Sunday, November 24
East Lansing, Mich.
2 PM
Michigan State University
vs
Hartford
No. 15 Spartan Women Close Out Homestand Against Hartford
11/23/2019 2:08:00 PM | Women's Basketball
MSU will celebrate Go Green Day for sustainability.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - No. 15/16 Michigan State women's basketball concludes its brief two-game homestand on Sunday, Nov. 24 at 2 p.m., hosting Hartford. The Spartans are celebrating Go Green Day for sustainability. Michigan State improved to 4-0 for the fourth time in the last four years with 76-56 win over Oakland on Nov. 19. This is the second-straight season the Spartans and the Hawks have met with MSU earning the road win last year.
• Michigan State is first in the Big Ten in rebound margin (+14.5) and third scoring margin (+29.0). MSU also leads the league in steals per game (14.5 spg) and offensive rebounds (20.5).
• Taryn McCutcheon is nearing several milestones as a Spartan. With 923 career points, McCutcheon is just 77 points away from becoming the 28th member of the 1,000-point club. She is also third in career assists with 485. She is just 89 helpers away from passing current MSU assistant coach Kristin Haynie who had 574 career assist during her Spartan career (2001-05).
• Sophomore guard Nia Clouden captured her first Big Ten Player of the Week honor on Nov. 18. After her career-high 28-point performance against Notre Dame.
• Through four games, eight different players are averaging at least 5.5 ppg, led by Nia Clouden's 17.0 ppg. Taryn McCutcheon is also averaging in double figures with 12.0 ppg.
SCOUTING HARTFORD
The Spartans have only met the Hawks three times in program history with Michigan State leading the series 2-1. The first meeting was in 2004 and MSU won 58-45. The following year in 2007, the Hawks bested the Spartans 51-54 in Suzy Merchant's first year as head coach. Last season in an overtime thriller on the road, Michigan State came out on top, 74-66. Victoria Gaines had a double-double in the battle with season-high 16 points and 11 rebounds. Sidney Cooks led the way with 19 points off the bench.
The Hawks are 0-5 so far this year, losing to Harvard, 53-44, on the road on Nov. 22. They've played Hofstra, Rhode Island and Providence at home, and fell to UMass on the road.
Jada Lucas is the Hawks leading scorer for the Hawks, averaging 16.2 points and 1.6 rebounds per game. Jordan McLemore is second in scored with 9.4 ppg. As a team, Hartford averages 49.2 ppg, while allowing 62.6.
LAST TIME AGAINST THE HAWKS
A career-high 19 points from sophomore forward Sidney Cooks lifted the No. 23/22 Michigan State women's basketball team past a tenacious Hartford squad on the road Dec. 16, 2018, 74-66, in overtime.
With the win, the Spartans improved to 9-1 for the first time since the 2012-13 season, when they started the season 13-1.
Cooks scored 19 points and added six boards to lead the Spartans. Redshirt-junior forward Victoria Gaines earned her first double-double of the season and third of her career with 16 points and 11 rebounds as the Spartans scored 40 points in the paint. Junior guard Taryn McCutcheon added 14 points and six boards.
CLOUDEN WITH A CHANCE OF SCORING
Guard Nia Clouden has had a stellar start to her sophomore campaign. In four games, she has averaged 17.0 points per game. The guard put the Spartans on her back with a career-high 28 points in MSU's win over No. 15/14 Notre Dame on Nov. 24. Her previous career high was 27 points in a win over Iowa on Dec. 30, 2018. She got the ball rolling for the Spartans against the Irish making, four 3-pointers to start the game. Her previous career high for treys in a game was three.
FAMILIAR FACE
Hartford assistant coach Courtney Davidson is familiar with the Breslin Center. Davidson was a four-year letterwinner for MSU from 2005-08, playing in 101 games and averaging 3.8 ppg.
EXCLUSIVE COMPANY
Guard Taryn McCutcheon is part of exclusive Michigan State company. She is one of only five players in Spartan history with at least 900 points and 400 assists. Tori Jankoska is the all-time points leader with 2,212 points, while current MSU assistant coach Kristin Haynie holds the all-time assist crown with 574 helpers.
Player Pts Assists
Tori Jankoska (2013-17) 2,212 489
Kristin Haynie (2001-05) 1,199 574
Brittney Thomas (2007-11) 932 401
Deb Traxinger (1978-82) 926 443
Taryn McCutcheon (2017-) 923 485
REACHING THE CENTURY MARK
With a start against Oakland, senior guard Taryn McCutcheon earned her 102nd career start. She has missed only one game during her MSU career against Michigan on Jan. 23, 2018. She now stands 10th in the MSU record books in career starts. Fellow senior Victoria Gaines has now played in 110 career games as a Spartan. She is just 16 games away from reaching the top 20 in career games played.
BEING A BOSS AT THE BREZ
The Spartans continue to dominate at home. Last season, Michigan State set a record with 15 wins at home. Since the 2016-17 season, the Spartans are 40-9 at the friendly confines of the Breslin Center. MSU has won 21 of the last 22 games at home.
BLOCK PARTY
The Spartans have strong on the defensive end this season, including already earning 18 blocks in four games. Freshmen Taiyier Parks (8) and Julia Ayrault (5) lead the way. Parks is tied for sixth in the Big Ten in blocks per game, averaging 2.0, while Ayrault is tied for 14th with 1.3 bpg.
FRESHMEN SENSATIONS
The five Spartan newcomers have made an immediate impact through the first four games. Guard Moira Joiner has started the last three 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. In under five minutes of play, center Cydni Dodd scored four points with one rebound.
APPROACHING MILESTONES
Against Oakland, senior guard Taryn McCutcheon led four Spartans in double-figures with 16 points, moving up to 923 for her career and just 77 points away from becoming the 28th member of MSU's 1,000-point club. McCutcheon drained a season-high four 3-pointers, including three in the first half. She now has multiple 3-pointers in three of the four games and nine treys on the season (2.3 pg).
SPREADING THE WEALTH
Michigan State been spreading the scoring around early this season. In four games, three different players have led the way in scoring: Alyza Winston, Nia Clouden and Taryn McCutcheon. Clouden was the leading scorer against both Eastern Michigan (Nov. 5) and Notre Dame (Nov. 14). Winston was the top scorer versus Detroit Mercy (Nov. 8), while McCutcheon led the way against Oakland (Nov. 18). Overall, eight different Spartans are averaging over 5.5 ppg.
CLOUDEN NAMED B1G PLAYER OF WEEK
Michigan State guard Nia Clouden captured Big Ten Player of the Week honors. This was sophomore's first Big Ten Player of the Week accolade, after earning Freshman of the Week honors once last season. This was Michigan State's first Big Ten Player of the Week honor since Jenna Allen, who earned the honor twice last season on Dec. 10 and Dec. 31.
Clouden, a native of Owings Mills, Maryland, scored a career-high 28 points in the Spartans' 72-69 win over No. 15/14 Notre Dame on Nov. 14. She got off to a fast start, making her first four 3-pointers in the first quarter. She closed out the game strong as well, scoring six points in the final 10 minutes. For the game, she was 9-for-21 from the field and 4-for-9 from long range. She led MSU to its first win over Notre Dame since 2004 and the first victory by a Big Ten school over the Fighting Irish since 2009.
IN THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER
The Spartans are 124-39 (76.1%) all-time in the month of November. Under Coach Merchant, Michigan State is 64-11 (85.3%) in November, with seven of the 10 losses coming against top-10 opponents. The Spartans have won 38 of their last 43 in the month.
SPARTANS IN THE NCAA RANKINGS
After four games, Michigan State is 25th in the nation in steals per game, averaging 14.5. MSU is also 15th in scoring offense (85.8 ppg), as well as standing 21st in 3-pointers per game (9.0 per game).
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 62-5 (.925) against in-state rivals, including a 47-5 (.904) mark under Coach Merchant. All-time, Michigan State is 195-60 (.765) 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.
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 141 of its last 159 games when scoring at least 70 points, and MSU is 158-27 under head coach Suzy Merchant when hanging at least 70 points on the scoreboard. The Spartans have reached the 70-point margin in all four games this season.
CLOSING OUT THE GAMES
The Spartans have been extremely effective closing out games over the last couple years, winning 197 of their last 209 games (.943) when leading with five minutes left, including 147 of their last 161. In Coach Merchant's tenure, Michigan State is 232-18 (.928) when holding a lead with five minutes left.
UP NEXT
After the Spartans hosting Hartford on Nov. 24, the Spartans will then head to warmer climates, playing in the Junkanoo Jam in the Bahamas, Nov. 29-30. US will begin the tournament taking on LSU on Friday, Nov. 29. The Spartans will then face either Kansas State or Memphis on Nov. 30.
GAME FOUR REWIND: MSU 72, OAKLAND 56
Taryn McCutcheon scored 16 points, Mardrekia Cook added 14 and No. 15/16 Michigan State women's basketball defeated Oakland 76-56 at the Breslin Center.
MSU had four in double figures led by 16 points by McCutcheon, while Cook added a season-high 14 points. Sophomore forward Kayla Belles was one point shy of matching her career high, scoring 11 points, while sophomore guard Nia Clouden added 10. Freshman Taiyier Parks was the first Spartan to reach double figures in rebounds with 10.
Postgame Notes vs. Hartford
• Tuesday was MSU's 12th-straight win over in-state foe Oakland, as the Spartans improved to 16-4 all-time in the series vs. the Golden Grizzlies, including 10-2 at home ... Michigan State has held Oakland below 60 points in each of the last two meetings, winning 102-58, last season at Oakland.
• Sophomore guard Nia Clouden tallied 10 points for her third game in double-figure scoring in the Spartans' four contests this season ... Clouden also dished out a season-high six assists, while redhshirt-sophomore Mardrekia Cook added a season-high 14 points.
•Freshman forward Taiyier Parks' 10 rebounds helped MSU to a season-high 55 rebounds and a 55-45 rebounding advantage ... the Spartans have had a +-double-digit rebounding margin in three of the four games as part of averaging 48.8-34.3 (+14.5).
SIGNING DAY
Michigan State women's basketball head coach Suzy Merchant announced the signing of Kendall Bostic (Kokomo, Indiana/Northwestern High School) to a National Letter of Intent.
Bostic is a 6-2 forward who plays for head coach Katie Layden at Northwestern High School in Kokomo, Indiana and AAU basketball for Tony Marlin and the Indiana Flight/Elite. Bostic is ranked No. 16 at her position and No. 67 overall by ESPN HoopGurlz. As a junior, Bostic averaged 18.7 points, 9.2 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game on 68 percent shooting from the field. Last season, Northwestern captured its second consecutive state championship, as Bostic earned State Championship Player of the Game accolades, along with AP First-Team All-State and Co-Player of the Year honors.
She is the daughter of Kevin and Angie Bostic. Her mom, Angie (Cree) Bostic, played basketball at Indiana from, 1991-92.
• Michigan State is first in the Big Ten in rebound margin (+14.5) and third scoring margin (+29.0). MSU also leads the league in steals per game (14.5 spg) and offensive rebounds (20.5).
• Taryn McCutcheon is nearing several milestones as a Spartan. With 923 career points, McCutcheon is just 77 points away from becoming the 28th member of the 1,000-point club. She is also third in career assists with 485. She is just 89 helpers away from passing current MSU assistant coach Kristin Haynie who had 574 career assist during her Spartan career (2001-05).
• Sophomore guard Nia Clouden captured her first Big Ten Player of the Week honor on Nov. 18. After her career-high 28-point performance against Notre Dame.
• Through four games, eight different players are averaging at least 5.5 ppg, led by Nia Clouden's 17.0 ppg. Taryn McCutcheon is also averaging in double figures with 12.0 ppg.
SCOUTING HARTFORD
The Spartans have only met the Hawks three times in program history with Michigan State leading the series 2-1. The first meeting was in 2004 and MSU won 58-45. The following year in 2007, the Hawks bested the Spartans 51-54 in Suzy Merchant's first year as head coach. Last season in an overtime thriller on the road, Michigan State came out on top, 74-66. Victoria Gaines had a double-double in the battle with season-high 16 points and 11 rebounds. Sidney Cooks led the way with 19 points off the bench.
The Hawks are 0-5 so far this year, losing to Harvard, 53-44, on the road on Nov. 22. They've played Hofstra, Rhode Island and Providence at home, and fell to UMass on the road.
Jada Lucas is the Hawks leading scorer for the Hawks, averaging 16.2 points and 1.6 rebounds per game. Jordan McLemore is second in scored with 9.4 ppg. As a team, Hartford averages 49.2 ppg, while allowing 62.6.
LAST TIME AGAINST THE HAWKS
A career-high 19 points from sophomore forward Sidney Cooks lifted the No. 23/22 Michigan State women's basketball team past a tenacious Hartford squad on the road Dec. 16, 2018, 74-66, in overtime.
With the win, the Spartans improved to 9-1 for the first time since the 2012-13 season, when they started the season 13-1.
Cooks scored 19 points and added six boards to lead the Spartans. Redshirt-junior forward Victoria Gaines earned her first double-double of the season and third of her career with 16 points and 11 rebounds as the Spartans scored 40 points in the paint. Junior guard Taryn McCutcheon added 14 points and six boards.
CLOUDEN WITH A CHANCE OF SCORING
Guard Nia Clouden has had a stellar start to her sophomore campaign. In four games, she has averaged 17.0 points per game. The guard put the Spartans on her back with a career-high 28 points in MSU's win over No. 15/14 Notre Dame on Nov. 24. Her previous career high was 27 points in a win over Iowa on Dec. 30, 2018. She got the ball rolling for the Spartans against the Irish making, four 3-pointers to start the game. Her previous career high for treys in a game was three.
FAMILIAR FACE
Hartford assistant coach Courtney Davidson is familiar with the Breslin Center. Davidson was a four-year letterwinner for MSU from 2005-08, playing in 101 games and averaging 3.8 ppg.
EXCLUSIVE COMPANY
Guard Taryn McCutcheon is part of exclusive Michigan State company. She is one of only five players in Spartan history with at least 900 points and 400 assists. Tori Jankoska is the all-time points leader with 2,212 points, while current MSU assistant coach Kristin Haynie holds the all-time assist crown with 574 helpers.
Player Pts Assists
Tori Jankoska (2013-17) 2,212 489
Kristin Haynie (2001-05) 1,199 574
Brittney Thomas (2007-11) 932 401
Deb Traxinger (1978-82) 926 443
Taryn McCutcheon (2017-) 923 485
REACHING THE CENTURY MARK
With a start against Oakland, senior guard Taryn McCutcheon earned her 102nd career start. She has missed only one game during her MSU career against Michigan on Jan. 23, 2018. She now stands 10th in the MSU record books in career starts. Fellow senior Victoria Gaines has now played in 110 career games as a Spartan. She is just 16 games away from reaching the top 20 in career games played.
BEING A BOSS AT THE BREZ
The Spartans continue to dominate at home. Last season, Michigan State set a record with 15 wins at home. Since the 2016-17 season, the Spartans are 40-9 at the friendly confines of the Breslin Center. MSU has won 21 of the last 22 games at home.
BLOCK PARTY
The Spartans have strong on the defensive end this season, including already earning 18 blocks in four games. Freshmen Taiyier Parks (8) and Julia Ayrault (5) lead the way. Parks is tied for sixth in the Big Ten in blocks per game, averaging 2.0, while Ayrault is tied for 14th with 1.3 bpg.
FRESHMEN SENSATIONS
The five Spartan newcomers have made an immediate impact through the first four games. Guard Moira Joiner has started the last three 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. In under five minutes of play, center Cydni Dodd scored four points with one rebound.
APPROACHING MILESTONES
Against Oakland, senior guard Taryn McCutcheon led four Spartans in double-figures with 16 points, moving up to 923 for her career and just 77 points away from becoming the 28th member of MSU's 1,000-point club. McCutcheon drained a season-high four 3-pointers, including three in the first half. She now has multiple 3-pointers in three of the four games and nine treys on the season (2.3 pg).
SPREADING THE WEALTH
Michigan State been spreading the scoring around early this season. In four games, three different players have led the way in scoring: Alyza Winston, Nia Clouden and Taryn McCutcheon. Clouden was the leading scorer against both Eastern Michigan (Nov. 5) and Notre Dame (Nov. 14). Winston was the top scorer versus Detroit Mercy (Nov. 8), while McCutcheon led the way against Oakland (Nov. 18). Overall, eight different Spartans are averaging over 5.5 ppg.
CLOUDEN NAMED B1G PLAYER OF WEEK
Michigan State guard Nia Clouden captured Big Ten Player of the Week honors. This was sophomore's first Big Ten Player of the Week accolade, after earning Freshman of the Week honors once last season. This was Michigan State's first Big Ten Player of the Week honor since Jenna Allen, who earned the honor twice last season on Dec. 10 and Dec. 31.
Clouden, a native of Owings Mills, Maryland, scored a career-high 28 points in the Spartans' 72-69 win over No. 15/14 Notre Dame on Nov. 14. She got off to a fast start, making her first four 3-pointers in the first quarter. She closed out the game strong as well, scoring six points in the final 10 minutes. For the game, she was 9-for-21 from the field and 4-for-9 from long range. She led MSU to its first win over Notre Dame since 2004 and the first victory by a Big Ten school over the Fighting Irish since 2009.
IN THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER
The Spartans are 124-39 (76.1%) all-time in the month of November. Under Coach Merchant, Michigan State is 64-11 (85.3%) in November, with seven of the 10 losses coming against top-10 opponents. The Spartans have won 38 of their last 43 in the month.
SPARTANS IN THE NCAA RANKINGS
After four games, Michigan State is 25th in the nation in steals per game, averaging 14.5. MSU is also 15th in scoring offense (85.8 ppg), as well as standing 21st in 3-pointers per game (9.0 per game).
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 62-5 (.925) against in-state rivals, including a 47-5 (.904) mark under Coach Merchant. All-time, Michigan State is 195-60 (.765) 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.
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 141 of its last 159 games when scoring at least 70 points, and MSU is 158-27 under head coach Suzy Merchant when hanging at least 70 points on the scoreboard. The Spartans have reached the 70-point margin in all four games this season.
CLOSING OUT THE GAMES
The Spartans have been extremely effective closing out games over the last couple years, winning 197 of their last 209 games (.943) when leading with five minutes left, including 147 of their last 161. In Coach Merchant's tenure, Michigan State is 232-18 (.928) when holding a lead with five minutes left.
UP NEXT
After the Spartans hosting Hartford on Nov. 24, the Spartans will then head to warmer climates, playing in the Junkanoo Jam in the Bahamas, Nov. 29-30. US will begin the tournament taking on LSU on Friday, Nov. 29. The Spartans will then face either Kansas State or Memphis on Nov. 30.
GAME FOUR REWIND: MSU 72, OAKLAND 56
Taryn McCutcheon scored 16 points, Mardrekia Cook added 14 and No. 15/16 Michigan State women's basketball defeated Oakland 76-56 at the Breslin Center.
MSU had four in double figures led by 16 points by McCutcheon, while Cook added a season-high 14 points. Sophomore forward Kayla Belles was one point shy of matching her career high, scoring 11 points, while sophomore guard Nia Clouden added 10. Freshman Taiyier Parks was the first Spartan to reach double figures in rebounds with 10.
Postgame Notes vs. Hartford
• Tuesday was MSU's 12th-straight win over in-state foe Oakland, as the Spartans improved to 16-4 all-time in the series vs. the Golden Grizzlies, including 10-2 at home ... Michigan State has held Oakland below 60 points in each of the last two meetings, winning 102-58, last season at Oakland.
• Sophomore guard Nia Clouden tallied 10 points for her third game in double-figure scoring in the Spartans' four contests this season ... Clouden also dished out a season-high six assists, while redhshirt-sophomore Mardrekia Cook added a season-high 14 points.
•Freshman forward Taiyier Parks' 10 rebounds helped MSU to a season-high 55 rebounds and a 55-45 rebounding advantage ... the Spartans have had a +-double-digit rebounding margin in three of the four games as part of averaging 48.8-34.3 (+14.5).
SIGNING DAY
Michigan State women's basketball head coach Suzy Merchant announced the signing of Kendall Bostic (Kokomo, Indiana/Northwestern High School) to a National Letter of Intent.
Bostic is a 6-2 forward who plays for head coach Katie Layden at Northwestern High School in Kokomo, Indiana and AAU basketball for Tony Marlin and the Indiana Flight/Elite. Bostic is ranked No. 16 at her position and No. 67 overall by ESPN HoopGurlz. As a junior, Bostic averaged 18.7 points, 9.2 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game on 68 percent shooting from the field. Last season, Northwestern captured its second consecutive state championship, as Bostic earned State Championship Player of the Game accolades, along with AP First-Team All-State and Co-Player of the Year honors.
She is the daughter of Kevin and Angie Bostic. Her mom, Angie (Cree) Bostic, played basketball at Indiana from, 1991-92.
Players Mentioned
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Guard
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