Spartan Women Conclude Homestand Against Texas Southern

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State concludes its brief two-game homestand against Texas Southern on Sunday, Dec. 2 at 2 p.m. The Spartans improved to 5-1 with a dominating win over Virginia in the ACC/B1G Challenge on Nov. 28. MSU closes out the first month of the season with a 5-1 mark.

STARTING LINEUP
• Spartan head coach Suzy Merchant earned her 450th career win against Virginia. In her 24th season, Merchant is 450-243, while earning a 249-123 record in 12 seasons at MSU. Merchant earned her 400th career win against Minnesota on Feb. 21, 2016.

• MSU dished out a season-high 27 assists, topping the previous season-best of 25 helpers in the season-opener. It was the third time in the first six games of the year that the Spartans had 20+ assists, along with 21 vs. Wright State (Nov. 18). Against the Cavaliers, freshman Nia Clouden led the team with 11 assists, while junior Taryn McCutcheon added nine helpers. Overall, seven players had at lease on assist.

• Jenna Allen has had a solid start to her senior season. The center leads the team in scoring, averaging 14.2 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. She scored a season-high 21 points against UVa on Wednesday. She has scored in double figures in five games this season.

• Wednesday was the third time this season that five Spartans have scored in double-figures, along with Bowling Green and ETSU.

SCOUTING TEXAS SOUTHERN
Texas Southern snapped a three-game losing streak with a 65-41 win over Savannah State on the road on Nov. 30. The Tigers were led by 15 points from Niya Mitchell who scored 15 points to go along with seven rebounds and three steals in the win. Isis Lane also added nine points and 10 rebounds.

Texas Southern also earned a win against Paul Quinn, 83-54, on Nov. 11. TSU has losses to Tulane, Rice, Abilene Christian and Nicholls State.

The Tigers are averaging 61.9 points per game, while allowing 62.0 ppg. TSU is shooting 40 percent from the field and 31.4 percent from beyond the arc. Marquia Turner and Mitchell are tied for the team lead in scoring, averaging 12.9 ppg. Mitchell is the team leader in rebounds with 7.4 rpg.

2018 ACC/B1G CHALLENGE RECAP
Michigan State was one of the six Big Ten teams to earn a victory in the 12th annual ACC/Big Ten Women's Basketball Challenge, as the ACC won the Challenge, 8-6. MSU was joined in the win column by Indiana, Maryland, Ohio State, Purdue and Minnesota. The Spartans' 25-point margin of victory (91-66) was not only the largest margin of victory, but also the highest B1G score. Overall, it was the third-largest margin of victory in the challenge, behind Notre Dame's 34-point margin in 105-71 win over Iowa and 29-point margin in Florida State's 87-58 win over Penn State. MSU's 91 points was the second-highest scored in the Challenge behind Notre Dame's 105 points.

In ACC/B1G Challenge History
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

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.

DID YOU KNOW?
The four points allowed in the first quarter against Virginia was the fewest this season. The fewest points MSU has allowed in a first quarter ever was two against Davidson on Nov. 11, 2016. Michigan State also held Kennesaw State to only six points in the second quarter on Nov. 23. That tied the least amount of points allowed by MSU in the second quarter. MSU also gave up only six points against Indiana on Dec. 28, 2017.

FABULOUS FRESHMEN
The Spartans freshmen trio of Kayla Belles, Nia Clouden and Tory Ozment have been solid early on for the Spartans. Both Belles and Ozment registered career highs in scoring against Virginia with 12 and 19 points respectively off the bench. Clouden had a season-high 18 points in a win against Kennesaw State on Nov. 23. Clouden earned the Spartans' double-double of the season with 10 points and 11 assists against the Cavaliers. Belles in just here second game as a Spartan had 12 points and seven boards against UVA. Ozment has now had two-straight double-figure scoring games.

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.

This is the fifth time in the past seven years Michigan State has opened with wins in five of its first six games.

MCCUTCHEON MAKING HER MARK
With nine assists against Virginia, junior guard Taryn McCutcheon passed Spartan great Lindsay Bowen (2002-06) for ninth in career helpers with 380 in just three seasons. She is currently third in the Big Ten and 32nd in the nation in assists per game, averaging 5.8 apg.

BOUNCE BACK ABILITY
In Coach Merchant's first 12 seasons, the Spartans are 76-31 (71.0%) following a loss.

CLOSING IT OUT
The Spartans have been extremely effective closing out games over the last couple years, winning 179 of their last 189 games (.947) when leading with five minutes left, including 130 of their last 141. In Coach Merchant's tenure, Michigan State is 214-16 (.930) when holding a lead with five minutes left. This season, the Spartans are 5-0.

IN THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER
The Spartans are 120-39 (75.5%) all-time in the month of November. Under Coach Merchant, Michigan State is 60-11 (84.5%) in November, with seven of the 10 losses coming against top-10 opponents. The Spartans have won 34 of their last 39 in the month.

SPARTANS IN THE NCAA RANKINGS
Junior guard Taryn McCutcheon is currently 16th in the nation and second in the Big Ten in assists, averaging 6.3 apg. She is also 25th in the country and first in the league in steals per game, averaging 3.3 spg. She has tied her career-high of five steals twice this season.

As a team, MSU is eighth in the NCAA and second in the B1G in assist per game, averaging 20.5. Iowa is first in the league with 23.8 apg. The Spartans are also 39th in country and first in the Big Ten in steals per game made with 11.7 spg.

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. Overall, MSU has scored at least 70 points in all six games this season. MSU has won 124 of its last 138 games when scoring at least 70 points, and MSU is 141-21 under head coach Suzy Merchant when hanging at least 70 points on the scoreboard. This year, MSU is 5-1 when scoring at least 70 with a loss to No. 13 NC State on Nov. 22.

AROUND THE BIG TEN
Six Big Ten women's basketball programs have picked up seven non-conference wins against ranked opponents through the first month of the season. Minnesota and Purdue added to that total on Thursday with their wins over No. 12/12 Syracuse and No. 21/20 Miami, respectively.

There are three undefeated teams in the Big Ten in Maryland (7-0), Indiana (6-0) and Minnesota (6-0). Michigan State and Northwestern both hold 5-1 records.

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 facing Texas Southern, MSU will then take on in-state foe Oakland on Wednesday, Dec. 5. The Spartans will then host No. 3 Oregon on Sunday, Dec. 9 at 3 p.m. on ESPN2.

LAST TIME OUT
The freshmen trio of Kayla Belles, Nia Clouden and Tory Ozment all scored in double figures as the Michigan State women's basketball team stopped Virginia, 91-66 in the ACC/B1G Challenge Wednesday at the Breslin Center.

This was the first win for the Spartans in the ACC/B1G Challenge since 2014, when MSU came-from behind to beat Georgia Tech in overtime, 79-73. This was also the largest margin of victory in a Challenge game for MSU. With the win, Michigan State improved to 5-1 this season, while Virginia falls to 2-5.

Senior center Jenna Allen led all scorers with a season-high 21 points to go along with a career-high four steals and seven rebounds. Clouden had the Spartans' first double-double of the season with 10 points and 11 assists. Junior guard Taryn McCutcheon was just shy of a double-double with 14 points and nine assists. Ozment and Belles had season highs with 19 and 12 points, respectively.

The Cavaliers were led by Jocelyn Willoughby who had 16 points and 11 boards.

Postgame Notes vs. Virginia
• The Spartans' 91 points was the second time scoring over 90 points this season and the second-highest scoring output of the season behind 99 in the season-opening victory over Bowling Green on Nov. 6 (99-69).

• Wednesday was only the second meeting between the Spartans and Cavaliers, and both times the winning team scored 91 points, as Virginia won the only other meeting, 91-74, in Miami, Florida in 1990.

• Michigan State swiped 13 steals Wednesday night, marking the second-straight game and fifth time in the six games this season that the Spartans have swiped double-digit steals . . . the 13 steals is the second-most by the Spartans before 15 vs. Kennesaw State (Nov. 23) and Wright State (Nov. 18).

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

Kayla Belles

Nia Clouden

Shay Colley

Mardrekia Cook

Taryn McCutcheon

Tory Ozment