Thursday, December 5
Tallahassee, Fla.
8 PM
Michigan State University
at
#8 Florida State
Photo by: Rey Del Rio
No. 19 MSU Women Travel to No. 8 Florida State Thursday
12/4/2019 1:34:00 PM | Women's Basketball
This is the third meeting between the teams in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge
EAST LANSING, Mich. - No. 19/21 Michigan State women's basketball remains will take on No. 8/10 Florida State in the 13th annual Big Ten/ACC Challenge in Tallahassee on Dec. 5 at 8 p.m. The game will be televised on the ACC Network with Tiffany Greene and Kelly Gramlich on the call.
• Ten of the 14 games in this year's Big Ten/ACC Challenge will feature at least one school that is either ranked or receiving votes in one of the major national polls including three Top 25 matchups: No. 14/16 Indiana at No. 21/22 Miami on Wednesday, followed by No. 9/9 Maryland at No. 13/12 NC State and No. 19/21 Michigan State at No. 8/10 Florida State on Thursday.
• MSU improved to 6-1 this season with a win over Kansas State at the Junkanoo Jam. Florida State improved to 7-0 after a win against Texas A&M on Dec. 1.
• The Spartans have been in double digits in steals in all seven games this season and are now fifth in the nation in steals per game. Nia Clouden (2.7 spg) and Taryn McCutcheon (2.3 spg) are fifth and sixth, respectively in the Big Ten in steals per game.
• With a season-high seven assists against Kansas State, Taryn McCutcheon moved into second place all-time in career assists at MSU. She now has 294 career assists and stands 80 behind current assistant coach Kristin Haynie who had 574 during her career (2001-05).
SCOUTING FLORIDA STATE
With a big win over then-No. 6/7 Texas A&M on Dec. 1, Florida State moved to No. 8/10 in the polls this week. The Seminoles defeated the Aggies 80-58 at the Maggie Dixon Classic
in Fort Worth, Texas.
The Seminoles are 10-2 in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, which matches Duke (10-2) for the best record among all current ACC and Big Ten teams. FSU has won seven-straight Big Ten/ACC Challenge games, the longest active streak of either conference.
Florida State has three players averaging in double figures led by Nausia Woolfolk who is averaging 16.1 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. Nikki Ekhomu is second in scoring with 15.4 ppg 4.9 apg, Kiah Gillespie while is near a double-double with 15.0 ppg and 9.7 rpg.
SERIES HISTORY VS. FLORIDA STATE
Michigan State holds the series lead against Florida State 2-1. Two of the three meetings have come in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. In 2013, FSU edged MSU, 60-58, while the Spartans won in 2010, 72-64. This will be the third time the teams have met in the Challenge and all three times have been in Tallahassee. The first time the teams faced each other was in 1994 in San Juan with the Spartans coming out on top 82-69.
ACC/BIG TEN CHALLENGE HISTORY
Michigan State will be playing the 13th annual Big Ten/ACC Challenge. Overall, the Spartans hold a 6-6 record in the ACC/B1G Challenge. This is the third time that MSU and Florida State have met in the Challenge with the series tied at 1-1.
Last season (won by the ACC, 8-6), seven games were decided by 11 points or fewer, including two one-possession games and the first OT Challenge game since 2016 (Clemson over Illinois, 69-67).
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.
B1G/ACC Challenge History
2018 - MSU 91, Virginia 66
2017 - Miami 67, MSU 57
2016 - Syracuse 75, MSU 64
2015 - Louisville 85, MSU 78
2014 - MSU 79, Georgia Tech 73 (OT)
2013 - Florida State 60, MSU 58
2012 - MSU 68, N.C. State 51
2011 - Miami 76, MSU 60
2010 - MSU 72, Florida State 64
2009 - MSU 72, North Carolina 66
2008 - Georgia Tech 57, MSU 50
2007 - MSU 68, Clemson 51
Bold = home games
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 until joining B1G in 2014
MOVIN' ON UP
Senior guard Taryn McCutcheon moved into second place in the all-time career assists list, passing All-American Tori Jankoska. With a season-high seven assists against Kansas State on Nov. 30, she passed Jankoska and now has 494 career helpers. Current assistant coach Kristin Haynie is the MSU all-time leader in assists with 574.
WELCOME BACK COLLEY
After missing four game due to injury and obligations due with the Canadian National Team, senior guard Shay Colley returned to action against LSU on Nov. 29. She has averaged 11.5, 3.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game since her return.
SPARTANS IN JUNKANOO JAM
Michigan State played in the Bahamas for the third time. The Spartans were 1-1 at the Junkanoo Jam with a win against Kansas State and a loss to LSU, who enters the polls at No. 25 this week. Nia Clouden earned a spot on the All-tournament team.
MSU first played in the Junkanoo Jam in the 2009-10 season, going 2-0 with a 78-47 win over George Washington on Nov. 27, 2009 and a wild, 93-90 double-OT win over Oklahoma State on Nov. 28, 2009. Senior Allyssa DeHaan was named the Lucaya Division's most valuable player, while Kalisha Keane joined her on the all-tournament team.
During the 2015-16 season, the Spartans went 1-1 at the Junkanoo Jam. No. 20 Michigan State topped Cincinnati, 103-63 behind a then-career-high 30 points from Tori Jankoska in its first game. In the final game, MSU fell to No. 5 Baylor, 84-76. Jankoska and Aerial Powers both earned spots on the All-Tournament team.
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 22 of the last 23 games 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.
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-) 959 494
REACHING THE CENTURY MARK
With a start against LSU, senior guard Taryn McCutcheon earned her 104th 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 111 career games as a Spartan. She is just 14 games away from reaching the top 20 in career games played.
LIKE THIEVES IN THE NIGHT
MSU swiped 17 steals in against Kansas State on Nov. 30. The Spartans rank first in the B1G and fifth in the NCAA in steals per game (14.6). The Spartans have been in double digits in steals in all seven games this season. The Spartans were led by four steals from sophomore Nia Clouden and freshman Taiyier Parks, which was a season high for the freshman. For the season, the Spartans have 102 steals.
THE SPARTANS IN NOVEMBER
Michigan State is now 125-40 (.758) all-time in the month of November ... Under Coach Merchant, MSU is 65-12 (.844), including winning 39 of the last 44 in the 11th month of the calendar.
APPROACHING MILESTONES
Against Kansas State, senior guard Taryn McCutcheon had four points, moving up to 959 for her career and just 41 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 B1G/NCAA RANKINGS
After seven games, Michigan State is fifth in the nation in steals per game (14.6), which is also tops in the Big Ten. MSU is also ninth in offensive rebounds per game (18.1), which is also tops in the Big Ten. After holding Hartford and LSU to no 3-pointers, the Spartans move up to second 3-point field goal defense, holding teams to 18.9 percent from beyond the arc. MSU is also 19th in the nation and second in the Big Ten in turnovers forced (17.3).
Individually, Nia Clouden is get the job done at the charity stripe standing first in the league and 17th in country in free throws made with 38. She is also 55th in the nation and fifth in the Big Ten in total steals with 19.
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.
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 142 of its last 160 games when scoring at least 70 points, and MSU is 160-27 (.856) under head coach Suzy Merchant when hanging at least 70 points on the scoreboard. The Spartans have reached the 70-point margin in all five games this season.
CLOSING OUT THE GAMES
The Spartans have been extremely effective closing out games over the last couple years, winning 199 of their last 211 games (.943) when leading with five minutes left, including 149 of their last 163. In Coach Merchant's tenure, Michigan State is 234-18 (.929) when holding a lead with five minutes left.
UP NEXT
After facing Florida State in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, the Spartans finally return home to take on Morehead State on Sunday, Dec. 15.
GAME SEVEN REWIND: MSU 65, KANSAS STATE 60
Nia Clouden and Shay Colley combined for 31 points and No. 15 Michigan State bounced back from its first loss of the season to defeat Kansas State 65-60 at the Junkanoo Jam on Nov. 30.
The Spartans rallied in the fourth quarter with a 10-0 run that produced a six-point lead after two Alyza Winston free throws with 42.7 seconds to go. After the Wildcats got a Christianna Carr 3-pointer to make it a one-possession game, Clouden made a pair from the foul line at 23 seconds and K-State failed to hit another shot.
Postgame Notes vs. Kansas State
• MSU swiped 17 steals in against Kansas, coming into the weekend ranking first in the B1G and sixth in the NCAA in steals per game (14.8) ... the Spartans have been in double digits in steals in all seven games this season.
• Sophomore guard Tory Ozment had a season-high 12 points off the bench. She also tied a career-high with four 3-pointers.
• Averaging 14.0 points in the two games, Nia Clouden earned a spot on the All-Tournament team. Against Kansas State, she scored 16 points and added four steals.
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.
• Ten of the 14 games in this year's Big Ten/ACC Challenge will feature at least one school that is either ranked or receiving votes in one of the major national polls including three Top 25 matchups: No. 14/16 Indiana at No. 21/22 Miami on Wednesday, followed by No. 9/9 Maryland at No. 13/12 NC State and No. 19/21 Michigan State at No. 8/10 Florida State on Thursday.
• MSU improved to 6-1 this season with a win over Kansas State at the Junkanoo Jam. Florida State improved to 7-0 after a win against Texas A&M on Dec. 1.
• The Spartans have been in double digits in steals in all seven games this season and are now fifth in the nation in steals per game. Nia Clouden (2.7 spg) and Taryn McCutcheon (2.3 spg) are fifth and sixth, respectively in the Big Ten in steals per game.
• With a season-high seven assists against Kansas State, Taryn McCutcheon moved into second place all-time in career assists at MSU. She now has 294 career assists and stands 80 behind current assistant coach Kristin Haynie who had 574 during her career (2001-05).
SCOUTING FLORIDA STATE
With a big win over then-No. 6/7 Texas A&M on Dec. 1, Florida State moved to No. 8/10 in the polls this week. The Seminoles defeated the Aggies 80-58 at the Maggie Dixon Classic
in Fort Worth, Texas.
The Seminoles are 10-2 in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, which matches Duke (10-2) for the best record among all current ACC and Big Ten teams. FSU has won seven-straight Big Ten/ACC Challenge games, the longest active streak of either conference.
Florida State has three players averaging in double figures led by Nausia Woolfolk who is averaging 16.1 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. Nikki Ekhomu is second in scoring with 15.4 ppg 4.9 apg, Kiah Gillespie while is near a double-double with 15.0 ppg and 9.7 rpg.
SERIES HISTORY VS. FLORIDA STATE
Michigan State holds the series lead against Florida State 2-1. Two of the three meetings have come in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. In 2013, FSU edged MSU, 60-58, while the Spartans won in 2010, 72-64. This will be the third time the teams have met in the Challenge and all three times have been in Tallahassee. The first time the teams faced each other was in 1994 in San Juan with the Spartans coming out on top 82-69.
ACC/BIG TEN CHALLENGE HISTORY
Michigan State will be playing the 13th annual Big Ten/ACC Challenge. Overall, the Spartans hold a 6-6 record in the ACC/B1G Challenge. This is the third time that MSU and Florida State have met in the Challenge with the series tied at 1-1.
Last season (won by the ACC, 8-6), seven games were decided by 11 points or fewer, including two one-possession games and the first OT Challenge game since 2016 (Clemson over Illinois, 69-67).
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.
B1G/ACC Challenge History
2018 - MSU 91, Virginia 66
2017 - Miami 67, MSU 57
2016 - Syracuse 75, MSU 64
2015 - Louisville 85, MSU 78
2014 - MSU 79, Georgia Tech 73 (OT)
2013 - Florida State 60, MSU 58
2012 - MSU 68, N.C. State 51
2011 - Miami 76, MSU 60
2010 - MSU 72, Florida State 64
2009 - MSU 72, North Carolina 66
2008 - Georgia Tech 57, MSU 50
2007 - MSU 68, Clemson 51
Bold = home games
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 until joining B1G in 2014
MOVIN' ON UP
Senior guard Taryn McCutcheon moved into second place in the all-time career assists list, passing All-American Tori Jankoska. With a season-high seven assists against Kansas State on Nov. 30, she passed Jankoska and now has 494 career helpers. Current assistant coach Kristin Haynie is the MSU all-time leader in assists with 574.
WELCOME BACK COLLEY
After missing four game due to injury and obligations due with the Canadian National Team, senior guard Shay Colley returned to action against LSU on Nov. 29. She has averaged 11.5, 3.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game since her return.
SPARTANS IN JUNKANOO JAM
Michigan State played in the Bahamas for the third time. The Spartans were 1-1 at the Junkanoo Jam with a win against Kansas State and a loss to LSU, who enters the polls at No. 25 this week. Nia Clouden earned a spot on the All-tournament team.
MSU first played in the Junkanoo Jam in the 2009-10 season, going 2-0 with a 78-47 win over George Washington on Nov. 27, 2009 and a wild, 93-90 double-OT win over Oklahoma State on Nov. 28, 2009. Senior Allyssa DeHaan was named the Lucaya Division's most valuable player, while Kalisha Keane joined her on the all-tournament team.
During the 2015-16 season, the Spartans went 1-1 at the Junkanoo Jam. No. 20 Michigan State topped Cincinnati, 103-63 behind a then-career-high 30 points from Tori Jankoska in its first game. In the final game, MSU fell to No. 5 Baylor, 84-76. Jankoska and Aerial Powers both earned spots on the All-Tournament team.
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 22 of the last 23 games 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.
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-) 959 494
REACHING THE CENTURY MARK
With a start against LSU, senior guard Taryn McCutcheon earned her 104th 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 111 career games as a Spartan. She is just 14 games away from reaching the top 20 in career games played.
LIKE THIEVES IN THE NIGHT
MSU swiped 17 steals in against Kansas State on Nov. 30. The Spartans rank first in the B1G and fifth in the NCAA in steals per game (14.6). The Spartans have been in double digits in steals in all seven games this season. The Spartans were led by four steals from sophomore Nia Clouden and freshman Taiyier Parks, which was a season high for the freshman. For the season, the Spartans have 102 steals.
THE SPARTANS IN NOVEMBER
Michigan State is now 125-40 (.758) all-time in the month of November ... Under Coach Merchant, MSU is 65-12 (.844), including winning 39 of the last 44 in the 11th month of the calendar.
APPROACHING MILESTONES
Against Kansas State, senior guard Taryn McCutcheon had four points, moving up to 959 for her career and just 41 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 B1G/NCAA RANKINGS
After seven games, Michigan State is fifth in the nation in steals per game (14.6), which is also tops in the Big Ten. MSU is also ninth in offensive rebounds per game (18.1), which is also tops in the Big Ten. After holding Hartford and LSU to no 3-pointers, the Spartans move up to second 3-point field goal defense, holding teams to 18.9 percent from beyond the arc. MSU is also 19th in the nation and second in the Big Ten in turnovers forced (17.3).
Individually, Nia Clouden is get the job done at the charity stripe standing first in the league and 17th in country in free throws made with 38. She is also 55th in the nation and fifth in the Big Ten in total steals with 19.
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.
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 142 of its last 160 games when scoring at least 70 points, and MSU is 160-27 (.856) under head coach Suzy Merchant when hanging at least 70 points on the scoreboard. The Spartans have reached the 70-point margin in all five games this season.
CLOSING OUT THE GAMES
The Spartans have been extremely effective closing out games over the last couple years, winning 199 of their last 211 games (.943) when leading with five minutes left, including 149 of their last 163. In Coach Merchant's tenure, Michigan State is 234-18 (.929) when holding a lead with five minutes left.
UP NEXT
After facing Florida State in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, the Spartans finally return home to take on Morehead State on Sunday, Dec. 15.
GAME SEVEN REWIND: MSU 65, KANSAS STATE 60
Nia Clouden and Shay Colley combined for 31 points and No. 15 Michigan State bounced back from its first loss of the season to defeat Kansas State 65-60 at the Junkanoo Jam on Nov. 30.
The Spartans rallied in the fourth quarter with a 10-0 run that produced a six-point lead after two Alyza Winston free throws with 42.7 seconds to go. After the Wildcats got a Christianna Carr 3-pointer to make it a one-possession game, Clouden made a pair from the foul line at 23 seconds and K-State failed to hit another shot.
Postgame Notes vs. Kansas State
• MSU swiped 17 steals in against Kansas, coming into the weekend ranking first in the B1G and sixth in the NCAA in steals per game (14.8) ... the Spartans have been in double digits in steals in all seven games this season.
• Sophomore guard Tory Ozment had a season-high 12 points off the bench. She also tied a career-high with four 3-pointers.
• Averaging 14.0 points in the two games, Nia Clouden earned a spot on the All-Tournament team. Against Kansas State, she scored 16 points and added four steals.
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
Center
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Forward
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Guard/Forward
/ Women's Basketball
Forward
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's BasketballRobyn Fralick | Women's Basketball Selection Show Press Conference | March 16, 2025
Sunday, March 16
Robyn Fralick | Women's Basketball Press Conference | Mar. 04 2025
Tuesday, March 04
Michigan State Women's Basketball vs Minnosta | Cinematic Highlight
Sunday, March 02
Coach Fralick Post Game Comments | MINN | Mar. 1 2025
Saturday, March 01