No. 17 Spartan Women Conclude Busy Week at No. 20 Rutgers Sunday

EAST LANSING, Mich. - No. 17/22 Michigan State will travel east to take on No. 20/23 Rutgers on Sunday, Jan. 20 at 2 p.m. at the RAC. The Spartans are 12-4 overall and hold a 3-3 record in league play. MSU is coming off a 77-60 win over No. 9 Maryland on Jan. 17. Rutgers is 14-3 overall and 6-0 in the Big Ten. The Scarlet Knights have won eight-straight games. Rutgers last loss came on Nov. 28 against Virginia Tech.

• Thursday's upset win over No. 9 Maryland was Michigan State's fourth home win over a ranked team, marking the first time that the Spartans have defeated four ranked teams at home since 2004-05. The victory was MSU's fourth home win over a ranked team, joining No. 3 Oregon (88-82 on Dec. 9), No. 16 Iowa (84-70 on Dec. 30) and No. 18 Minnesota (Jan. 9), marking the second time in last four seasons that the Spartans have beat four ranked teams in the same season.

• The Spartans are now 10-0 this season at home this season and have a 13-game home winning streak dating back to last year.

• Michigan State is fourth in the nation and second in the Big Ten in assists per game, averaging 20.5 apg. The Spartans are also eighth in the nation and first in the B1G in 3-point field goal percentage (.395).

• Senior center Jenna Allen is climbing the charts, as she now has 946 career points. She is 54 points away from becoming the 27th Spartan to reach the 1,000-point mark.

SCOUTING RUTGERS
With a 65-63 overtime win over Purdue on Jan. 16, Rutgers improves to 14-3 overall and 6-0 in Big Ten action. The Scarlet Knights have now won eight-straight games and are a perfect 4-0 in 2019. The last Rutgers loss came in the ACC/B1G Challenge on Nov. 28 against Virginia Tech, 67-51 on the road.

As a team, the Scarlet Knights are ninth in the nation and first in the Big Ten in scoring defense, allowing only 53.5 points per game. They are also ninth in the country in the B1G in field goal percentage defense (.335). Rutgers is 37th in the NCAA and first in steals per game, averaging 10.6 ppg.

Arella Guirantes leads the Scarlet Knights in scoring, averaging 10.8 points per game. Stasha Carey is the only on RU player scoring in double figures with 10.2 ppg. Victoria Harris is tied for third in the Big Ten in steals, averaging 1.8 spg. In league contests, Ciani Cryor is tied for second in assists per game with 6.5 apg.

Rutgers head coach C. Vivian Stringer is the sixth winningest active coach women's basketball and one of five current active coaches among all divisions with over 900 career victories. She holds a 1,011-405 career record.

SERIES HISTORY VS. RUTGERS
Last season when the teams met, Rutgers had won eight-straight before defeating the Spartans. This season, the Scarlet Knights once again are on an eight-game winning streak prior to the meeting. The teams have only a brief history with the series tied 4-4. Michigan State won three-straight meeting. The Scarlet Knights captured the last two meeting. Both of MSU's losses came by four points of less. During the 2016-17 season, Rutgers won 62-58, before taking last year's game 61-58.

LAST TIME VS. RUTGERS
Despite Branndais Agee's first double-double of the season, Michigan State women's basketball had its six-game winning streak halted by Rutgers, 61-58, on Dec. 31, 2017 at the Breslin Center.

The Spartans drop to 11-4 overall and 1-1 in Big Ten action. The Scarlet Knights are now 14-2 overall and 2-0 in league contests and have won nine-straight games.

Redshirt-sophomore guard Shay Colley led the Spartans with 16 points, adding five rebounds and four assists. Freshman forward Sidney Cooks added 11 points in the loss. Agee had 10 points and 10 rebounds for her first double-double of the year and sixth of her career.

Rutgers was led by Tyler Scaife with 25 points, the only Scarlet Knight player in double-figures.

CAREER VS. RUTGERS
Redshirt-junior guard Shay Colley had a breakout performance against the Scarlet Knights last season with 16 points, five rebounds and four assists. She also added two blocks and a steal in the loss. In four meeting against Rutgers, senior center Jenna Allen is averaging 4.5 points and 2.8 rebounds per game, including nine points in the loss last season.

DOUBLE-FIGURE SCORING
Four of the five Spartans starters scored in double-figures in the win against Maryland as part of five total in double-digits, as MSU is now 4-0 when five players post double-figures.

NO PLACE LIKE HOME
With the win against No. 9 Maryland on Jan. 17, Michigan State improved to 10-0 at home. The Spartans are just one win away from tying last year's home win total. The Spartans were 11-5 at the Breslin Center last season, while finishing the 2016-17 season 11-3 at home. During the 2015-16 season, MSU went 13-2 in East Lansing.

TOUGH AGAINST THE TERPS
Michigan State's defense limited Maryland to its second-lowest scoring output, as the Terps' 60 points Thursday only trailed 58 vs. No. 24 Georgia (Nov. 24). The Spartans' held the Terps to 26 points in the second half, also their second-fewest of the season behind 21 against Georgia. MSU also limited Maryland to just 30 rebounds, its second-lowest of the season behind 28 vs. Rutgers (Dec. 31).

MSU's perimeter defense held Maryland to 2-of-12 (.167) from 3-point range, tying a season-low for makes and second-lowest percentage, as UMD was 2-of-16 (.125) vs. George Washington (Nov. 14).

The Spartan defense limited Maryland's leading scorer Kaila Charles to a career-low tying three points, as she entered the game ranking fifth in the B1G in scoring at 16.6 ppg. MSU also held Shakira Austin, who was the reigning UWBWA National Freshman of the Week and Big Ten Freshman of the Week, to zero points.

Thursday was Michigan State's first home win over Maryland in the all-time series, as the Spartans have now beaten the Terrapins in two of the last three meetings after last season's 82-68 win in College Park.

BEATING THE BEST
Thursday's upset win over No. 9/9 Maryland was Michigan State's fourth home win over a ranked team, marking the first time that the Spartans have defeated four ranked teams at home since 2004-05 when MSU defeated No. 18/17 Iowa, No. 11/12 Minnesota, No. RV/24 Purdue and No. 2/3 Ohio State.

The win was MSU's fourth home win over a ranked team, joining No. 3 Oregon (88-82 on Dec. 9), No. 16 Iowa (84-70 on Dec. 30) and No. 18 Minnesota (Jan. 9), marking the second time in last four seasons that the Spartans have beat four ranked teams in the same season. In 2015-16, the Spartans topped No. 16 Northwestern (home), No. 5 Ohio State (home) and No. 9 Ohio State (neutral).

The Spartans are now 4-1 this season against ranked opponents, improving to 23-15 overall at home vs. ranked foes under head coach Suzy Merchant.

GETTING BACK TO WHAT WORKS
Against Minnesota on Jan. 9, the Spartans dished out a season-high tying 28 assists, matching 28 helpers from Florida Atlantic (Dec. 20). Michigan State is now 8-0 this season when posting 21 or more assists and the Spartans are 13-0 when logging more helpers than the opponent. In MSU's losses to NC State, Northwestern, Indiana and Ohio State, the Spartans averaged only 11.8 assists per game, including a season-low nine against Ohio State.

PUTTING UP THE NUMBERS
In 17 games this season, the Spartans have had a player score at least 20 points six times. Senior center Jenna Allen has scored at least 20 points four times with a season-high 27 points against Oregon on Dec. 9. Redshirt-junior guard Shay Colley has scored at least 20-points, including scoring 28 points against Northwestern on Jan. 3, which was the most by a Spartan this season. Freshman guard Nia Clouden is the final MSU player to reach the 20-point mark with 27 against Iowa on Dec. 30.

ALLEN SCORING THE ROCK
Senior center Jenna Allen's double-digit scoring outing against Maryland on Jan. 17 was also her fourth in a row and sixth in last seven games as part of 14th of the season and 40th of her career. Against Minnesota on Jan. 9, she also had a team-leading seven rebounds, marking the eighth game this season that she has topped or shared the team rebounding lead and MSU is now 8-0 when she does so. She has four 20+ point outings this season and five in her career. Against both Oregon and FAU, Allen tied a career-high with three 3-pointers, matching three triples from at Notre Dame (12/16/17), which was also when her career-high of 28 points came.

B1G BY THE NUMBERS
The Spartans continue to hold several top spots in the Big Ten rankings this week. MSU is still first in scoring offense, averaging 80.6 ppg, while Iowa is close behind in second at 80.2 ppg. The Spartans also lead the B1G in both 3-point field goal percentage (.395) and tied for first in 3-pointers made per game (7.4). MSU also tops the league in turnover margin (+4.2), while ranking second in assists per game (20.5), scoring margin (+15.2) and assist/turnover ratio (1.5). The Spartans are now second in field goal percentage (.470) and third in steals per game (9.1).

SPREADING THE WEALTH
Michigan State has had success when it spreads the ball around this season. The Spartans are 8-0 when they have 21 or more assists in a game. Michigan State is also 13-0 when recording more assists than its opponents. Seven different players have led the team in assists this season, topped by junior guard Taryn McCutcheon, who has led MSU seven times.

CLIMBING THE CHARTS
The Spartans stand No. 17 in the AP poll and No. 22 in the USA Today Coaches' poll. This is the sixth-straight game that Michigan State has been ranked.

MCCUTCHEON MAKING HER MARK
With three assists against No. 9 Maryland on Jan. 17, junior guard Taryn McCutcheon remains alone in fifth in career helpers with 427 in just three seasons. She passed Tamika Matlock (1995-97) who had 403. McCutcheon is just 16 assists away from tying Deb Traxinger (1978-82) with 443 helpers. She is one of just seven Spartans to reach the 400-assist mark.

She is currently tied for fifth in the Big Ten and 57th in the NCAA with 5.1 assists per game.

BIG TEN OPENERS
Michigan State is 24-13 in home Big Ten openers in 37 years in the league. Last season, the Spartans fell to Rutgers on Dec. 31, 61-58.

Overall, Michigan State is 19-18 all-time in Big Ten openers, having won six of its last eight ... Under Coach Merchant, the Spartans are 8-4 in Big Ten openers ... Last season, MSU earned a dominating 68-46 win over Indiana in Bloomington on Dec. 28, 2017.

This was the first time that Michigan State has started Big Ten play against Iowa since Jan. 6, 1984. In that match up the Spartans fell to the Hawkeyes, 70-62.

BY THE NUMBERS
Michigan State's 88-82 upset of No. 3 was MSU's first upset win over an AP Poll top 5 team since a 107-105 3OT victory over No. 5 Ohio State on Feb. 27, 2016. It was the Spartans' biggest upset win since a 68-64 upset of No. 3 Tennessee on April 3, 2005 in the NCAA Tournament. It was the highest regular-season win since a 82-73 OT win over No. 3 Notre Dame on Dec. 2, 2004.

CLOSING IT OUT
The Spartans have been extremely effective closing out games over the last couple years, winning 186 of their last 197 games (.944) when leading with five minutes left, including 136 of their last 149. In Coach Merchant's tenure, Michigan State is 221-17 (.929) when holding a lead with five minutes left. This season, the Spartans are 13-1 with the only loss coming against Indiana on Jan. 6.

IN THE MONTH OF DECEMBER
The Spartans improved to 180-97 (.650) all-time in the month of December. Under Coach Merchant, Michigan State is 63-27 (.700) in the 12th month of the calendar year. The Spartans have won 35 of their last 49 games in December, including 6-0 this season.

SPARTANS IN THE NCAA RANKINGS
Junior guard Taryn McCutcheon is currently 56th in the nation and fifth in the Big Ten in assists, averaging 5.0 apg, along with 43rd in the nation and fifth in the league in total assists (85). McCutcheon is also 37th in the country and second in the conference in 3-point percentage (.426). Senior center Jenna Allen is 41st in the country and sixth in the league in field-goal percentage with a 54.7 percentage.

As a team, MSU is fourth in the NCAA and second in the B1G in assists per game, averaging 20.5. Baylor is first in the nation with 22.9 apg. Michigan State is also eighth in the nation and tops in the league in 3-point field goal percentage, shooting 39.5 percent behind the arc. The Spartans are also 18th in the country and first in the Big Ten in scoring offense, netting 80.6 points per game, as well as ranking 27th in the league and second in the nation in scoring margin at +15.2. MSU is 13th in the country and second in the league in field goal percentage, shooting 47.0 percent from the field.

AROUND THE BIG TEN
For the first time in more than four years (Nov. 17, 2014), six Big Ten schools are ranked in the Top 25
of the Associated Press poll this week, led by No. 9 Maryland. Michigan State is next at No. 17, followed by No. 20 Rutgers, No. 22 Iowa, No. 23 Minnesota and No. 25 Indiana. In addition, Purdue is receiving votes in the latest AP poll. In the WBCA/USA Today coaches' poll, five Big Ten schools are appearing, with Maryland at No. 9, Iowa at No. 18, Michigan State at No. 22, Rutgers debuting at No. 23 and Minnesota at No. 25 — Indiana and Purdue are also receiving votes in the coaches' balloting this week.

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. Merchant was presented her award at a luncheon at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center on Dec. 6. 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.

ALLEN AND CLOUDEN CAPTURE B1G HONORS
Michigan State's Jenna Allen and Nia Clouden both captured Big Ten honors on Dec. 31 as announced by the league office. Allen earned Big Ten Player of the Week accolades, while Clouden garnered the Freshman of the Week honor. Clouden was also named USBWA National Freshman of the Week.

This is Allen's second Player of the Week award this season and second of her career. Clouden captured her first Freshman of the Week honor and became the first Spartan to earn the award since Victoria Gaines on Jan. 2, 2017. This is the first time since the Freshman of the Week award began during the 2009-10 season that MSU has received both honors in the same week. The Spartans are also the first team to sweep the awards this year.

Allen, a native of Bedford, Indiana, scored 20 points, going 9-for-14 from the field on Sunday in the then-No. 21/22 Spartans' victory against No. 16/16 Iowa in both schools' Big Ten opener. She also added career-high 17 rebounds in the win.

Clouden, who hails from Owings Mills, Maryland, has been stellar all season for the Spartans. Against Iowa, she set a new career high with 27 points in 39 minutes in the victory against No. 16/16 Iowa. She shot 10-of-19 (.526) from the field and 6-of-9 (.667) from the free throw line to seal the win.

RACKING UP THE HONORS
Michigan State senior center Jenna Allen added to her honors after being named U.S. Basketball Writers Association Ann Meyers Drysdale Women's National Player of the Week on Dec. 10. She also garnered ESPNW and Big Ten Player of the week accolades. Allen averaged 21.5 points on 17-of-24 shooting (.708 percent), including a 5-of-8 performance (.625 percent) from beyond the arc over two games last week. In an upset over No. 3-ranked Oregon on Dec. 9, Allen scored a season-high 27 points on 11-of-14 shooting from the field in a career-high 37 minutes played. The Bedford, Indiana native was 3-of-4 from distance including a triple with 35 seconds left in regulation that all but sealed the game for the Spartans.

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.

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.

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.

BOUNCE BACK ABILITY
In Coach Merchant's first 12 seasons, the Spartans are 78 -32 (70.9%) following a loss.

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 14 of 17 games this season. MSU has won 131 of its last 145 games when scoring at least 70 points, and MSU is 149-22 under head coach Suzy Merchant when hanging at least 70 points on the scoreboard. This year, MSU is 13-1 when scoring at least 70 with a loss to No. 13 NC State on Nov. 22.

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 last 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.

This season, the Spartans are third in the Big Ten and 14th in the nation in attendance, averaging 5,362 fans per game. Michigan State packed 9,520 fans into the Breslin Center as MSU stopped Iowa on Dec. 30. Purdue leads the league in attendance, averaging 6,443 fans per game, while South Carolina is first in the nation with 10,929 per game.

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 first-place Rutgers on Sunday, Jan. 20. On Thursday, Jan. 24 will then return home to host Illinois.

LAST TIME OUT
Senior center Jenna Allen scored 16 points and freshman guard Nia Clouden added 15 to lift No. 17 Michigan State to a 77-60 victory over No. 9 Maryland on Thursday night.

The Spartans (13-4, 3-3 Big Ten) led almost throughout, racing out to a 20-4 advantage in the first quarter. Maryland (15-2, 4-2) closed to within three at halftime, but Michigan State took control again in the third in this matchup between the highest-ranked Big Ten teams in this week's AP Top 25. Overall, the is MSU's second all-time win over Maryland, but the Spartans have captured two of the last three meetings.

Michigan State made five 3-pointers in the first quarter. The Spartans made only one after that, but they kept playing with confidence. Junior guard Taryn McCutcheon scored 12 points for Michigan State, which had lost three of its previous four games. Junior guard Shay Colley and sophomore forward Sidney Cooks both added 11 points as five Spartans reached double figures.

Brianna Fraser led Maryland with 22 points, while Taylor Mikesell added 12 for the Terps.

POST-GAME NOTES VS. MARYLAND
• Thursday was Michigan State's first home win over Maryland in the all-time series, as the Spartans have now beaten the Terrapins in two of the last three meetings after last season's 82-68 win in College Park.

• MSU's 77 points marked the Spartans' 14th time in the 17 games topping the 70-point plateau this season . . . Michigan State has won 132 of its last 146 games when scoring at least 70 points and the Spartans are 149-21 under Coach Merchant when hanging 70 or more points on the scoreboard.

• Michigan State's defense limited Maryland to its second-lowest scoring output, as the Terps' 60 points Thursday only trailed 58 vs. No. 24 Georgia (Nov. 24) ... The Spartans' held the Terps to 26 points in the second half, also their second-fewest of the season behind 21 against Georgia ... MSU also limited Maryland to just 30 rebounds, its second-lowest of the season behind 28 vs. Rutgers (Dec. 31).

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.

No. 17 Spartan Women Conclude Busy Week at No. 20 Rutgers Sunday

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Players Mentioned

Branndais Agee

Jenna Allen

Nia Clouden

Shay Colley

Mardrekia Cook

Sidney Cooks

Victoria Gaines

Taryn McCutcheon