Sunday, March 3
Minneapolis, Minn.
4 PM ET
Michigan State University
at
Minnesota
Spartan Women Close Out Regular Season at Minnesota Sunday
3/1/2019 7:12:00 PM | Women's Basketball
MSU will take on the Gophers for the second time this season.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State women's basketball concludes the 2018-19 regular season on the road at Minnesota on March 3 at 4 p.m. ET. The Spartans have won two-straight games and head into the finale with a 19-9 overall record and stand 9-8 in Big Ten action. Minnesota holds a matching 19-9 overall record and are 8-9 in league contests. The Golden Gophers have lost two-straight after winning six-straight.
• Michigan State tied a school record with its 15th home win this season, finishing the 2018-19 season with a 15-1 record at Breslin Center, matching the 2010-11 MSU squad. The Spartans won 18 of their last 19 home games dating back to last season, after having their 16-game home winning streak snapped by Ohio State on Feb. 24.
• Redshirt-junior guard Shay Colley's 10 points against Penn State on Feb. 27 was her sixth-straight double-figure game and 18th of the season. She now has scored in double digits in 32 career games as a Spartan.
• This is the second meeting between the Spartans and the Gophers. In the last meeting on Jan. 9, MSU earned the 86-68 win at the Breslin Center, behind 21 points from sophomore forward Sidney Cooks.
• The Spartans have been among the nation's top teams in assist per game all season. They currently stand eighth in the nation and second in the Big Ten, averaging 18.5 apg.
SCOUTING MINNESOTA
Minnesota is 19-9 This season and are currently on a two-game losing streak. The Golden Gophers had previously won six-straight contests prior to dropping games at Maryland and Rutgers. Minnesota's scoring offense (68.9 ppg) ranks No. 7 in the Big Ten and No. 103 in the nation, while its scoring defense ranks No. 2 in the Big Ten and No. 60 nationally at 59.3 ppg.
Successful at getting to the free-throw line, Minnesota is No. 1 in the Big Ten in free-throw's attempted (634) and made (435). This is due in part to the free-throw shooting of Kenisha Bell, who is third in the country with 219 attempts and No. 10 with 149 free-throws made. Taiye Bello is one of the best rebounders in the country ranking sixth in total rebounds (349), fifth in rebounds per game (12.9) and is No. 2 in offensive rebounds per game (5.0).
Head coach Lindsay Whalen is in her first season at the helm of the Golden Gophers. She is one of the most decorated players in Minnesota history during her player career from 2000-04.
SERIES HISTORY VS. MINNESOTA
Michigan State leads the overall series with Minnesota 43-22. The Spartans captured four of the last five meetings, but it was the Gophers who stopped MSU in the last outing in Minneapolis, 83-77 on Jan. 18, 2018. This will be the third time the Minneapolis native Nia Hollie will be playing in her home state.
LAST TIME VS. MINNESOTA
Sophomore forward Sidney Cooks scored a career-high 21 points as the No. 23 Michigan State women's basketball team stopped No. 18 Minnesota, 86-68 at the Breslin Center on Jan. 9, 2019. The win was the Spartans' third win over a ranked team this season.
Michigan State used a combination of tying a season-high 28 assists and a season-low eight turnovers in the win. The Spartans had four in double figures for the second-straight game led by Cooks career high. She also added three blocks and three rebounds. Freshman guard Nia Clouden scored 15 points to go along with a season-tying six rebounds and five assists. Senior center Jenna Allen added 13 points and tied her career high with six assists.
BRINGING IT AT BRESLIN
Michigan State tied a school record with its 15th home win this season, finishing the 2018-19 season with a 15-1 record at Breslin Center, matching the 2010-11 MSU squad. The Spartans have won 18 of their last 19 home games dating back to last season, after having their 16-game home winning streak snapped by Ohio State on Feb. 24. The 2010-11 MSU squad was 15-1 at home and the only losses both in 2018-19 and 2010-11 were at the hands of Ohio State. The 2005-06 team finished 14-1 at home, while the 2008-09 squad as 14-2.
PACKING THE HOUSE
Michigan State's 74-64 win over Michigan brought in a season-high 11,368 fans into the Breslin Center. The crowd was the 14th best in the nation this season. It was also the third-best in the Big Ten. Overall, the 11,368 fans were the 15th-most fan in the Breslin Center in school history. The Spartans' highest attendance was 14,797 fans against Michigan on Feb. 13, 2011.
SECOND TIME AROUND
Minnesota is the fifth team that Michigan State will be playing for the second time this season. MSU won both games in the series with Michigan, while getting swept by Ohio State. The Spartans split games with Indiana with both teams winning on their home court. MSU looks to complete the series sweep with Minnesota on March 3.
DOWN TO THE WIRE
In the final game of the regular season a lot is on the line for the Spartans. Seeding for the Big Ten Tournament will be determined by the final B1G games on Saturday and Sunday. Maryland and Iowa are both fighting for the top seed, while Illinois will take the No. 14 seed. MSU is tied with Northwestern at 9-8 and could land anywhere from the No. 5 seed to the No. 9 seed.
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 1,037 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.
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.
MCCUTCHEON MOVIN' ON UP
With three assists against Penn State on Feb. 27, junior guard Taryn McCutcheon remains third in career helpers with 464 in just three seasons. She passed Christine Powers (1991-95), who had 460. She is one of just five Spartans to reach the 400-assist mark. McCutcheon is now 26 assists away from passing All-American Tori Jankoska (2014-17), who had 489. MSU Hall of Famer Kristin Haynie (2001-05) is the all-time career leader in assists with 574 helpers.
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 tied for fourth among freshmen in scoring, averaging 11.9 point per game. She is also second in assists with 4.0 helpers per contest and tied for fourth in steals per game with 1.2. Clouden also has a 2-1 assist-to-turnover ratio, which is second in the league behind Northwestern's Veronica Burton (2.0).
DEFENSIVE EFFORT
The Spartan defense was solid against Penn State. They also held the Lady Lions to 11.8 percent (2-of-17) from 3-point range, the second-lowest percentage behind the arc by the opposition this season, behind only a 9.1 percent (1-of-11) by Minnesota (Jan. 9).
Michigan State's defensive effort held Penn State to just 30.5 percent (18-of-59) field goal shooting, a new season-low by an MSU opponent, bettering the previous mark of 31.6 percent (18-of-57) by Kennesaw State (Nov. 23).
CRASHING THE BOARDS
The Spartans are 15-2 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.
The Spartans out-rebounded Penn State, 38-35, marking the fourth-straight game Michigan State has out-rebounded their opponent.
SCORING SHAY
Redshirt-junior guard Shay Colley has been one of MSU's most consistent players. Against Penn State on Feb. 27, Colley's 10 points was her sixth-straight double-figure game and 18th of the season. She now has scored in double digits in 32 career games as a Spartan. She also dished out a team-best and game-high tying four assists, marking the eighth game this season that she led MSU in helpers, as the Spartans are now 6-2 when Colley tops the team in assists.
Colley netted a career-high 32 points Feb. 11 against Indiana. 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.
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 113 helpers, passing Kim Archer who had 106 assists during the 1983-84 season. Clouden is now just four 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 332 points this season, which places her No. 8 in freshman scoring, passing Director of Basketball Operations Julie Pagel Dombroski who scored 313 points as a freshman during the 2000-01 season.
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 27 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 (.372) and second in 3-pointers made per game (7.2). Michigan State is second in scoring offense with 76.5 ppg, trailing Iowa's leading 80.3 ppg, along with also ranking second in assists (18.5 apg), turnover margin (+2.4) and assist/turnover ratio (1.3). MSU is also third in steals (8.5 spg) and fourth in field goal percentage (.446).
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 19-0 when having more assists than their opponents. In MSU's losses, the Spartans averaged only 11.6 assists per game, including a season-lows Wisconsin and Nebraska.
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 58-5 (.921) against in-state rivals, including a 43-5 (.896) mark under Coach Merchant. All-time, Michigan State is 191-60 (.761) 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 191 of their last 203 games (.941) when leading with five minutes left, including 141 of their last 155. In Coach Merchant's tenure, Michigan State is 226-18 (.926) when holding a lead with five minutes left. This season, the Spartans are 19-2 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 sixth and seventh in the B1G and 70th and 71st in the NCAA, respectively in assist-to-turnover ratio. Clouden has a 1.98 ratio, while McCutcheon stands 1.97. McCutcheon is also 110th in the nation and eighth in the league in assists per game, dishing out 4.4. McCutcheon is also 57th in the country and second in the conference in 3-point percentage (.394). Senior center Jenna Allen is 71st in the country and sixth in the league in field-goal percentage with a 49.5 percentage.
As a team, MSU is eighth in the NCAA and second in the B1G in assists per game, averaging 18.5. Michigan State is also 20th in the country and second in the conference in assist/turnover ratio (1.28). MSU is also 16th in the nation and tops in the league in 3-point field goal percentage, shooting 37.2 percent behind the arc. The Spartans are 26th in the country and second in the Big Ten in scoring offense, netting 76.5 points per game, as well as ranking 55th in the nation and fifth in the league in scoring margin at +9.3. MSU is also 33rd in the country and fourth in the league in field goal percentage, shooting 44.6 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 80 -34 (70.2%) 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 22 of 27 games this season. MSU has won 136 of its last 153 games when scoring at least 70 points, and MSU is 154-27 under head coach Suzy Merchant when hanging at least 70 points on the scoreboard. This year, MSU is 18-4 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 15th in the nation in attendance, averaging 5,496 fans per game. Michigan State packed 11,368 fans into the Breslin Center as MSU stopped Michigan on Feb. 24. Purdue leads the league in attendance, averaging 6,515 fans per game, while South Carolina is first in the nation with 11,080 per game.
UP NEXT
Michigan State will begin play at the Big Ten Tournament next week in Indianapolis.
LAST TIME OUT
Michigan State women's basketball tied the school record for home wins with a 57-48 victory over Penn State Thursday in home regular-season finale at the Breslin Center. The Spartans tied the 2010-11 squad who also finished the season 15-1 at home.
With the win, MSU improves to 19-9 overall and 9-8 in Big Ten action, winning its second-straight game. Michigan State's only home loss was a 77-70 defeat at the hands of Ohio State on Feb. 21.
In the low scoring affair, the Spartans finished in double figures led by 14 points from freshman guard Nia Clouden, who scored 14 points to go along with four rebounds. Sophomore forward Sidney Cooks added 12 points and six rebounds. Redshirt-junior guard Shay Colley had her 18th double-figure scoring game with 10 points and a team-highs of seven rebounds and four assists.
Michigan State's defensive effort held Penn State to just 30.5 percent (18-of-59) field goal shooting, a new season-low by an MSU opponent, bettering the previous mark of 31.6 percent (18-of-57) by Kennesaw State (Nov. 23).
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 tied a school record with its 15th home win this season, finishing the 2018-19 season with a 15-1 record at Breslin Center, matching the 2010-11 MSU squad. The Spartans won 18 of their last 19 home games dating back to last season, after having their 16-game home winning streak snapped by Ohio State on Feb. 24.
• Redshirt-junior guard Shay Colley's 10 points against Penn State on Feb. 27 was her sixth-straight double-figure game and 18th of the season. She now has scored in double digits in 32 career games as a Spartan.
• This is the second meeting between the Spartans and the Gophers. In the last meeting on Jan. 9, MSU earned the 86-68 win at the Breslin Center, behind 21 points from sophomore forward Sidney Cooks.
• The Spartans have been among the nation's top teams in assist per game all season. They currently stand eighth in the nation and second in the Big Ten, averaging 18.5 apg.
SCOUTING MINNESOTA
Minnesota is 19-9 This season and are currently on a two-game losing streak. The Golden Gophers had previously won six-straight contests prior to dropping games at Maryland and Rutgers. Minnesota's scoring offense (68.9 ppg) ranks No. 7 in the Big Ten and No. 103 in the nation, while its scoring defense ranks No. 2 in the Big Ten and No. 60 nationally at 59.3 ppg.
Successful at getting to the free-throw line, Minnesota is No. 1 in the Big Ten in free-throw's attempted (634) and made (435). This is due in part to the free-throw shooting of Kenisha Bell, who is third in the country with 219 attempts and No. 10 with 149 free-throws made. Taiye Bello is one of the best rebounders in the country ranking sixth in total rebounds (349), fifth in rebounds per game (12.9) and is No. 2 in offensive rebounds per game (5.0).
Head coach Lindsay Whalen is in her first season at the helm of the Golden Gophers. She is one of the most decorated players in Minnesota history during her player career from 2000-04.
SERIES HISTORY VS. MINNESOTA
Michigan State leads the overall series with Minnesota 43-22. The Spartans captured four of the last five meetings, but it was the Gophers who stopped MSU in the last outing in Minneapolis, 83-77 on Jan. 18, 2018. This will be the third time the Minneapolis native Nia Hollie will be playing in her home state.
LAST TIME VS. MINNESOTA
Sophomore forward Sidney Cooks scored a career-high 21 points as the No. 23 Michigan State women's basketball team stopped No. 18 Minnesota, 86-68 at the Breslin Center on Jan. 9, 2019. The win was the Spartans' third win over a ranked team this season.
Michigan State used a combination of tying a season-high 28 assists and a season-low eight turnovers in the win. The Spartans had four in double figures for the second-straight game led by Cooks career high. She also added three blocks and three rebounds. Freshman guard Nia Clouden scored 15 points to go along with a season-tying six rebounds and five assists. Senior center Jenna Allen added 13 points and tied her career high with six assists.
BRINGING IT AT BRESLIN
Michigan State tied a school record with its 15th home win this season, finishing the 2018-19 season with a 15-1 record at Breslin Center, matching the 2010-11 MSU squad. The Spartans have won 18 of their last 19 home games dating back to last season, after having their 16-game home winning streak snapped by Ohio State on Feb. 24. The 2010-11 MSU squad was 15-1 at home and the only losses both in 2018-19 and 2010-11 were at the hands of Ohio State. The 2005-06 team finished 14-1 at home, while the 2008-09 squad as 14-2.
PACKING THE HOUSE
Michigan State's 74-64 win over Michigan brought in a season-high 11,368 fans into the Breslin Center. The crowd was the 14th best in the nation this season. It was also the third-best in the Big Ten. Overall, the 11,368 fans were the 15th-most fan in the Breslin Center in school history. The Spartans' highest attendance was 14,797 fans against Michigan on Feb. 13, 2011.
SECOND TIME AROUND
Minnesota is the fifth team that Michigan State will be playing for the second time this season. MSU won both games in the series with Michigan, while getting swept by Ohio State. The Spartans split games with Indiana with both teams winning on their home court. MSU looks to complete the series sweep with Minnesota on March 3.
DOWN TO THE WIRE
In the final game of the regular season a lot is on the line for the Spartans. Seeding for the Big Ten Tournament will be determined by the final B1G games on Saturday and Sunday. Maryland and Iowa are both fighting for the top seed, while Illinois will take the No. 14 seed. MSU is tied with Northwestern at 9-8 and could land anywhere from the No. 5 seed to the No. 9 seed.
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 1,037 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.
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.
MCCUTCHEON MOVIN' ON UP
With three assists against Penn State on Feb. 27, junior guard Taryn McCutcheon remains third in career helpers with 464 in just three seasons. She passed Christine Powers (1991-95), who had 460. She is one of just five Spartans to reach the 400-assist mark. McCutcheon is now 26 assists away from passing All-American Tori Jankoska (2014-17), who had 489. MSU Hall of Famer Kristin Haynie (2001-05) is the all-time career leader in assists with 574 helpers.
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 tied for fourth among freshmen in scoring, averaging 11.9 point per game. She is also second in assists with 4.0 helpers per contest and tied for fourth in steals per game with 1.2. Clouden also has a 2-1 assist-to-turnover ratio, which is second in the league behind Northwestern's Veronica Burton (2.0).
DEFENSIVE EFFORT
The Spartan defense was solid against Penn State. They also held the Lady Lions to 11.8 percent (2-of-17) from 3-point range, the second-lowest percentage behind the arc by the opposition this season, behind only a 9.1 percent (1-of-11) by Minnesota (Jan. 9).
Michigan State's defensive effort held Penn State to just 30.5 percent (18-of-59) field goal shooting, a new season-low by an MSU opponent, bettering the previous mark of 31.6 percent (18-of-57) by Kennesaw State (Nov. 23).
CRASHING THE BOARDS
The Spartans are 15-2 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.
The Spartans out-rebounded Penn State, 38-35, marking the fourth-straight game Michigan State has out-rebounded their opponent.
SCORING SHAY
Redshirt-junior guard Shay Colley has been one of MSU's most consistent players. Against Penn State on Feb. 27, Colley's 10 points was her sixth-straight double-figure game and 18th of the season. She now has scored in double digits in 32 career games as a Spartan. She also dished out a team-best and game-high tying four assists, marking the eighth game this season that she led MSU in helpers, as the Spartans are now 6-2 when Colley tops the team in assists.
Colley netted a career-high 32 points Feb. 11 against Indiana. 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.
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 113 helpers, passing Kim Archer who had 106 assists during the 1983-84 season. Clouden is now just four 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 332 points this season, which places her No. 8 in freshman scoring, passing Director of Basketball Operations Julie Pagel Dombroski who scored 313 points as a freshman during the 2000-01 season.
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 27 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 (.372) and second in 3-pointers made per game (7.2). Michigan State is second in scoring offense with 76.5 ppg, trailing Iowa's leading 80.3 ppg, along with also ranking second in assists (18.5 apg), turnover margin (+2.4) and assist/turnover ratio (1.3). MSU is also third in steals (8.5 spg) and fourth in field goal percentage (.446).
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 19-0 when having more assists than their opponents. In MSU's losses, the Spartans averaged only 11.6 assists per game, including a season-lows Wisconsin and Nebraska.
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 58-5 (.921) against in-state rivals, including a 43-5 (.896) mark under Coach Merchant. All-time, Michigan State is 191-60 (.761) 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 191 of their last 203 games (.941) when leading with five minutes left, including 141 of their last 155. In Coach Merchant's tenure, Michigan State is 226-18 (.926) when holding a lead with five minutes left. This season, the Spartans are 19-2 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 sixth and seventh in the B1G and 70th and 71st in the NCAA, respectively in assist-to-turnover ratio. Clouden has a 1.98 ratio, while McCutcheon stands 1.97. McCutcheon is also 110th in the nation and eighth in the league in assists per game, dishing out 4.4. McCutcheon is also 57th in the country and second in the conference in 3-point percentage (.394). Senior center Jenna Allen is 71st in the country and sixth in the league in field-goal percentage with a 49.5 percentage.
As a team, MSU is eighth in the NCAA and second in the B1G in assists per game, averaging 18.5. Michigan State is also 20th in the country and second in the conference in assist/turnover ratio (1.28). MSU is also 16th in the nation and tops in the league in 3-point field goal percentage, shooting 37.2 percent behind the arc. The Spartans are 26th in the country and second in the Big Ten in scoring offense, netting 76.5 points per game, as well as ranking 55th in the nation and fifth in the league in scoring margin at +9.3. MSU is also 33rd in the country and fourth in the league in field goal percentage, shooting 44.6 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 80 -34 (70.2%) 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 22 of 27 games this season. MSU has won 136 of its last 153 games when scoring at least 70 points, and MSU is 154-27 under head coach Suzy Merchant when hanging at least 70 points on the scoreboard. This year, MSU is 18-4 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 15th in the nation in attendance, averaging 5,496 fans per game. Michigan State packed 11,368 fans into the Breslin Center as MSU stopped Michigan on Feb. 24. Purdue leads the league in attendance, averaging 6,515 fans per game, while South Carolina is first in the nation with 11,080 per game.
UP NEXT
Michigan State will begin play at the Big Ten Tournament next week in Indianapolis.
LAST TIME OUT
Michigan State women's basketball tied the school record for home wins with a 57-48 victory over Penn State Thursday in home regular-season finale at the Breslin Center. The Spartans tied the 2010-11 squad who also finished the season 15-1 at home.
With the win, MSU improves to 19-9 overall and 9-8 in Big Ten action, winning its second-straight game. Michigan State's only home loss was a 77-70 defeat at the hands of Ohio State on Feb. 21.
In the low scoring affair, the Spartans finished in double figures led by 14 points from freshman guard Nia Clouden, who scored 14 points to go along with four rebounds. Sophomore forward Sidney Cooks added 12 points and six rebounds. Redshirt-junior guard Shay Colley had her 18th double-figure scoring game with 10 points and a team-highs of seven rebounds and four assists.
Michigan State's defensive effort held Penn State to just 30.5 percent (18-of-59) field goal shooting, a new season-low by an MSU opponent, bettering the previous mark of 31.6 percent (18-of-57) by Kennesaw State (Nov. 23).
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
Center
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Forward
/ Women's Basketball
Forward
/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's Basketball
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