the same high school that produced current Spartan Mardrekia Cook. Winston also played AAU basketball for Monique Brown and Michigan Crossover EYBL. Winston is ranked No. 18 in her position and No. 70 overall by ESPN HoopGurlz. Last season, she led the Big Reds to the state quarterfinals for the first time in school history. As a junior, she averaged 21.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists per game.

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Players Mentioned

Jenna Allen

Nia Clouden

Shay Colley

Mardrekia Cook

Taryn McCutcheon