MSU Women’s Basketball Celebrates the 2019 Season Banquet
3/12/2019 4:05:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Senior center earned Jenna Allen Player of the Year honors.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State women's basketball honored the 2018-19 season at its annual banquet on Tuesday, March 12, at the Breslin Center. Seven different Spartans were recognized with senior center Jenna Allen capturing Player of the Year honors.
Michigan State currently holds an overall record of 20-11, including wins over four ranked teams. In the Big Ten Tournament, the Spartans defeated Northwestern in the second round, before falling to top-seeded Maryland in the quarterfinals.
On a festive night celebrated by the team, family and fans, the Spartans honored their lone senior Jenna Allen.
Allen, who is one of only three Spartans to have started all 31 games this season, is second on the team in scoring (12.6 ppg) and leads the team in rebounding (6.6 rpg). The center also captured the Best Rebounder award. She earned second-team All-Big Ten honors by both the coaches and the media. Allen is also sixth in the Big Ten in field goal percentage, shooting 50.0 percent from the field.
Redshirt-sophomore forward Mardrekia Cook captured a pair of awards on the night. Cook was named the Sixth Player Award for the spark that she provided off the bench. She played in 26 games for the Spartans, starting six. Cook also garnered Defensive Player of the Year honors and was a force to be reckoned with on the defensive side of the ball.
Junior guard Taryn McCutcheon earned the Spartan Hustle award for the second-straight season. She has started all 31 games and leads the team in minutes played, averaging 33.5 mpg. She is currently third in the Big Ten in 3-point field goal percentage, shooting 38.7 percent from long range. The junior is also fourth in steals with 2.4 spg. McCutcheon captured All-Big Ten honors for the third-straight season.
Freshman guard Nia Clouden's splendid rookie campaign earned her the Playmaker Award. Clouden is second on the team in scoring with 12.6 ppg. Clouden joins Allen and McCutcheon as the only Spartans to have started all 31 games this season. The guard is also second on the team in assists per game, averaging 3.9 apg. She also captured All-Big Ten and All-Freshman Team honors.
Redshirt-junior guard Shay Colley snagged the Pat Canning Coaches Award. Colley leads the Spartans in scoring, averaging 14.5 points per game, adding 5.2 rebounds per game. Overcoming an early season injury, she has scored in double figures 21 times this season, including a season-high 32 against Indiana on Feb. 17. Colley also earned all-league honors for the second-straight season.
Redshirt-freshman guard Claire Hendrickson was given the Most Improved Player honor. Hendrickson missed all of the 2017-18 season after tearing her ACL. She has rebounded nicely this season, playing in 19 contests.
The Kim Archer Character Award was presented to freshman forward Kayla Belles. The freshman showed tremendous spirit despite battling injuries throughout the season.
Other awards presented Saturday included Megan Schrems collecting the MVP Ball Club Most Spectacular Member Award. Representing the Spartans tremendous support system, Spartan Sports Network radio announcer Mo Gerhardt received the Most Valuable Supporter Award.
2019 Michigan State Women's Basketball Banquet Award Winners:
Player of the Year Award: Jenna Allen
Defensive Player of the Year Award: Mardrekia Cook
Spartan Hustle Award: Taryn McCutcheon
Most Improved Player Award: Claire Hendrickson
Sixth Player Award: Mardrekia Cook
Best Rebounder Award: Jenna Allen
Pat Canning Coaches Award: Shay Colley
Kim Archer Character Award: Kayla Belles
MVP Ball Club Most Spectacular Member Award: Megan Schrems
Most Valuable Supporter: Mo Gerhardt
Michigan State currently holds an overall record of 20-11, including wins over four ranked teams. In the Big Ten Tournament, the Spartans defeated Northwestern in the second round, before falling to top-seeded Maryland in the quarterfinals.
On a festive night celebrated by the team, family and fans, the Spartans honored their lone senior Jenna Allen.
Allen, who is one of only three Spartans to have started all 31 games this season, is second on the team in scoring (12.6 ppg) and leads the team in rebounding (6.6 rpg). The center also captured the Best Rebounder award. She earned second-team All-Big Ten honors by both the coaches and the media. Allen is also sixth in the Big Ten in field goal percentage, shooting 50.0 percent from the field.
Redshirt-sophomore forward Mardrekia Cook captured a pair of awards on the night. Cook was named the Sixth Player Award for the spark that she provided off the bench. She played in 26 games for the Spartans, starting six. Cook also garnered Defensive Player of the Year honors and was a force to be reckoned with on the defensive side of the ball.
Junior guard Taryn McCutcheon earned the Spartan Hustle award for the second-straight season. She has started all 31 games and leads the team in minutes played, averaging 33.5 mpg. She is currently third in the Big Ten in 3-point field goal percentage, shooting 38.7 percent from long range. The junior is also fourth in steals with 2.4 spg. McCutcheon captured All-Big Ten honors for the third-straight season.
Freshman guard Nia Clouden's splendid rookie campaign earned her the Playmaker Award. Clouden is second on the team in scoring with 12.6 ppg. Clouden joins Allen and McCutcheon as the only Spartans to have started all 31 games this season. The guard is also second on the team in assists per game, averaging 3.9 apg. She also captured All-Big Ten and All-Freshman Team honors.
Redshirt-junior guard Shay Colley snagged the Pat Canning Coaches Award. Colley leads the Spartans in scoring, averaging 14.5 points per game, adding 5.2 rebounds per game. Overcoming an early season injury, she has scored in double figures 21 times this season, including a season-high 32 against Indiana on Feb. 17. Colley also earned all-league honors for the second-straight season.
Redshirt-freshman guard Claire Hendrickson was given the Most Improved Player honor. Hendrickson missed all of the 2017-18 season after tearing her ACL. She has rebounded nicely this season, playing in 19 contests.
The Kim Archer Character Award was presented to freshman forward Kayla Belles. The freshman showed tremendous spirit despite battling injuries throughout the season.
Other awards presented Saturday included Megan Schrems collecting the MVP Ball Club Most Spectacular Member Award. Representing the Spartans tremendous support system, Spartan Sports Network radio announcer Mo Gerhardt received the Most Valuable Supporter Award.
2019 Michigan State Women's Basketball Banquet Award Winners:
Player of the Year Award: Jenna Allen
Defensive Player of the Year Award: Mardrekia Cook
Spartan Hustle Award: Taryn McCutcheon
Most Improved Player Award: Claire Hendrickson
Sixth Player Award: Mardrekia Cook
Best Rebounder Award: Jenna Allen
Pat Canning Coaches Award: Shay Colley
Kim Archer Character Award: Kayla Belles
MVP Ball Club Most Spectacular Member Award: Megan Schrems
Most Valuable Supporter: Mo Gerhardt
Players Mentioned
Center
/ Women's Basketball
Forward
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Forward
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
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