Thursday, November 14
South Bend, Ind.
8 PM
Michigan State University
at
#15 Notre Dame
No. 16/21 MSU Women Travel to No. 15/14 Notre Dame Thursday
11/12/2019 6:50:00 PM | Women's Basketball
This is the third-straight season that the teams have met.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - No. 16/21 Michigan State women's basketball hits the road to take on No. 15/14 Notre Dame on Thursday, Nov. 14 at Purcell Pavilion in South Bend at 8 p.m. The game will be televised on the ACC Network with Pam Ward and Debbie Antonelli on the call. The Irish ended the Spartans' NCAA Tournament run last season in the second round.
TIPOFF
• The Spartans will be playing without Shay Colley against the Irish, as she is preparing for the FIBA Women's Olympic Pre-Qualifying Americas Tournament Nov. 14-17 in Edmonton. Team Canada will take on Cuba (Nov. 14), Puerto Rico (Nov. 16) and the Dominican Republic (Nov. 17).
• Against Detroit Mercy on Nov. 8, MSU topped the 100-point mark for the first time since Dec. 5, 2018 when the Spartans won at Oakland, 102-58. The 110 points was the most points MSU scored in a game since Feb. 21, 2016 when it beat Minnesota, 114-106.
• Taryn McCutcheon is nearing several milestones as a Spartan. With 895 career points, McCutcheon is just 105 points away from becoming the 28th member of the 1,000-point club. She is also third in career assists with 478. She is just 97 helpers away from passing current MSU assistant coach Kristin Haynie who had 574 career assist during her Spartan career (2001-05).
• Shay Colley has been named to the Women's Citizen Naismith Trophy Watch List, as announced by the Atlanta Tipoff Club. Colley is one of 50 players named to the initial watch list and one of six Big Ten players on the list.
SCOUTING NOTRE DAME
The Spartans and the Irish are familiar opponents, playing three times in the last three seasons. Notre Dame leads the overall series 11-9, but have dominated the series of late winning the last seven games. Last season in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in South Bend, the Irish defeated the Spartans, 91-63, en route to reaching the championship game. Jenna Allen scored 12 points in her final game in the Green and White, while Sidney Cooks had a double-double with 17 points and 12 boards. The Irish had four players in double figures led by Arike Ogunbowale, who scored 23 and Jackie Young who added 21. In the 2017 meeting in South Bend, the Irish stopped the Spartans, 90-59 on Dec. 6, 2017 with senior center Jenna Allen scoring a career-high 28 points.
Notre Dame lost its starting five to the WNBA led by Ogunbowale. The Irish are 2-1 this season with wins over Fordham and Loyola Maryland. Notre Dame suffered its first loss of the season hosting Tennessee on Nov. 12, 74-63. Through three games, Katlyn Gilbert is leading the team in scoring, averaging 16.7 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. Destinee Walker 15.7 points and 6.0 rebounds per game.
FRESHMEN SENSATIONS
The five Spartan newcomers have made an immediate impact through the first two games. Against Detroit Mercy all the leaders in points, rebounds, blocks and steals were all freshmen. Guard Alyza Winston led all scorers with 17 points. Forwards Julia Ayrault and Taiyier Parks had a game-high seven rebounds apiece. Winston also led MSU with four steals, while Parks had two blocks.
All five freshmen scored in the season opener against Eastern Michigan led by 14 points from Winston. Ayrault added five points and two rebounds in the opener. Joiner had an overall solid game with three points, five rebounds and three assists, while Parks led the team with three boards. In under five minutes of play, center Cydni Dodd scored four points with one rebound.
FINISHING STRONG
In the first two games of the season, Michigan State has closed out games strong, out-scoring its opponents 109-41 in the second half. Against Eastern Michigan on Nov. 5, the Spartans started the second half on a 28-0 run to out-score the Eagles 32-3 in the third period. In the third quarter against Detroit Mercy on Nov. 8, MSU out-scored the Titans 33-16.
IN THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER
The Spartans are 122-39 (75.7%) all-time in the month of November. Under Coach Merchant, Michigan State is 62-11 (84.9%) in November, with seven of the 10 losses coming against top-10 opponents. The Spartans have won 36 of their last 41 in the month.
SPARTANS IN THE NCAA RANKINGS
After just two games, Michigan State is fourth in the nation in steals per game, averaging 18.0. MSU is also ninth in scoring margin (+46.5) and eighth in scoring offense (94.5 ppg).
FREQUENT FLIER
Three Spartans earned international experience during the offseason. MSU head coach Suzy Merchant earned a silver medal as the head coach of U.S. Pan American team that competed in Lima, Peru. Sophomore guard Nia Clouden also participated in the U.S. U19 World Cup Trials in Colorado Spring in May. Redshirt-senior guard Shay Colley continues her quest for the 2020 Olympics continuing training with the Canadian National Team.
AGAINST THE GREAT LAKES STATE
Michigan State has had great success against other collegiate programs in the state of Michigan over the past 17 seasons. Since the beginning of the 2002-03 season, the Spartans are 61-5 (.924) against in-state rivals, including a 46-5 (.902) mark under Coach Merchant. All-time, Michigan State is 194-60 (.764) against other Michigan schools.
THRILLING THIRD QUARTER
Michigan State held a two-point lead at half time against Eastern Michigan on Nov. 5, 31-29. Michigan State scored the first 28 points of the second half, highlighted by back-to-back treys by Taryn McCutcheon to open up a 59-29 lead. Freshmen Alyza Winston and Moira Joiner joined in on the fun netting their first 3-pointers of their MSU careers. During the game-changing quarter, the Eagles were 0-14 from the field, sinking three free throws. The Spartans were 11-of-18 from the field and 4-of-5 from long distance. The three points were the fewest allowed in the third quarter by Michigan State. The previous low was five against Charleston on Nov. 19, 2017.
SEASON OPENERS
All-time, the Spartans are now 33-15 in season openers, but 25-2 when the opener is in East Lansing. Coach Merchant is 10-3 in season openers at MSU, and has won 16 of her last 19, including her time at Eastern Michigan.
RETURN TO THE GREAT LAKES STATE
Michigan State adds two new coaches to the staff this season in Dean Lockwood and former Spartan All-American Kristin Haynie. Lockwood and Haynie come to Michigan State with extensive basketball roots in the state of Michigan, as well as highly-decorated careers. During his 15-year tenure as an assistant coach at Tennessee, Lockwood won two NCAA titles. Haynie returns to Michigan State where she earned All-American honors, leading MSU to the 2005 National Championship game.
FANS CONTINUE TO PACK THE BRESLIN
Michigan State women's basketball continued to pack the Breslin Center last season, averaging 5,496 fans per game last season. MSU was 15th in the nation and fifth in the Big Ten in attendance. This marked the 15th-consecutive season that the Spartans have ranked in the top 15 nationally in attendance. Michigan State has had a total attendance of over 80,000 every season since 2005-06. The Spartans had their 15th-best crowd this season when 11,368 fans packed the Breslin Center as MSU defeated Michigan.
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-senior guard Shay Colley earned Preseason All-Big Ten honors for the second-straight season.
The Spartans were voted to finish second by the Big Ten coaches and third by the media. This was MSU's highest preseason ranking since being voted to finish second by the coaches prior to the 2016-17 campaign.
During the 2018-19 campaign, Colley led the Spartans and was 12th in scoring in the Big Ten, averaging 14.1 points per game. In earning All-Big Ten honors, Colley was tied for 11th in steals per game (1.6 spg) and sixth in free throw percentage (.794).
Michigan State completed the 2018-19 season with a 21-12 record, advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Spartans return four starters from last season, including all-conference honorees Colley, senior guard Taryn McCutcheon and sophomore guard Nia Clouden.
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. MSU has won 139 of its last 157 games when scoring at least 70 points, and MSU is 157-27 under head coach Suzy Merchant when hanging at least 70 points on the scoreboard.
CLOSING OUT THE GAMES
The Spartans have been extremely effective closing out games over the last couple years, winning 195 of their last 207 games (.942) when leading with five minutes left, including 145 of their last 159. In Coach Merchant's tenure, Michigan State.
UP NEXT
After the brief road trip, Michigan State returns home for a pair of home games. The Spartans host Oakland on Tuesday, Oct. 19 and Hartford on Sunday, Oct. 24.
GAME TWO REWIND: MSU 110, DETROIT MERCY 52
Freshman guard Alyza Winston scored a career-high 17 points, Taiyier Parks added a career-high 15 off the bench and three others scored 10 apiece as 17th-ranked Michigan State women walloped Detroit Mercy, 110-52, Tuesday night.
The Spartans (2-0) never trailed and outscored the Titans, 22-4, in the fourth quarter to win going away, surpassing 100 points for the first time in nearly a year - 102-58 versus Oakland December 5, 2018.
Sophomore guard/forward Tory Ozment, senior guard Taryn McCutcheon and sophomore forward Kayla Belles each scored 10 points for the Spartans. Belles, Parks and Julia Ayrault each pulled down seven rebounds as Michigan State dominated the boards, 52-25.
Maxine Moore scored a career-high 13 points in her first game for Detroit Mercy. The Titans were harried into 30 turnovers.
Postgame Notes vs. Detroit Mercy
• The 110 points was the 11th time the Spartans have topped the century mark under head coach Suzy Merchant and the MSU is 10-1 when doing so ... The 110 points was also the fourth-most points scored under Merchant behind the 116 points vs. Niagara (W, 116-50) on Nov. 14, 2008, the aforementioned 114 points vs. Minnesota (W, 114-106) on Feb. 21, 2016 and 113 points vs. North Carolina A&T (W, 113-60).
• All 14 players in uniform Friday night scored at least three points, including five in double-figures, with four being underclassmen, led by freshman guard Alyza Winston's career-high 17 points ... Freshman forward Taiyier Parks also netted a career-high with 15 points off the bench ... Senior guard Taryn McCutcheon, sophomore guard Tory Ozment and sophomore forward Kayla Belles all tallied 10 points apiece.
• Michigan State improved to 22-7 all-time against Detroit Mercy, including winning the last 17 in a row ... The 110 points by the Spartans was the first time in the series that either team broke the century mark and Friday's 58-point margin of victory was the largest in the series, topping a 40-point win in an 82-42 victory for MSU on Nov. 21, 2010 in East Lansing.
TIPOFF
• The Spartans will be playing without Shay Colley against the Irish, as she is preparing for the FIBA Women's Olympic Pre-Qualifying Americas Tournament Nov. 14-17 in Edmonton. Team Canada will take on Cuba (Nov. 14), Puerto Rico (Nov. 16) and the Dominican Republic (Nov. 17).
• Against Detroit Mercy on Nov. 8, MSU topped the 100-point mark for the first time since Dec. 5, 2018 when the Spartans won at Oakland, 102-58. The 110 points was the most points MSU scored in a game since Feb. 21, 2016 when it beat Minnesota, 114-106.
• Taryn McCutcheon is nearing several milestones as a Spartan. With 895 career points, McCutcheon is just 105 points away from becoming the 28th member of the 1,000-point club. She is also third in career assists with 478. She is just 97 helpers away from passing current MSU assistant coach Kristin Haynie who had 574 career assist during her Spartan career (2001-05).
• Shay Colley has been named to the Women's Citizen Naismith Trophy Watch List, as announced by the Atlanta Tipoff Club. Colley is one of 50 players named to the initial watch list and one of six Big Ten players on the list.
SCOUTING NOTRE DAME
The Spartans and the Irish are familiar opponents, playing three times in the last three seasons. Notre Dame leads the overall series 11-9, but have dominated the series of late winning the last seven games. Last season in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in South Bend, the Irish defeated the Spartans, 91-63, en route to reaching the championship game. Jenna Allen scored 12 points in her final game in the Green and White, while Sidney Cooks had a double-double with 17 points and 12 boards. The Irish had four players in double figures led by Arike Ogunbowale, who scored 23 and Jackie Young who added 21. In the 2017 meeting in South Bend, the Irish stopped the Spartans, 90-59 on Dec. 6, 2017 with senior center Jenna Allen scoring a career-high 28 points.
Notre Dame lost its starting five to the WNBA led by Ogunbowale. The Irish are 2-1 this season with wins over Fordham and Loyola Maryland. Notre Dame suffered its first loss of the season hosting Tennessee on Nov. 12, 74-63. Through three games, Katlyn Gilbert is leading the team in scoring, averaging 16.7 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. Destinee Walker 15.7 points and 6.0 rebounds per game.
FRESHMEN SENSATIONS
The five Spartan newcomers have made an immediate impact through the first two games. Against Detroit Mercy all the leaders in points, rebounds, blocks and steals were all freshmen. Guard Alyza Winston led all scorers with 17 points. Forwards Julia Ayrault and Taiyier Parks had a game-high seven rebounds apiece. Winston also led MSU with four steals, while Parks had two blocks.
All five freshmen scored in the season opener against Eastern Michigan led by 14 points from Winston. Ayrault added five points and two rebounds in the opener. Joiner had an overall solid game with three points, five rebounds and three assists, while Parks led the team with three boards. In under five minutes of play, center Cydni Dodd scored four points with one rebound.
FINISHING STRONG
In the first two games of the season, Michigan State has closed out games strong, out-scoring its opponents 109-41 in the second half. Against Eastern Michigan on Nov. 5, the Spartans started the second half on a 28-0 run to out-score the Eagles 32-3 in the third period. In the third quarter against Detroit Mercy on Nov. 8, MSU out-scored the Titans 33-16.
IN THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER
The Spartans are 122-39 (75.7%) all-time in the month of November. Under Coach Merchant, Michigan State is 62-11 (84.9%) in November, with seven of the 10 losses coming against top-10 opponents. The Spartans have won 36 of their last 41 in the month.
SPARTANS IN THE NCAA RANKINGS
After just two games, Michigan State is fourth in the nation in steals per game, averaging 18.0. MSU is also ninth in scoring margin (+46.5) and eighth in scoring offense (94.5 ppg).
FREQUENT FLIER
Three Spartans earned international experience during the offseason. MSU head coach Suzy Merchant earned a silver medal as the head coach of U.S. Pan American team that competed in Lima, Peru. Sophomore guard Nia Clouden also participated in the U.S. U19 World Cup Trials in Colorado Spring in May. Redshirt-senior guard Shay Colley continues her quest for the 2020 Olympics continuing training with the Canadian National Team.
AGAINST THE GREAT LAKES STATE
Michigan State has had great success against other collegiate programs in the state of Michigan over the past 17 seasons. Since the beginning of the 2002-03 season, the Spartans are 61-5 (.924) against in-state rivals, including a 46-5 (.902) mark under Coach Merchant. All-time, Michigan State is 194-60 (.764) against other Michigan schools.
THRILLING THIRD QUARTER
Michigan State held a two-point lead at half time against Eastern Michigan on Nov. 5, 31-29. Michigan State scored the first 28 points of the second half, highlighted by back-to-back treys by Taryn McCutcheon to open up a 59-29 lead. Freshmen Alyza Winston and Moira Joiner joined in on the fun netting their first 3-pointers of their MSU careers. During the game-changing quarter, the Eagles were 0-14 from the field, sinking three free throws. The Spartans were 11-of-18 from the field and 4-of-5 from long distance. The three points were the fewest allowed in the third quarter by Michigan State. The previous low was five against Charleston on Nov. 19, 2017.
SEASON OPENERS
All-time, the Spartans are now 33-15 in season openers, but 25-2 when the opener is in East Lansing. Coach Merchant is 10-3 in season openers at MSU, and has won 16 of her last 19, including her time at Eastern Michigan.
RETURN TO THE GREAT LAKES STATE
Michigan State adds two new coaches to the staff this season in Dean Lockwood and former Spartan All-American Kristin Haynie. Lockwood and Haynie come to Michigan State with extensive basketball roots in the state of Michigan, as well as highly-decorated careers. During his 15-year tenure as an assistant coach at Tennessee, Lockwood won two NCAA titles. Haynie returns to Michigan State where she earned All-American honors, leading MSU to the 2005 National Championship game.
FANS CONTINUE TO PACK THE BRESLIN
Michigan State women's basketball continued to pack the Breslin Center last season, averaging 5,496 fans per game last season. MSU was 15th in the nation and fifth in the Big Ten in attendance. This marked the 15th-consecutive season that the Spartans have ranked in the top 15 nationally in attendance. Michigan State has had a total attendance of over 80,000 every season since 2005-06. The Spartans had their 15th-best crowd this season when 11,368 fans packed the Breslin Center as MSU defeated Michigan.
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-senior guard Shay Colley earned Preseason All-Big Ten honors for the second-straight season.
The Spartans were voted to finish second by the Big Ten coaches and third by the media. This was MSU's highest preseason ranking since being voted to finish second by the coaches prior to the 2016-17 campaign.
During the 2018-19 campaign, Colley led the Spartans and was 12th in scoring in the Big Ten, averaging 14.1 points per game. In earning All-Big Ten honors, Colley was tied for 11th in steals per game (1.6 spg) and sixth in free throw percentage (.794).
Michigan State completed the 2018-19 season with a 21-12 record, advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Spartans return four starters from last season, including all-conference honorees Colley, senior guard Taryn McCutcheon and sophomore guard Nia Clouden.
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. MSU has won 139 of its last 157 games when scoring at least 70 points, and MSU is 157-27 under head coach Suzy Merchant when hanging at least 70 points on the scoreboard.
CLOSING OUT THE GAMES
The Spartans have been extremely effective closing out games over the last couple years, winning 195 of their last 207 games (.942) when leading with five minutes left, including 145 of their last 159. In Coach Merchant's tenure, Michigan State.
UP NEXT
After the brief road trip, Michigan State returns home for a pair of home games. The Spartans host Oakland on Tuesday, Oct. 19 and Hartford on Sunday, Oct. 24.
GAME TWO REWIND: MSU 110, DETROIT MERCY 52
Freshman guard Alyza Winston scored a career-high 17 points, Taiyier Parks added a career-high 15 off the bench and three others scored 10 apiece as 17th-ranked Michigan State women walloped Detroit Mercy, 110-52, Tuesday night.
The Spartans (2-0) never trailed and outscored the Titans, 22-4, in the fourth quarter to win going away, surpassing 100 points for the first time in nearly a year - 102-58 versus Oakland December 5, 2018.
Sophomore guard/forward Tory Ozment, senior guard Taryn McCutcheon and sophomore forward Kayla Belles each scored 10 points for the Spartans. Belles, Parks and Julia Ayrault each pulled down seven rebounds as Michigan State dominated the boards, 52-25.
Maxine Moore scored a career-high 13 points in her first game for Detroit Mercy. The Titans were harried into 30 turnovers.
Postgame Notes vs. Detroit Mercy
• The 110 points was the 11th time the Spartans have topped the century mark under head coach Suzy Merchant and the MSU is 10-1 when doing so ... The 110 points was also the fourth-most points scored under Merchant behind the 116 points vs. Niagara (W, 116-50) on Nov. 14, 2008, the aforementioned 114 points vs. Minnesota (W, 114-106) on Feb. 21, 2016 and 113 points vs. North Carolina A&T (W, 113-60).
• All 14 players in uniform Friday night scored at least three points, including five in double-figures, with four being underclassmen, led by freshman guard Alyza Winston's career-high 17 points ... Freshman forward Taiyier Parks also netted a career-high with 15 points off the bench ... Senior guard Taryn McCutcheon, sophomore guard Tory Ozment and sophomore forward Kayla Belles all tallied 10 points apiece.
• Michigan State improved to 22-7 all-time against Detroit Mercy, including winning the last 17 in a row ... The 110 points by the Spartans was the first time in the series that either team broke the century mark and Friday's 58-point margin of victory was the largest in the series, topping a 40-point win in an 82-42 victory for MSU on Nov. 21, 2010 in East Lansing.
Players Mentioned
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