Sunday, February 24
East Lansing, Mich.
2 PM ET
Michigan State University
vs
Michigan
Spartan Women Celebrate Senior Day Hosting Michigan Sunday
2/23/2019 10:26:00 AM | Women's Basketball
MSU will honor senior Jenna Allen after the game.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State women's basketball continues its three-game homestand. The Spartans host Michigan on Sunday, Feb. 24 at 2 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN2 with Tiffany Greene and LaChina Robinson on the call. MSU looks to snap a season-high three game losing streak. Despite one more home game, the Spartans will celebrate Senior Day, honoring their lone senior Jenna Allen.
• Michigan State currently holds a 17-9 overall record and are 7-8 in Big Ten action. Michigan has won seven-straight games and are 19-9 overall and 10-6 in league contests.
• Redshirt junior Shay Colley has scored in double-figures in each of the last four games which includes a career-high 32-point outburst against Indiana on February 11. Colley netted 18 points in the Spartans 77-70 loss to Ohio State on February 21. The Brampton, Ontario, Canada native has reached double figures 16 times this season, including in 11 of the last 12 games.
• Against Ohio State, the Spartans out-scored the Buckeyes, 43-31. The +12 rebound margin was its largest since a +22 margin against Illinois on Jan. 24. Michigan State is now 13-2 when out-rebounding its opponent.
• Shay Colley is eighth in the league in scoring with 15.3 ppg. Jenna Allen is 18th in the B1G in scoring, averaging 12.6 ppg. Allen is also eighth in field goal percentage, shooting 49.2 percent.
SCOUTING MICHIGAN
Michigan comes into East Lansing as one of the hottest teams in the Big Ten, having won seven- straight games. This is just the just the third time in school history that the Wolverines have won seven-straight league contests. U-M last won seven straight during an eight-game streak to end conference play during the 1999-2000 season. It is the longest conference streak under head coach Kim Barnes Arico.
Hallie Thome became the third player in program history to reach the 2,000-point mark on Feb. 17. Thome is up to 2,029 career points, ranking third all-time at U-M. Thome is tied for 19th in the Big Ten in scoring, averaging 12.5 points per game. The senior is also tied for 17th in rebounding with 6.1 rpg. Freshman Naz Hillmon is tied for 15th in scoring (13.0 ppg) and tied for 13th with 6.9 rpg. Hillmon is second in scoring among Big Ten freshmen with her 13.0 ppg, while standing fourth in rebounding with 6.9 rpg.
As a team, Michigan is fourth in the Big Ten in scoring margin (+9.3) and third in field goal percentage (.452). The Wolverines remain a tough defensive rebounding team, standing first in the B1G in rebounding defense (32.0) and fourth in rebounding offense (40.3).
Barnes Arico picked her up 400th career win last season, becoming the seventh active Big Ten head coach to reach 400. She is Michigan's all-time wins leader with 152 and is still the winningest coach at St. John's with 176 victories.
SERIES HISTORY VS. MICHIGAN
Overall, the Spartans hold a commanding 71-19 series lead over the Wolverines. This is the second meeting of the regular season with MSU taking the 77-73 win over Michigan in Ann Arbor on Jan. 27. In that battle, MSU had four players in double figures led by 14 points from Jenna Allen, Taryn McCutcheon and Shay Colley. Michigan State has won six of the last seven meetings, including last season in East Lansing, 66-61. The last couple battles have been tight contests, having been decided by a combined nine points.
LAST TIME VS. MICHIGAN
With four in double figures, the No. 23/21 Michigan State women's basketball capture the in-state battle with Michigan, 77-73, at a packed Crisler Center on Jan. 27, 2019. The Spartans are now 12-0 this season when at least four players score in double digits.
With the win, Michigan State improves to 15-5 overall and 5-4 in Big Ten action. Michigan falls to 12-9 overall and 3-6 in league play.
For the eighth time this season, four Spartans scored in double digits. Senior center Jenna Allen, junior guard Taryn McCutcheon and redshirt-junior guard Shay Colley all scored 14 points, while redshirt-junior forward Victoria Gaines added 11 points and seven boards in the win. McCutcheon also added at game-high six assists.
Michigan's Naz Hillmon recorded a double-double with 17 points and 10 boards, while Amy Dilk and Deja Church both scored 13.
DID YOU KNOW?
In the win against Purdue on Feb. 3, all five of MSU's starters posted double-figures for the first time this season. This was the third-straight game that three or more starters have tallied double-digits. It marks the first time since Nov. 30, 2014 that the Spartans had all five starters net double-figures in an 85-39 victory over Miami (Ohio), when Anna Morrissey (17), Tori Jankoska (16), Jasmine Lumpkin (13), Becca Mills (10) and Aerial Powers (10) posted double-digits.
DOWN TO THE WIRE
Michigan State has only three games left in the regular season, including two at the friendly confines of the Breslin Center. With a 7-8 Big Ten record, MSU is currently 10th in the league standings. Maryland stands first in the standings with a 13-3 record, while Iowa is second with a 12-4 mark. The Spartans have home games against Michigan and Penn State (Feb. 27) only the schedule, while they have one regular-season road game left at Minnesota on march 3.
ALLEN REACHES A MILESTONE
With 13 points on Feb. 21 against Nebraska, senior center Jenna Allen became the 27th player in Spartan history to reach the 1,000 career points milestone. She now has 1,011 career points in her four years in the Michigan State green and white.
She has four 20+ point outings this season and five in her career. Against both Oregon and FAU, Allen tied a career-high with three 3-pointers, matching three triples from at Notre Dame (12/16/17), which was also when her career-high of 28 points came.
NO PLACE LIKE HOME
Michigan State is currently 13-1 at home this season and having its 16-game winning streak stopped against Ohio State on Feb. 24. The Spartans home streak dated back to last season.
BEST IN CLASS
Freshman guard Nia Clouden is having a stellar rookie campaign. She is among the B1G leaders among freshmen in several categories. The guard is fifth among freshmen in scoring, averaging 11.8 point per game. She is also tied for first in assists with 4.2 helpers per contest and tied for third in steals per game with 1.2. She is second in the league lead in assist-to-turnover ratio behind Northwestern's Veronica Burton (2.2).
LUCKY 77
With 77 points Feb. 11, Michigan State has scored in the 70s in five-straight games. In four of the last five wins, the Spartans have scored 77 points, after netting 77 in a 77-60 upset of No. 9 Maryland (Jan. 17), a 77-60 victory at home vs. Illinois (Jan. 24) and winning at Michigan 77-73 (Jan. 27) before Monday's 77-61 win over Indiana. MSU's lone non-77 points in a victory was 74 in a 74-66 win over Purdue.
CRASHING THE BOARDS
The Spartans are 13-2 this season when out-rebounding the opposition. The 77-70 loss against Ohio State on Feb. 21 was just the second time that Michigan State lost when out-rebounding its opponent. MSU had a 43-31 advantage on the board in that game. Michigan State is 3-6 when its opponents have more rebounds.
BIG SHOT SHAY
Junior guard Shay Colley netted a career-high 32 points Feb. 11. She topped her previous season-high of 28 points from at Northwestern (Jan. 3) and her previous career-high of 31 points from at South Dakota (March 22, 2018) in last season's WNIT. Colley's 31-point outing is the first 30+ game this season by a Spartan and the first since Colley's 31 points at South Dakota.
Colley's 32 points is the most points scored by a Spartan women's basketball player since Tori Jankoska scored 42 vs. Ohio State on Jan. 10, 2017. The 32 points is tied for the 14th-most in a single-game by an MSU women's basketball player.
In the last four games, Colley averaged 22.8 points and 5.3 rebounds per game to lead the team. She shot 43.9 percent from the field and 83.9 percent from the charity stripe.
MOTHER NATURE GETS IN THE WAY
The Spartans game against Penn State that was postponed on Jan. 31 was the first time MSU had a game re-schedule since the 2015-16 season. That season storms in the Mid-Atlantic area re-scheduled a matchup between MSU and Maryland twice. The game was originally set to be played on Jan. 23 was finally played on Feb. 5.
The Spartans also had travel woes on the way to Iowa. Michigan State was scheduled to travel to Iowa City on Wednesday, Feb. 6, but were unable to land in Iowa. MSU finally reached Iowa on Thursday morning prior to the game.
CLOUDEN CLIMBS THE CHARTS
Freshman sensation Nia Clouden is climbing up the MSU freshman record charts. She moved up to sixth in freshman assists with 108 helpers, passing Kim Archer who had 106 assists during the 1983-84 season. Clouden is now just nine assists away from tying Spartan great Kristin Haynie for fifth in freshman assists. Current teammate Taryn McCutcheon holds the record for freshman assists with 169 during the 2016-17 season. Clouden also has scored 307 points this season, which places her No. 9 in freshman scoring, passing teammate Sidney cooks who scored 305 points as a freshman last season.
MCCUTCHEON MOVIN' ON UP
With four assists against Ohio State on Feb. 21, junior guard Taryn McCutcheon is fourth in career helpers with 455 in just three seasons. She passed Deb Traxinger (1978-82), who had 443 career assists. She is one of just five Spartans to reach the 400-assist mark. McCutcheon is now five assists away from passing Christine Powers (1991-95), who had 460. MSU Hall of Famer Kristin Haynie (2001-05) is the all-time career leader in assists with 574 helpers.
NO PLACE LIKE HOME
After the loss to Ohio State on Feb. 21, the Spartans are now 13-1 this season, halting their 16-game home winning streak dating back to last year. Iowa now remains the only Big Ten team to stand undefeated at home this season with a 14-0 home record. MSU's 16-game home winning streak was the longest since a streak of 20 games overlapping the 2009-10 and the 2010-11 seasons.
The Spartans were 11-5 at the Breslin Center last season, while finishing the 2016-17 season 11-3 at home. During the 2015-16 season, MSU went 13-2 in East Lansing. The Spartans most home wins came during the 2010-11 season with 15 wins.
BEATING THE BEST
The Jan. 17 upset win over No. 9/9 Maryland was Michigan State's fourth home win over a ranked team, marking the first time that the Spartans have defeated four ranked teams at home since 2004-05 when MSU defeated No. 18/17 Iowa, No. 11/12 Minnesota, No. RV/24 Purdue and No. 2/3 Ohio State.
The win was MSU's fourth home win over a ranked team, joining No. 3 Oregon (88-82 on Dec. 9), No. 16 Iowa (84-70 on Dec. 30) and No. 18 Minnesota (Jan. 9), marking the second time in last four seasons that the Spartans have beat four ranked teams in the same season. In 2015-16, the Spartans topped No. 16 Northwestern (home), No. 5 Ohio State (home) and No. 9 Ohio State (neutral).
MSU's losses against ranked teams were against then-No. 15/13 NC State on Nov. 22 and No. 20/23 Rutgers on the road on Jan. 20. The Spartans only other loss to a ranked team was against No. 16/16 Iowa on Feb. 7.
The Spartans are now 4-3 this season against ranked opponents, improving to 23-17 overall at home vs. ranked foes under head coach Suzy Merchant.
PUTTING UP THE NUMBERS
In 26 games this season, the Spartans have had a player score at least 20 points 14 times, including Shay Colley scoring a career-high 32 against Indiana on Feb. 11 and 24 points against Wisconsin on Feb. 14. Senior center Jenna Allen has scored at least 20 points four times with a season-high 27 points against Oregon on Dec. 9. Colley has scored at least 20-points six times this season. Freshman guard Nia Clouden scored a career-high 27 against Iowa on Dec. 30 and 20 points in the second meeting against Iowa on Feb. 7 to go along with scoring 23 against OSU on Feb. 21. She has scored at least 20-points three times this season.
B1G BY THE NUMBERS
The Spartans continue to hold several top spots in the Big Ten rankings this week, sitting first in both 3-point field goal percentage (.377) and second in 3-pointers made per game (7.5). Michigan State is second in scoring offense with 77.3 ppg, trailing Iowa's leading 80.6 ppg, along with also ranking second in assists (18.8 apg), turnover margin (+2.6) and assist/turnover ratio (1.3). MSU is fourth in field goal percentage (.448) and third in steals (8.3 spg).
SPREADING THE WEALTH
Michigan State has had success when it spreads the ball around this season. The Spartans are 12-0 when they have 21 or more assists in a game. Seven different players have led the team in assists this season, topped by junior guard Taryn McCutcheon, who has led MSU eight times.
The Spartans improved to 17-0 when having more assists than their opponents. In MSU's losses to NC State, Northwestern, Indiana, Ohio State and Iowa, the Spartans averaged only 12.5 assists per game, including a season-low nine against Ohio State.
AGAINST THE GREAT LAKES STATE
Michigan State has had great success against other collegiate programs in the state of Michigan over the past 16 seasons. Since the beginning of the 2002-03 season, the Spartans are 57-5 (.919) against in-state rivals, including a 42-5 (.894) mark under Coach Merchant. All-time, Michigan State is 190-60 (.760) against other Michigan schools.
BY THE NUMBERS
Michigan State's 88-82 upset of No. 3 was MSU's first upset win over an AP Poll top 5 team since a 107-105 3OT victory over No. 5 Ohio State on Feb. 27, 2016. It was the Spartans' biggest upset win since a 68-64 upset of No. 3 Tennessee on April 3, 2005 in the NCAA Tournament. It was the highest regular-season win since a 82-73 OT win over No. 3 Notre Dame on Dec. 2, 2004.
CLOSING IT OUT
The Spartans have been extremely effective closing out games over the last couple years, winning 189 of their last 201 games (.940) when leading with five minutes left, including 139 of their last 153. In Coach Merchant's tenure, Michigan State is 224-18 (.926) when holding a lead with five minutes left. This season, the Spartans are 17-2 with the only losses coming against Indiana on Jan. 6 and Ohio State on Feb. 21.
SPARTANS IN THE NCAA RANKINGS
The Spartan guard tandem of freshman guard Nia Clouden and junior Taryn McCutcheon rank fourth and sixth in the B1G and 42nd and 58th in the NCAA, respectively in assist-to-turnover ratio. Clouden has a 2.20 ratio, while McCutcheon stands 2.09. McCutcheon is also 108th in the nation and eigth in the league in assists per game, dishing out 4.3, to go with 11th in the conference and 91st in the country in total assists (113). McCutcheon is also 54th in the country and second in the conference in 3-point percentage (.399). Senior center Jenna Allen is 78th in the country and seventh in the league in field-goal percentage with a 49.2 percentage.
As a team, MSU is seventh in the NCAA and second in the B1G in assists per game, averaging 18.8. Michigan State is also 13th in the country and second in the conference in assist/turnover ratio (1.33). MSU is also 14th in the nation and tops in the league in 3-point field goal percentage, shooting 37.7 percent behind the arc. The Spartans are 23rd in the country and second in the Big Ten in scoring offense, netting 77.3 points per game, as well as ranking 61st in the nation and fifth in the league in scoring margin at +9.2. MSU is also 32nd in the country and fourth in the league in field goal percentage, shooting 44.8 percent from the field.
MERCHANT HONORED WITH ATHENA AWARD
Michigan State head women's basketball coach Suzy Merchant has been named the recipient of the 2018 ATHENA Leadership Award, as announced by the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce. Merchant was presented her award at a luncheon at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center on Dec. 6. The ATHENA Award honors individuals who strive towards the highest levels of professional accomplishment, who excel in their chosen field, have devoted time and energy to their community, and who pave paths for other women to follow.
2018 ACC/B1G CHALLENGE RECAP
Michigan State was one of the six Big Ten teams to earn a victory in the 12th annual ACC/Big Ten Women's Basketball Challenge, as the ACC won the Challenge, 8-6. MSU was joined in the win column by Indiana, Maryland, Ohio State, Purdue and Minnesota. The Spartans' 25-point margin of victory (91-66) was not only the largest margin of victory, but also the highest B1G score. Overall, it was the third-largest margin of victory in the challenge, behind Notre Dame's 34-point margin in 105-71 win over Iowa and 29-point margin in Florida State's 87-58 win over Penn State. MSU's 91 points was the second-highest scored in the Challenge behind Notre Dame's 105 points.
BOUNCE BACK ABILITY
In Coach Merchant's first 12 seasons, the Spartans are 79 -34 (69.9%) following a loss.
MAGIC NUMBERS
In head coach Suzy Merchant's tenure, when two numbers on the scoreboard were achieved it typically has been a sign of a MSU win. Overall, MSU has scored at least 70 points in 21 of 26 games this season. MSU has won 135 of its last 152 games when scoring at least 70 points, and MSU is 153-27 under head coach Suzy Merchant when hanging at least 70 points on the scoreboard. This year, MSU is 17-4 when scoring at least 70 with a loss to No. 13 NC State on Nov. 22 and a loss to No. 16 Iowa on Feb. 7. The Spartans also fell to Nebraska 82-71 on Feb. 17 and Ohio State on Feb. 21.
FREQUENT FLIER
Redshirt-junior guard Shay Colley spent time overseas this summer playing for the Canadian National Team. Playing in Europe, Colley helped guide Canada to the quarterfinals of the FIBA Women's World Cup.
FANS CONTINUE TO PACK THE BRESLIN
Michigan State women's basketball continues to pack the Breslin Center, finishing the 2017-18 season 10th in the nation and second in the Big Ten home attendance. The Spartans averaged 5,689 fans in 16 home games last season. MSU had a total of 91,026 fans pass through the gates. This is the 14th-straight season that the Spartans have been ranked in the top 15 nationally in attendance. MSU has had a total attendance of at least 80,000 since 2005-06.
This season, the Spartans are fifth in the Big Ten and 16th in the nation in attendance, averaging 5,335 fans per game. Michigan State packed 9,520 fans into the Breslin Center as MSU stopped Iowa on Dec. 30. Purdue leads the league in attendance, averaging 6,546 fans per game, while South Carolina is first in the nation with 11,018 per game.
UP NEXT
After hosting Michigan, Michigan State closes out the regular season home schedule on Wednesday, Feb. 27 against Penn State.
LAST TIME OUT
Freshman guard Nia Clouden scored a game-high 23 points, but the Michigan State women's basketball team could not overcome the sharp-shooting Ohio State Buckeyes, falling 77-70 Thursday night at the Breslin Center. It was a battle all game with a total of 18 lead changes.
Freshman guard Nia Clouden earned her third 20-point game of the season with a game-high 23 points to go along with three rebounds and three assists. Redshirt-junior guard Shay Colley scored in double-figures for the fourth-straight game and the 16th time this season with 18 points. Redshirt-junior forward Victoria Gaines reached double figures in rebounding for the second time in the last three games with a game-high 11 boards.
WELCOME TO SPARTAN NATION - SIGNING DAY
Michigan State women's basketball head coach Suzy Merchant announced the signing of five National Letters of Intent, including Julia Ayrault (Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan/Grosse Pointe North), Cydni Dodd (Indianapolis, Indiana/Warren Central), Moira Joiner (Saginaw, Michigan/Heritage), Taiyier Parks (Cleveland, Ohio/North Royalton) and Alyza Winston (Muskegon, Michigan/ Muskegon). The class was ranked No. 6 by ESPNW Hoop Gurlz as of Nov. 15.Ayrault is a 6-2 guard who plays for head coach Gary Bennett at Grosse Pointe North High School in Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan and played AAU basketball for Rob Ruhstorfer and the Michigan Mystics. Ayrault is currently ranked No. 14 in her position and No. 75 overall by ESPN HoopGurlz. Last season, she averaged 19.1 points, 10.3 rebounds and 4.5 blocks per game and led Grosse Pointe North to the Class A Final Four. Ayrault set program records of scoring 497 points scored in a season.
• Michigan State currently holds a 17-9 overall record and are 7-8 in Big Ten action. Michigan has won seven-straight games and are 19-9 overall and 10-6 in league contests.
• Redshirt junior Shay Colley has scored in double-figures in each of the last four games which includes a career-high 32-point outburst against Indiana on February 11. Colley netted 18 points in the Spartans 77-70 loss to Ohio State on February 21. The Brampton, Ontario, Canada native has reached double figures 16 times this season, including in 11 of the last 12 games.
• Against Ohio State, the Spartans out-scored the Buckeyes, 43-31. The +12 rebound margin was its largest since a +22 margin against Illinois on Jan. 24. Michigan State is now 13-2 when out-rebounding its opponent.
• Shay Colley is eighth in the league in scoring with 15.3 ppg. Jenna Allen is 18th in the B1G in scoring, averaging 12.6 ppg. Allen is also eighth in field goal percentage, shooting 49.2 percent.
SCOUTING MICHIGAN
Michigan comes into East Lansing as one of the hottest teams in the Big Ten, having won seven- straight games. This is just the just the third time in school history that the Wolverines have won seven-straight league contests. U-M last won seven straight during an eight-game streak to end conference play during the 1999-2000 season. It is the longest conference streak under head coach Kim Barnes Arico.
Hallie Thome became the third player in program history to reach the 2,000-point mark on Feb. 17. Thome is up to 2,029 career points, ranking third all-time at U-M. Thome is tied for 19th in the Big Ten in scoring, averaging 12.5 points per game. The senior is also tied for 17th in rebounding with 6.1 rpg. Freshman Naz Hillmon is tied for 15th in scoring (13.0 ppg) and tied for 13th with 6.9 rpg. Hillmon is second in scoring among Big Ten freshmen with her 13.0 ppg, while standing fourth in rebounding with 6.9 rpg.
As a team, Michigan is fourth in the Big Ten in scoring margin (+9.3) and third in field goal percentage (.452). The Wolverines remain a tough defensive rebounding team, standing first in the B1G in rebounding defense (32.0) and fourth in rebounding offense (40.3).
Barnes Arico picked her up 400th career win last season, becoming the seventh active Big Ten head coach to reach 400. She is Michigan's all-time wins leader with 152 and is still the winningest coach at St. John's with 176 victories.
SERIES HISTORY VS. MICHIGAN
Overall, the Spartans hold a commanding 71-19 series lead over the Wolverines. This is the second meeting of the regular season with MSU taking the 77-73 win over Michigan in Ann Arbor on Jan. 27. In that battle, MSU had four players in double figures led by 14 points from Jenna Allen, Taryn McCutcheon and Shay Colley. Michigan State has won six of the last seven meetings, including last season in East Lansing, 66-61. The last couple battles have been tight contests, having been decided by a combined nine points.
LAST TIME VS. MICHIGAN
With four in double figures, the No. 23/21 Michigan State women's basketball capture the in-state battle with Michigan, 77-73, at a packed Crisler Center on Jan. 27, 2019. The Spartans are now 12-0 this season when at least four players score in double digits.
With the win, Michigan State improves to 15-5 overall and 5-4 in Big Ten action. Michigan falls to 12-9 overall and 3-6 in league play.
For the eighth time this season, four Spartans scored in double digits. Senior center Jenna Allen, junior guard Taryn McCutcheon and redshirt-junior guard Shay Colley all scored 14 points, while redshirt-junior forward Victoria Gaines added 11 points and seven boards in the win. McCutcheon also added at game-high six assists.
Michigan's Naz Hillmon recorded a double-double with 17 points and 10 boards, while Amy Dilk and Deja Church both scored 13.
DID YOU KNOW?
In the win against Purdue on Feb. 3, all five of MSU's starters posted double-figures for the first time this season. This was the third-straight game that three or more starters have tallied double-digits. It marks the first time since Nov. 30, 2014 that the Spartans had all five starters net double-figures in an 85-39 victory over Miami (Ohio), when Anna Morrissey (17), Tori Jankoska (16), Jasmine Lumpkin (13), Becca Mills (10) and Aerial Powers (10) posted double-digits.
DOWN TO THE WIRE
Michigan State has only three games left in the regular season, including two at the friendly confines of the Breslin Center. With a 7-8 Big Ten record, MSU is currently 10th in the league standings. Maryland stands first in the standings with a 13-3 record, while Iowa is second with a 12-4 mark. The Spartans have home games against Michigan and Penn State (Feb. 27) only the schedule, while they have one regular-season road game left at Minnesota on march 3.
ALLEN REACHES A MILESTONE
With 13 points on Feb. 21 against Nebraska, senior center Jenna Allen became the 27th player in Spartan history to reach the 1,000 career points milestone. She now has 1,011 career points in her four years in the Michigan State green and white.
She has four 20+ point outings this season and five in her career. Against both Oregon and FAU, Allen tied a career-high with three 3-pointers, matching three triples from at Notre Dame (12/16/17), which was also when her career-high of 28 points came.
NO PLACE LIKE HOME
Michigan State is currently 13-1 at home this season and having its 16-game winning streak stopped against Ohio State on Feb. 24. The Spartans home streak dated back to last season.
BEST IN CLASS
Freshman guard Nia Clouden is having a stellar rookie campaign. She is among the B1G leaders among freshmen in several categories. The guard is fifth among freshmen in scoring, averaging 11.8 point per game. She is also tied for first in assists with 4.2 helpers per contest and tied for third in steals per game with 1.2. She is second in the league lead in assist-to-turnover ratio behind Northwestern's Veronica Burton (2.2).
LUCKY 77
With 77 points Feb. 11, Michigan State has scored in the 70s in five-straight games. In four of the last five wins, the Spartans have scored 77 points, after netting 77 in a 77-60 upset of No. 9 Maryland (Jan. 17), a 77-60 victory at home vs. Illinois (Jan. 24) and winning at Michigan 77-73 (Jan. 27) before Monday's 77-61 win over Indiana. MSU's lone non-77 points in a victory was 74 in a 74-66 win over Purdue.
CRASHING THE BOARDS
The Spartans are 13-2 this season when out-rebounding the opposition. The 77-70 loss against Ohio State on Feb. 21 was just the second time that Michigan State lost when out-rebounding its opponent. MSU had a 43-31 advantage on the board in that game. Michigan State is 3-6 when its opponents have more rebounds.
BIG SHOT SHAY
Junior guard Shay Colley netted a career-high 32 points Feb. 11. She topped her previous season-high of 28 points from at Northwestern (Jan. 3) and her previous career-high of 31 points from at South Dakota (March 22, 2018) in last season's WNIT. Colley's 31-point outing is the first 30+ game this season by a Spartan and the first since Colley's 31 points at South Dakota.
Colley's 32 points is the most points scored by a Spartan women's basketball player since Tori Jankoska scored 42 vs. Ohio State on Jan. 10, 2017. The 32 points is tied for the 14th-most in a single-game by an MSU women's basketball player.
In the last four games, Colley averaged 22.8 points and 5.3 rebounds per game to lead the team. She shot 43.9 percent from the field and 83.9 percent from the charity stripe.
MOTHER NATURE GETS IN THE WAY
The Spartans game against Penn State that was postponed on Jan. 31 was the first time MSU had a game re-schedule since the 2015-16 season. That season storms in the Mid-Atlantic area re-scheduled a matchup between MSU and Maryland twice. The game was originally set to be played on Jan. 23 was finally played on Feb. 5.
The Spartans also had travel woes on the way to Iowa. Michigan State was scheduled to travel to Iowa City on Wednesday, Feb. 6, but were unable to land in Iowa. MSU finally reached Iowa on Thursday morning prior to the game.
CLOUDEN CLIMBS THE CHARTS
Freshman sensation Nia Clouden is climbing up the MSU freshman record charts. She moved up to sixth in freshman assists with 108 helpers, passing Kim Archer who had 106 assists during the 1983-84 season. Clouden is now just nine assists away from tying Spartan great Kristin Haynie for fifth in freshman assists. Current teammate Taryn McCutcheon holds the record for freshman assists with 169 during the 2016-17 season. Clouden also has scored 307 points this season, which places her No. 9 in freshman scoring, passing teammate Sidney cooks who scored 305 points as a freshman last season.
MCCUTCHEON MOVIN' ON UP
With four assists against Ohio State on Feb. 21, junior guard Taryn McCutcheon is fourth in career helpers with 455 in just three seasons. She passed Deb Traxinger (1978-82), who had 443 career assists. She is one of just five Spartans to reach the 400-assist mark. McCutcheon is now five assists away from passing Christine Powers (1991-95), who had 460. MSU Hall of Famer Kristin Haynie (2001-05) is the all-time career leader in assists with 574 helpers.
NO PLACE LIKE HOME
After the loss to Ohio State on Feb. 21, the Spartans are now 13-1 this season, halting their 16-game home winning streak dating back to last year. Iowa now remains the only Big Ten team to stand undefeated at home this season with a 14-0 home record. MSU's 16-game home winning streak was the longest since a streak of 20 games overlapping the 2009-10 and the 2010-11 seasons.
The Spartans were 11-5 at the Breslin Center last season, while finishing the 2016-17 season 11-3 at home. During the 2015-16 season, MSU went 13-2 in East Lansing. The Spartans most home wins came during the 2010-11 season with 15 wins.
BEATING THE BEST
The Jan. 17 upset win over No. 9/9 Maryland was Michigan State's fourth home win over a ranked team, marking the first time that the Spartans have defeated four ranked teams at home since 2004-05 when MSU defeated No. 18/17 Iowa, No. 11/12 Minnesota, No. RV/24 Purdue and No. 2/3 Ohio State.
The win was MSU's fourth home win over a ranked team, joining No. 3 Oregon (88-82 on Dec. 9), No. 16 Iowa (84-70 on Dec. 30) and No. 18 Minnesota (Jan. 9), marking the second time in last four seasons that the Spartans have beat four ranked teams in the same season. In 2015-16, the Spartans topped No. 16 Northwestern (home), No. 5 Ohio State (home) and No. 9 Ohio State (neutral).
MSU's losses against ranked teams were against then-No. 15/13 NC State on Nov. 22 and No. 20/23 Rutgers on the road on Jan. 20. The Spartans only other loss to a ranked team was against No. 16/16 Iowa on Feb. 7.
The Spartans are now 4-3 this season against ranked opponents, improving to 23-17 overall at home vs. ranked foes under head coach Suzy Merchant.
PUTTING UP THE NUMBERS
In 26 games this season, the Spartans have had a player score at least 20 points 14 times, including Shay Colley scoring a career-high 32 against Indiana on Feb. 11 and 24 points against Wisconsin on Feb. 14. Senior center Jenna Allen has scored at least 20 points four times with a season-high 27 points against Oregon on Dec. 9. Colley has scored at least 20-points six times this season. Freshman guard Nia Clouden scored a career-high 27 against Iowa on Dec. 30 and 20 points in the second meeting against Iowa on Feb. 7 to go along with scoring 23 against OSU on Feb. 21. She has scored at least 20-points three times this season.
B1G BY THE NUMBERS
The Spartans continue to hold several top spots in the Big Ten rankings this week, sitting first in both 3-point field goal percentage (.377) and second in 3-pointers made per game (7.5). Michigan State is second in scoring offense with 77.3 ppg, trailing Iowa's leading 80.6 ppg, along with also ranking second in assists (18.8 apg), turnover margin (+2.6) and assist/turnover ratio (1.3). MSU is fourth in field goal percentage (.448) and third in steals (8.3 spg).
SPREADING THE WEALTH
Michigan State has had success when it spreads the ball around this season. The Spartans are 12-0 when they have 21 or more assists in a game. Seven different players have led the team in assists this season, topped by junior guard Taryn McCutcheon, who has led MSU eight times.
The Spartans improved to 17-0 when having more assists than their opponents. In MSU's losses to NC State, Northwestern, Indiana, Ohio State and Iowa, the Spartans averaged only 12.5 assists per game, including a season-low nine against Ohio State.
AGAINST THE GREAT LAKES STATE
Michigan State has had great success against other collegiate programs in the state of Michigan over the past 16 seasons. Since the beginning of the 2002-03 season, the Spartans are 57-5 (.919) against in-state rivals, including a 42-5 (.894) mark under Coach Merchant. All-time, Michigan State is 190-60 (.760) against other Michigan schools.
BY THE NUMBERS
Michigan State's 88-82 upset of No. 3 was MSU's first upset win over an AP Poll top 5 team since a 107-105 3OT victory over No. 5 Ohio State on Feb. 27, 2016. It was the Spartans' biggest upset win since a 68-64 upset of No. 3 Tennessee on April 3, 2005 in the NCAA Tournament. It was the highest regular-season win since a 82-73 OT win over No. 3 Notre Dame on Dec. 2, 2004.
CLOSING IT OUT
The Spartans have been extremely effective closing out games over the last couple years, winning 189 of their last 201 games (.940) when leading with five minutes left, including 139 of their last 153. In Coach Merchant's tenure, Michigan State is 224-18 (.926) when holding a lead with five minutes left. This season, the Spartans are 17-2 with the only losses coming against Indiana on Jan. 6 and Ohio State on Feb. 21.
SPARTANS IN THE NCAA RANKINGS
The Spartan guard tandem of freshman guard Nia Clouden and junior Taryn McCutcheon rank fourth and sixth in the B1G and 42nd and 58th in the NCAA, respectively in assist-to-turnover ratio. Clouden has a 2.20 ratio, while McCutcheon stands 2.09. McCutcheon is also 108th in the nation and eigth in the league in assists per game, dishing out 4.3, to go with 11th in the conference and 91st in the country in total assists (113). McCutcheon is also 54th in the country and second in the conference in 3-point percentage (.399). Senior center Jenna Allen is 78th in the country and seventh in the league in field-goal percentage with a 49.2 percentage.
As a team, MSU is seventh in the NCAA and second in the B1G in assists per game, averaging 18.8. Michigan State is also 13th in the country and second in the conference in assist/turnover ratio (1.33). MSU is also 14th in the nation and tops in the league in 3-point field goal percentage, shooting 37.7 percent behind the arc. The Spartans are 23rd in the country and second in the Big Ten in scoring offense, netting 77.3 points per game, as well as ranking 61st in the nation and fifth in the league in scoring margin at +9.2. MSU is also 32nd in the country and fourth in the league in field goal percentage, shooting 44.8 percent from the field.
MERCHANT HONORED WITH ATHENA AWARD
Michigan State head women's basketball coach Suzy Merchant has been named the recipient of the 2018 ATHENA Leadership Award, as announced by the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce. Merchant was presented her award at a luncheon at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center on Dec. 6. The ATHENA Award honors individuals who strive towards the highest levels of professional accomplishment, who excel in their chosen field, have devoted time and energy to their community, and who pave paths for other women to follow.
2018 ACC/B1G CHALLENGE RECAP
Michigan State was one of the six Big Ten teams to earn a victory in the 12th annual ACC/Big Ten Women's Basketball Challenge, as the ACC won the Challenge, 8-6. MSU was joined in the win column by Indiana, Maryland, Ohio State, Purdue and Minnesota. The Spartans' 25-point margin of victory (91-66) was not only the largest margin of victory, but also the highest B1G score. Overall, it was the third-largest margin of victory in the challenge, behind Notre Dame's 34-point margin in 105-71 win over Iowa and 29-point margin in Florida State's 87-58 win over Penn State. MSU's 91 points was the second-highest scored in the Challenge behind Notre Dame's 105 points.
BOUNCE BACK ABILITY
In Coach Merchant's first 12 seasons, the Spartans are 79 -34 (69.9%) following a loss.
MAGIC NUMBERS
In head coach Suzy Merchant's tenure, when two numbers on the scoreboard were achieved it typically has been a sign of a MSU win. Overall, MSU has scored at least 70 points in 21 of 26 games this season. MSU has won 135 of its last 152 games when scoring at least 70 points, and MSU is 153-27 under head coach Suzy Merchant when hanging at least 70 points on the scoreboard. This year, MSU is 17-4 when scoring at least 70 with a loss to No. 13 NC State on Nov. 22 and a loss to No. 16 Iowa on Feb. 7. The Spartans also fell to Nebraska 82-71 on Feb. 17 and Ohio State on Feb. 21.
FREQUENT FLIER
Redshirt-junior guard Shay Colley spent time overseas this summer playing for the Canadian National Team. Playing in Europe, Colley helped guide Canada to the quarterfinals of the FIBA Women's World Cup.
FANS CONTINUE TO PACK THE BRESLIN
Michigan State women's basketball continues to pack the Breslin Center, finishing the 2017-18 season 10th in the nation and second in the Big Ten home attendance. The Spartans averaged 5,689 fans in 16 home games last season. MSU had a total of 91,026 fans pass through the gates. This is the 14th-straight season that the Spartans have been ranked in the top 15 nationally in attendance. MSU has had a total attendance of at least 80,000 since 2005-06.
This season, the Spartans are fifth in the Big Ten and 16th in the nation in attendance, averaging 5,335 fans per game. Michigan State packed 9,520 fans into the Breslin Center as MSU stopped Iowa on Dec. 30. Purdue leads the league in attendance, averaging 6,546 fans per game, while South Carolina is first in the nation with 11,018 per game.
UP NEXT
After hosting Michigan, Michigan State closes out the regular season home schedule on Wednesday, Feb. 27 against Penn State.
LAST TIME OUT
Freshman guard Nia Clouden scored a game-high 23 points, but the Michigan State women's basketball team could not overcome the sharp-shooting Ohio State Buckeyes, falling 77-70 Thursday night at the Breslin Center. It was a battle all game with a total of 18 lead changes.
Freshman guard Nia Clouden earned her third 20-point game of the season with a game-high 23 points to go along with three rebounds and three assists. Redshirt-junior guard Shay Colley scored in double-figures for the fourth-straight game and the 16th time this season with 18 points. Redshirt-junior forward Victoria Gaines reached double figures in rebounding for the second time in the last three games with a game-high 11 boards.
WELCOME TO SPARTAN NATION - SIGNING DAY
Michigan State women's basketball head coach Suzy Merchant announced the signing of five National Letters of Intent, including Julia Ayrault (Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan/Grosse Pointe North), Cydni Dodd (Indianapolis, Indiana/Warren Central), Moira Joiner (Saginaw, Michigan/Heritage), Taiyier Parks (Cleveland, Ohio/North Royalton) and Alyza Winston (Muskegon, Michigan/ Muskegon). The class was ranked No. 6 by ESPNW Hoop Gurlz as of Nov. 15.Ayrault is a 6-2 guard who plays for head coach Gary Bennett at Grosse Pointe North High School in Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan and played AAU basketball for Rob Ruhstorfer and the Michigan Mystics. Ayrault is currently ranked No. 14 in her position and No. 75 overall by ESPN HoopGurlz. Last season, she averaged 19.1 points, 10.3 rebounds and 4.5 blocks per game and led Grosse Pointe North to the Class A Final Four. Ayrault set program records of scoring 497 points scored in a season.
Players Mentioned
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