Friday, December 20
Orlando, Fla.
1:30 PM
Michigan State University
vs
Syracuse
No. 19 MSU Women Open Florida Sunshine Classic Against Syracuse on Friday
12/18/2019 4:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
This is MSU's second appearance in the Florida Sunshine Classic.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - No. 19/23 Michigan State women's basketball will close out the non-conference schedule with a pair of games at the Florida Sunshine Classic in Orlando, Florida. MSU will take on Syracuse on Dec. 20 and close out the tournament against No. 22/25 West Virginia on Dec. 21. Both games will tipoff at 1:30 p.m.
• The Spartans are 7-2 heading into the battle with Syracuse, which stands 5-4 this season. The two teams also met in the Florida Sunshine Classic in 2014 with MSU earning the 89-76 win. This will be the first meeting between the Spartans and West Virginia.
• After nine games, Michigan State is still sixth in the nation in steals per game (13.8 spg), which is also tops in the Big Ten. The Spartans have reached double figures in steals in all nine games.
• Senior guard Taryn McCutcheon dished out four assists Sunday, becoming just the second player in MSU women's basketball history with 500 career assists, now with 501 for her career. McCutcheon needs just 73 more helpers to tie current Spartan assistant coach Kristin Haynie for the all-time assists record with 574.
• In registering her first double-double of her career against Morehead State on Dec. 15, Julia Ayrault notched her second double-digit scoring output, matching career-high of 14 points vs. Hartford (Nov. 24). Sunday was Ayrault's first career double-figure rebounding total, topping her previous career-high of nine rebounds vs. Kansas State (Nov. 30).
SCOUTING SYRACUSE
The Orange are 5-4 heading into the meeting with the Spartans. Syracuse snapped a three-game losing streak with a 82-48 win over UMBC at home on Dec. 8. Three of the Orange's four losses have come against ranked teams, including current No. 1 Stanford.
The Orange are 27th in the nation in offensive rebounds per game with 15.8, while also standing ninth in 3-pointers per game (9.8). As a team, Syracuse is averaging 71.9 ppg, while allowing only 65.3.
Emily Engstler is first in the country in defensive rebounds, averaging 9.3 per game. She is also 17th in double-doubles with five. Engstler is third in scoring, averaging 9.8 points and 11.0 rebounds per game. Kiara Lewis is first in scoring with 15.1 ppg, while Digna Strautmane is second scoring 11.4 ppg.
SERIES HISTORY VS. SYRACUSE
The series between the Spartans and the Orange is tied 1-1 with both meetings coming under Coach Merchant. Michigan State defeated Syracuse at the Florida Sunshine Classic in 2014, 89-76. The Orange returned the favor in 2016 with a 63-59 win in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge at home. In that outing, the Spartans were led by 21 points from Tori Jankoska along with 10 from Nia Hollie.
SCOUTING WEST VIRGINIA
Michigan State will face No. 22 West Virginia for the first time in program history on Saturday, Dec. 21 in the Florida Sunshine Classic.
The Mountaineers stand at 7-1 this season, with their only loss coming at the hands of Creighton, 82-75, in the Cancun Challenge on Nov. 28. Since the loss, West Virginia is on a three-game win streak, including a win over then-ranked No. 10 Mississippi State, 71-65, in the Big 12/SEC Challenge game on Dec. 8. The win marked the highest-ranked opponent the Mountaineers have defeated since March 6, 2017 when WVU defeated No. 2-ranked Baylor in the 2017 Big 12 Tournament Championship.
West Virginia is led by Kysre Gondrezick and Tynice Martin, who are both averaging over 10 points per game. Gondrezick has started in all eight games for the Mountaineers, while averaging 16.8 ppg and 4.0 rpg. She previously played Michigan.
The Mountaineers are shooting .438 from the field and .352 from behind the arc, while out-rebounding opponents by a margin of +11.9. West Virginia is holding opponents to .355 field goal percentage and limiting them to .294 from the three-point line.
RETURN TO THE SUNSHINE CLASSIC
This is the Spartans' second trip to the Florida Sunshine Classic with a trip during the 2014-15 season. MSU went 1-1 that season with an opening game loss to No. 9 Baylor, 84-65. MSU rebounded with an 89-76 win over No. 19 Syracuse.
MASTER THIEVES
Through the first nine games, the Spartans have reached double-figures in steals in all nine. This is the longest streak of this kind during Coach Merchant's tenure. The most double-figure steal games that MSU has had since Coach Merchant's arrival during the 2007-08 season was 17 during the 2010-11 season. During the 2005-06 season, MSU had 20 double-digit steal games.
CLOUDEN CLIMBS THE CHARTS
Sophomore guard Nia Clouden is among the best in several categories in the Big Ten. She is currently tied for fourth in the league in scoring, averaging 15.6 points per game. Rutgers' Arella Guirantes leads the lead in scoring with 19.1 ppg. She is also fourth in free throw percentage (.825). She is providing help on the defensive end of the ball as well, standing tied for third in steals (2.6 spg).
AROUND THE B1G
Aside from Nia Clouden standing fourth in scoring (15.6 ppg), several Spartans are amongst leaders in the Big Ten. Senior guard Taryn McCutcheon is tied for sixth in the league in 3-pointer made with 2.3 per game. Freshmen Taiyier Parks and Julia Ayrault are tied for ninth, respectively in blocks (1.3 bpg). Clouden and McCutcheon are both in the top 10 in the league in steals, with Clouden standing third (2.6 spg). McCutcheon is tied for ninth (2.0 spg).
As a team, MSU is first in 3-point field goal defense (.200) and second in rebounding offense (43.6). The Spartans are also second in rebounding margin (+7.9) and second in steals (13.8 spg).
MAKING HISTORY
Senior guard Taryn McCutcheon dished out four assists against Morehead State on Dec. 15, as she became just the second player in MSU women's basketball history with 500 career assists, now with 501 for her career. McCutcheon needs just 73 more helpers to tie current Spartan assistant coach Kristin Haynie for the all-time assists record with 574. Current assistant coach Kristin Haynie is the MSU all-time leader in assists with 574. She currently leads the team in assists with 25.
PULLING THEIR WEIGHT
Michigan State had 66 points scored by the bench on Sunday against Morehead State; it's second-most of the season behind 68 vs. Detroit Mercy (Nov. 8). The 66 points was 71.0 percent of the Spartans' scoring. For the season, Michigan State has had 45.9 percent of its scoring come off the bench, compared to 25.7 percent from it opponents. Coming off the bench, freshmen Julia Ayrault is averaging 7.0 ppg. Seven times this season MSU has had bench players reach double figures off the bench.
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 41-9 at the friendly confines of the Breslin Center. MSU has won 23 of the last 24 games at home. This season, the Spartans are 5-0 at home.
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. With four assists against Morehead State on Dec. 15, she becomes just the second player with 500 assists in Spartan history.
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-) 978 201
FACING TWO OR MORE ACC TEAMS IN SAME SEASON
This marks the third-straight season and the eighth time under head coach Suzy Merchant that the Spartans have faced two or more teams from the ACC in the same season, including the fifth time in seven years.
2019-20 (3) | Notre Dame / FSU ^ / Syracuse
2018-19 (3) | NC State / Virginia ^ / Notre Dame $
2017-18 (2) | Miami ^ / Notre Dame
2014-15 (2) | Notre Dame / Georgia Tech ^
2013-14 (3) | Notre Dame / FSU ^ / Virginia Tech
2012-13 (3) | Virginia Tech / NC State ^ / Maryland $&
2008-09 (2) | Georgia Tech ^ / Duke $
2007-08 (2) | Clemson ^ / NC State @
^ = Big Ten/ACC Challenge | @ = WNIT
$ = NCAA Tournament | & = Maryland was in ACC from 1953-03
REACHING THE CENTURY MARK
With a start against Morehead State, senior guard Taryn McCutcheon earned her 107th 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 114 career games as a Spartan. She is just 12 games away from reaching the top 20 in career games played.
LIKE THIEVES IN THE NIGHT
MSU swiped 10 steals in against No. 8/10 Florida State on Dec. 5. The Spartans rank first in the B1G and ninth in the NCAA in steals per game (14.0). The Spartans have been in double digits in steals in all eight games this season. The Spartans were led by four steals from sophomore Nia Clouden. For the season, the Spartans have 112 steals.
APPROACHING MILESTONES
Against Morehead State, senior guard Taryn McCutcheon had 10 points, moving up to 978 for her career and just 22 points away from becoming the 28th member of MSU's 1,000-point club.
CLOUDEN NAMED B1G PLAYER OF WEEK
Michigan State guard Nia Clouden captured Big Ten Player of the Week honors on Nov. 18. 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.
SPARTANS IN THE NCAA RANKINGS
After nine games, Michigan State is sixth in the nation in steals per game (13.8), which is also tops in the Big Ten. MSU is also 12th in offensive rebounds per game (16.8), which is also first in the league. After holding Hartford and LSU to no 3-pointers earlier this season, the Spartans are fourth in 3-point field goal defense, holding teams to 20.0 percent from beyond the arc.
Individually, Nia Clouden is getting the job done at the charity stripe standing second in the league and 24th in country in free throws made with 47. She is also 73rd in the nation and fifth in the Big Ten in total steals with 23.
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.
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.
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.
ACC/BIG TEN CHALLENGE HISTORY
Michigan State played the 13th annual Big Ten/ACC Challenge. After losing to No 8 Florida State, 78-68, the Spartans hold a 6-7 record in the ACC/B1G Challenge. This was the third time that MSU and Florida State have met in the Challenge with FSU leading 2-1.
In 2014, Michigan State came-from-behind to capture a 79-73 overtime win against Georgia Tech on Dec. 4. In 2015, Louisville came out fast and despite a second-half comeback by MSU, the Cardinals captured the win, 85-78. In 2016, the Spartans traveled to No. 21 Syracuse, falling to the Orange in the Carrier Dome, 75-64. In 2017, Michigan State lost to Miami in Coral Gables, 67-57, behind a game-high 14 points from Taryn McCutcheon. Last year was MSU's most dominating win with a 91-66 win over Virginia. Overall, it was the third-largest margin of victory in the challenge.
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 143 of its last 161 games when scoring at least 70 points, and MSU is 161-27 (.856) under head coach Suzy Merchant when hanging at least 70 points on the scoreboard. The Spartans have reached the 70-point margin in six games this season and are 6-0.
CLOSING OUT THE GAMES
The Spartans have been extremely effective closing out games over the last couple years, winning 200 of their last 213 games (.939) when leading with five minutes left, including 150 of their last 165. In Coach Merchant's tenure, Michigan State is 235-19 (.925) when holding a lead with five minutes left. This season, MSU is 7-1 when leading with five minutes remaining with the only loss coming against No. 8 Florida State.
UP NEXT
After facing Syracuse and West Virginia in the Florida Sunshine Classic, the Spartans will break for the holidays. Michigan State will return for its Big Ten opener on Dec. 28 at Indiana.
GAME EIGHT REWIND: MSU 93, Morehead State 48
Freshman forward Julia Ayrault had her first collegiate double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds, as No. 19 Michigan State overwhelmed Morehead State 93-48 on Sunday.
The Spartans used 14 players and 12 scored, 10 in the first half when they took a 45-17 lead. In total, five players reached double led by Ayrault's 14. Sophomore forward Kayla Belles and senior guard Nia Hollie added 12 points each and Taryn McCutcheon and Nia Clouden had 10 apiece. Senior guard Taryn McCutcheon dished out four assists
Postgame Notes vs. Morehead State
• The 93 points scored was the Spartans' second-highest scoring output of the season behind a season-high 110 points vs. Detroit Mercy (Nov. 8) as MSU topped the 90-point margin for the second time this season and the 80-point mark for the third time.
• The Spartans had a +21 rebounding advantage (46-25), as they have had a double-digit rebounding advantage in five games this season.
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.
• The Spartans are 7-2 heading into the battle with Syracuse, which stands 5-4 this season. The two teams also met in the Florida Sunshine Classic in 2014 with MSU earning the 89-76 win. This will be the first meeting between the Spartans and West Virginia.
• After nine games, Michigan State is still sixth in the nation in steals per game (13.8 spg), which is also tops in the Big Ten. The Spartans have reached double figures in steals in all nine games.
• Senior guard Taryn McCutcheon dished out four assists Sunday, becoming just the second player in MSU women's basketball history with 500 career assists, now with 501 for her career. McCutcheon needs just 73 more helpers to tie current Spartan assistant coach Kristin Haynie for the all-time assists record with 574.
• In registering her first double-double of her career against Morehead State on Dec. 15, Julia Ayrault notched her second double-digit scoring output, matching career-high of 14 points vs. Hartford (Nov. 24). Sunday was Ayrault's first career double-figure rebounding total, topping her previous career-high of nine rebounds vs. Kansas State (Nov. 30).
SCOUTING SYRACUSE
The Orange are 5-4 heading into the meeting with the Spartans. Syracuse snapped a three-game losing streak with a 82-48 win over UMBC at home on Dec. 8. Three of the Orange's four losses have come against ranked teams, including current No. 1 Stanford.
The Orange are 27th in the nation in offensive rebounds per game with 15.8, while also standing ninth in 3-pointers per game (9.8). As a team, Syracuse is averaging 71.9 ppg, while allowing only 65.3.
Emily Engstler is first in the country in defensive rebounds, averaging 9.3 per game. She is also 17th in double-doubles with five. Engstler is third in scoring, averaging 9.8 points and 11.0 rebounds per game. Kiara Lewis is first in scoring with 15.1 ppg, while Digna Strautmane is second scoring 11.4 ppg.
SERIES HISTORY VS. SYRACUSE
The series between the Spartans and the Orange is tied 1-1 with both meetings coming under Coach Merchant. Michigan State defeated Syracuse at the Florida Sunshine Classic in 2014, 89-76. The Orange returned the favor in 2016 with a 63-59 win in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge at home. In that outing, the Spartans were led by 21 points from Tori Jankoska along with 10 from Nia Hollie.
SCOUTING WEST VIRGINIA
Michigan State will face No. 22 West Virginia for the first time in program history on Saturday, Dec. 21 in the Florida Sunshine Classic.
The Mountaineers stand at 7-1 this season, with their only loss coming at the hands of Creighton, 82-75, in the Cancun Challenge on Nov. 28. Since the loss, West Virginia is on a three-game win streak, including a win over then-ranked No. 10 Mississippi State, 71-65, in the Big 12/SEC Challenge game on Dec. 8. The win marked the highest-ranked opponent the Mountaineers have defeated since March 6, 2017 when WVU defeated No. 2-ranked Baylor in the 2017 Big 12 Tournament Championship.
West Virginia is led by Kysre Gondrezick and Tynice Martin, who are both averaging over 10 points per game. Gondrezick has started in all eight games for the Mountaineers, while averaging 16.8 ppg and 4.0 rpg. She previously played Michigan.
The Mountaineers are shooting .438 from the field and .352 from behind the arc, while out-rebounding opponents by a margin of +11.9. West Virginia is holding opponents to .355 field goal percentage and limiting them to .294 from the three-point line.
RETURN TO THE SUNSHINE CLASSIC
This is the Spartans' second trip to the Florida Sunshine Classic with a trip during the 2014-15 season. MSU went 1-1 that season with an opening game loss to No. 9 Baylor, 84-65. MSU rebounded with an 89-76 win over No. 19 Syracuse.
MASTER THIEVES
Through the first nine games, the Spartans have reached double-figures in steals in all nine. This is the longest streak of this kind during Coach Merchant's tenure. The most double-figure steal games that MSU has had since Coach Merchant's arrival during the 2007-08 season was 17 during the 2010-11 season. During the 2005-06 season, MSU had 20 double-digit steal games.
CLOUDEN CLIMBS THE CHARTS
Sophomore guard Nia Clouden is among the best in several categories in the Big Ten. She is currently tied for fourth in the league in scoring, averaging 15.6 points per game. Rutgers' Arella Guirantes leads the lead in scoring with 19.1 ppg. She is also fourth in free throw percentage (.825). She is providing help on the defensive end of the ball as well, standing tied for third in steals (2.6 spg).
AROUND THE B1G
Aside from Nia Clouden standing fourth in scoring (15.6 ppg), several Spartans are amongst leaders in the Big Ten. Senior guard Taryn McCutcheon is tied for sixth in the league in 3-pointer made with 2.3 per game. Freshmen Taiyier Parks and Julia Ayrault are tied for ninth, respectively in blocks (1.3 bpg). Clouden and McCutcheon are both in the top 10 in the league in steals, with Clouden standing third (2.6 spg). McCutcheon is tied for ninth (2.0 spg).
As a team, MSU is first in 3-point field goal defense (.200) and second in rebounding offense (43.6). The Spartans are also second in rebounding margin (+7.9) and second in steals (13.8 spg).
MAKING HISTORY
Senior guard Taryn McCutcheon dished out four assists against Morehead State on Dec. 15, as she became just the second player in MSU women's basketball history with 500 career assists, now with 501 for her career. McCutcheon needs just 73 more helpers to tie current Spartan assistant coach Kristin Haynie for the all-time assists record with 574. Current assistant coach Kristin Haynie is the MSU all-time leader in assists with 574. She currently leads the team in assists with 25.
PULLING THEIR WEIGHT
Michigan State had 66 points scored by the bench on Sunday against Morehead State; it's second-most of the season behind 68 vs. Detroit Mercy (Nov. 8). The 66 points was 71.0 percent of the Spartans' scoring. For the season, Michigan State has had 45.9 percent of its scoring come off the bench, compared to 25.7 percent from it opponents. Coming off the bench, freshmen Julia Ayrault is averaging 7.0 ppg. Seven times this season MSU has had bench players reach double figures off the bench.
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 41-9 at the friendly confines of the Breslin Center. MSU has won 23 of the last 24 games at home. This season, the Spartans are 5-0 at home.
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. With four assists against Morehead State on Dec. 15, she becomes just the second player with 500 assists in Spartan history.
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-) 978 201
FACING TWO OR MORE ACC TEAMS IN SAME SEASON
This marks the third-straight season and the eighth time under head coach Suzy Merchant that the Spartans have faced two or more teams from the ACC in the same season, including the fifth time in seven years.
2019-20 (3) | Notre Dame / FSU ^ / Syracuse
2018-19 (3) | NC State / Virginia ^ / Notre Dame $
2017-18 (2) | Miami ^ / Notre Dame
2014-15 (2) | Notre Dame / Georgia Tech ^
2013-14 (3) | Notre Dame / FSU ^ / Virginia Tech
2012-13 (3) | Virginia Tech / NC State ^ / Maryland $&
2008-09 (2) | Georgia Tech ^ / Duke $
2007-08 (2) | Clemson ^ / NC State @
^ = Big Ten/ACC Challenge | @ = WNIT
$ = NCAA Tournament | & = Maryland was in ACC from 1953-03
REACHING THE CENTURY MARK
With a start against Morehead State, senior guard Taryn McCutcheon earned her 107th 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 114 career games as a Spartan. She is just 12 games away from reaching the top 20 in career games played.
LIKE THIEVES IN THE NIGHT
MSU swiped 10 steals in against No. 8/10 Florida State on Dec. 5. The Spartans rank first in the B1G and ninth in the NCAA in steals per game (14.0). The Spartans have been in double digits in steals in all eight games this season. The Spartans were led by four steals from sophomore Nia Clouden. For the season, the Spartans have 112 steals.
APPROACHING MILESTONES
Against Morehead State, senior guard Taryn McCutcheon had 10 points, moving up to 978 for her career and just 22 points away from becoming the 28th member of MSU's 1,000-point club.
CLOUDEN NAMED B1G PLAYER OF WEEK
Michigan State guard Nia Clouden captured Big Ten Player of the Week honors on Nov. 18. 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.
SPARTANS IN THE NCAA RANKINGS
After nine games, Michigan State is sixth in the nation in steals per game (13.8), which is also tops in the Big Ten. MSU is also 12th in offensive rebounds per game (16.8), which is also first in the league. After holding Hartford and LSU to no 3-pointers earlier this season, the Spartans are fourth in 3-point field goal defense, holding teams to 20.0 percent from beyond the arc.
Individually, Nia Clouden is getting the job done at the charity stripe standing second in the league and 24th in country in free throws made with 47. She is also 73rd in the nation and fifth in the Big Ten in total steals with 23.
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.
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.
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.
ACC/BIG TEN CHALLENGE HISTORY
Michigan State played the 13th annual Big Ten/ACC Challenge. After losing to No 8 Florida State, 78-68, the Spartans hold a 6-7 record in the ACC/B1G Challenge. This was the third time that MSU and Florida State have met in the Challenge with FSU leading 2-1.
In 2014, Michigan State came-from-behind to capture a 79-73 overtime win against Georgia Tech on Dec. 4. In 2015, Louisville came out fast and despite a second-half comeback by MSU, the Cardinals captured the win, 85-78. In 2016, the Spartans traveled to No. 21 Syracuse, falling to the Orange in the Carrier Dome, 75-64. In 2017, Michigan State lost to Miami in Coral Gables, 67-57, behind a game-high 14 points from Taryn McCutcheon. Last year was MSU's most dominating win with a 91-66 win over Virginia. Overall, it was the third-largest margin of victory in the challenge.
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 143 of its last 161 games when scoring at least 70 points, and MSU is 161-27 (.856) under head coach Suzy Merchant when hanging at least 70 points on the scoreboard. The Spartans have reached the 70-point margin in six games this season and are 6-0.
CLOSING OUT THE GAMES
The Spartans have been extremely effective closing out games over the last couple years, winning 200 of their last 213 games (.939) when leading with five minutes left, including 150 of their last 165. In Coach Merchant's tenure, Michigan State is 235-19 (.925) when holding a lead with five minutes left. This season, MSU is 7-1 when leading with five minutes remaining with the only loss coming against No. 8 Florida State.
UP NEXT
After facing Syracuse and West Virginia in the Florida Sunshine Classic, the Spartans will break for the holidays. Michigan State will return for its Big Ten opener on Dec. 28 at Indiana.
GAME EIGHT REWIND: MSU 93, Morehead State 48
Freshman forward Julia Ayrault had her first collegiate double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds, as No. 19 Michigan State overwhelmed Morehead State 93-48 on Sunday.
The Spartans used 14 players and 12 scored, 10 in the first half when they took a 45-17 lead. In total, five players reached double led by Ayrault's 14. Sophomore forward Kayla Belles and senior guard Nia Hollie added 12 points each and Taryn McCutcheon and Nia Clouden had 10 apiece. Senior guard Taryn McCutcheon dished out four assists
Postgame Notes vs. Morehead State
• The 93 points scored was the Spartans' second-highest scoring output of the season behind a season-high 110 points vs. Detroit Mercy (Nov. 8) as MSU topped the 90-point margin for the second time this season and the 80-point mark for the third time.
• The Spartans had a +21 rebounding advantage (46-25), as they have had a double-digit rebounding advantage in five games this season.
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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