Michigan State University Athletics
Thursday, March 7
Indianapolis, Ind.
12 PM ET
Michigan State University
vs
Northwestern
Photo by: Matthew Mitchell Photography
MSU Opens B1G Tournament With Northwestern Thursday
3/5/2019 6:25:00 PM | Women's Basketball
This is the 26th annual Big Ten Tournament.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State women's basketball prepares for the 26th annual Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament, which returns to Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The No. 9-seeded Spartans will take on No. 8-seeded Northwestern on Thursday, March 7 at 12 p.m. The game will be broadcast on BTN with Mike Monaco and Vera Jones on the call.
• The Spartans enter the tournament with a 19-10 record and ended league play with a 9-9 record. Northwestern is 16-13 and has a matching 9-9 B1G mark. The Wildcats took the regular-season meeting on Jan. 3, 70-62 in Evanston.
• MSU is the No. 9 seed in the B1G Tournament for the fourth time. The last time Michigan State was the No. 9 seed was in 2015 in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, when the Spartans defeated Michigan in the second round before falling to Maryland in the quarterfinals. Overall, MSU is 1-3 as the No. 9 seed.
• MSU has three players averaging over 3.0 assists per game: Taryn McCutcheon (4.2 apg), Nia Clouden (3.9 apg) and Shay Colley (3.3 apg).
• The Spartans are looking to reach the 20-win plateau for the 10th time during Suzy Merchant's 12-year tenure.
SCOUTING NORTHWESTERN
Northwestern wrapped up its regular season with a 16-13 overall record and were 9-9 in the Big Ten which earned them the No. 8 seed in the Big Ten Tournament.
As a team, Northwestern ranks No. 134 nationally in scoring offense (66.8) and No. 78 in scoring defense (60.0). The Wildcats protect the ball well, leading the Big Ten in fewest turnovers and ranking No. 34 nationally with 13.2 turnovers per game.
Lindsey Pulliam leads Northwestern's scoring effort at 16.7 points per game and Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah is the team's leading rebounder at 11.0 per game. Kunaiyi-Akpanah Ranks No. 22 nationally in rebounding and is No. 4 in DI in offensive rebounding with 5.0 offensive rebounds per game. Veronica Burton is No. 23 nationally in assist-turnover ratio at 2.58.
The Wildcats are coached by Joe McKeown, who owns a 686-345 career coaching record with an 177-171 record at Northwestern in his 11 seasons.
AGAINST NORTHWESTERN IN INDY
Michigan State and Northwestern have met just once previously in the Big Ten Tournament since its inception in 1995.
Facing off in the 2011 Big Ten Tournament, No. 1-seeded Michigan State defeated Northwestern by a final score of 56-25. The Spartans closed the game on a 45-14 run after a Northwestern basket cut MSU's lead to 14-11 in the first half.
Porsche Poole led the Spartans in scoring with 11 points off the bench, while Brittney Thomas and Lykendra Johnson each scored 10. Northwestern's starters were held to 18 points combined as the Wildcats shot 21.7 percent from the field (10-of-46).
SERIES HISTORY VS. NORTHWESTERN
Michigan State leads the overall series with Northwestern 43-26. The Spartans had won 20-straight meetings, but the Wildcats have had the edge lately. NU won the first meeting of the season 70-62 in Evanston. Northwestern has won four of the last six meetings.
LAST TIME VS. NORTHWESTERN
Despite a then season-high 28 points redshirt-junior guard Shay Colley, the No. 15/17 Michigan State women's basketball team dropped its Big Ten road opener to Northwestern at Welsh-Ryan Arena on Thursday.
Colley's 28 points were a season high and just three points shy from matching her career high. For the first time this season, only one Spartan reached double figures as senior center Jenna Allen was second in scoring with nine points. For only the third time this year, MSU was out-rebounded, 37-30. The Spartans were also plagued by tying a season-high with 19 turnovers.
NUMBER NINE
MSU is the No. 9 seed in the B1G Tournament for the fourth time. The last time Michigan State was the No. 9 seed was in 2015 in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, when the Spartans defeated Michigan in the second round before falling to Maryland in the quarterfinals. Overall, MSU is 1-3 as the No. 9 seed.
SPARTANS EARN ALL-CONFERENCE HONORS
Michigan State women's basketball had four players named to the All-Big Ten teams Monday. Shay Colley, Jenna Allen, Nia Clouden and Taryn McCutcheon were honored by the Big Ten coaches and media.
Colley, a guard from Brampton, Ontario, earned first-team All-B1G honors by the coaches for the first time in her career. She also took second-team honors from the media. Last season, Colley captured honorable mention honors in her first season as a Spartan. The guard leads the team in scoring, averaging 14.7 points per game.
Clouden, a freshman guard from Owings Mills, Maryland was named to the All-Freshman team, as well as being named to the honorable mention squad by both the coaches and the media. She is the first Spartan to be named to the All-Freshman team since Aerial Powers during the 2013-14 season.
Allen, a center from Bedford, Indiana, earned her second career all-conference honor. Allen was voted to the second team both the coaches and the media after taking honorable mention honors a year ago. She has improved in point production every season, currently standing second on the team in scoring, averaging 12.5 ppg.
McCutcheon, a guard from East Lansing, Michigan, captured honorable mention honors for the third-consecutive season when she was honored by the media. McCutcheon is tied for third in the league in steals with 2.0 spg. She also stands second in the conference in 3-point field goal percentage, shooting 39.0 percent from behind the arc. The junior is one of only three Spartans to have started all 29 games.
HOOSIER STATE SPARTANS
Michigan State has two players, who hail from the Indiana. Jenna Allen hails from Bedford, Indiana and scored 15 points in front of family in Bloomington on Jan. 6. Victoria Gaines is a native of Merrilliville, Indiana. She also scored 15 points against the Hoosiers in the Spartans last game in the Hoosier State.
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.
B1G TOURNAMENT REWIND: THE MARATHON
In the longest game in Big Ten Tournament history, the No. 10-seeded Michigan State women's basketball team dropped a four overtime heartbreaker to No. 7-seeded Indiana, 111-109 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on March 1, 2018.
The game was also the longest in Michigan State history topping triple overtime games in 2016 and 1991.
Indiana's Amanda Cahill drained a pair of free throws with three seconds remaining in the fourth overtime to put the Hoosiers up 111-109.
Michigan State had career highs from redshirt-sophomore guard Shay Colley who had 27 points and senior forward Taya Reimer, who added 22.
ALLEN CLIMBING UP THE CHARTS
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 1,046 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.
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.
DID YOU KNOW?
Nia Clouden has set the freshman record for free throws made with 115 so far this season. She passed Spartan great Aerial Powers who made 107 from the charity stripe during her rookie campaign during the 2013-14 season. The 115 free throws also leads the team this season.
MCCUTCHEON MOVIN' ON UP
With one assist against Minnesota on March 3, junior guard Taryn McCutcheon remains third in career helpers with 465 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 25 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 fourth among freshmen in scoring, averaging 12.1 point per game. She is also second in assists with 3.9 helpers per contest and fourth in steals per game with 1.2. Clouden also has a 1.9 assist-to-turnover ratio, which is second in the league behind Northwestern's Veronica Burton (2.6).
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.
SCORING SHAY
Redshirt-junior guard Shay Colley has been one of MSU's most consistent players. Against Minnesota on March 3, Colley's 10 points was her seventh-straight double-figure game and 19th of the season. She now has scored in double digits in 33 career games as a Spartan. 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.
ON CLOUD(EN) NINE
Freshman sensation Nia Clouden is climbing up the MSU freshman record charts. She moved up to sixth in freshman assists with 114 helpers, passing Kim Archer who had 106 assists during the 1983-84 season. Clouden is now just three 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 350 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 28 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 second in both 3-point field goal percentage (.369) and second in 3-pointers made per game (7.1). Michigan State is second in scoring offense with 76.0 ppg, trailing Iowa's leading 80.1 ppg, along with also ranking second in assists (18.2 apg), turnover margin (+2.2) and assist/turnover ratio (1.3). MSU is also third in steals (8.3 spg) and fourth in field goal percentage (.443).
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.
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 junior Taryn McCutcheon and freshman guard Nia Clouden rank sixth and eighth in the B1G and 70th and 81st in the NCAA, respectively in assist-to-turnover ratio. McCutcheon has a 1.98 ratio, while Clouden stands 1.90. McCutcheon is also 61st in the country and second in the conference in 3-point percentage (.390). Senior center Jenna Allen is 62nd in the country and sixth in the league in field-goal percentage with a 50.0 percentage.
As a team, MSU is eighth in the NCAA and second in the B1G in assists per game, averaging 18.2. Michigan State is also 20th in the country and second in the conference in assist/turnover ratio (1.27). MSU is also 22nd in the nation and second in the league in 3-point field goal percentage, shooting 36.9 percent behind the arc. The Spartans are 29th in the country and second in the Big Ten in scoring offense, netting 76.0 points per game, as well as ranking 70th in the nation and fifth in the league in scoring margin at +8.3. MSU is also 38th in the country and fourth in the league in field goal percentage, shooting 44.3 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 11,542 per game.
LAST TIME OUT
Michigan State women's basketball closed out regular-season action with an 81-63 loss to Minnesota at Williams Arena in Minneapolis on March 3.
For the sixth time this season, the Spartans were led in scoring by freshman guard Nia Clouden, who scored 18 points to go along with three rebounds. She has scored in double figures a team-leading 20 times this season. Redshirt-junior guard Shay Colley was the other MSU player in double figures with 10 points, four rebounds and three assists. Colley has scored in double figures 19 times this season.
WELCOME TO SPARTAN NATION - SIGNING DAY
MSU 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.
• The Spartans enter the tournament with a 19-10 record and ended league play with a 9-9 record. Northwestern is 16-13 and has a matching 9-9 B1G mark. The Wildcats took the regular-season meeting on Jan. 3, 70-62 in Evanston.
• MSU is the No. 9 seed in the B1G Tournament for the fourth time. The last time Michigan State was the No. 9 seed was in 2015 in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, when the Spartans defeated Michigan in the second round before falling to Maryland in the quarterfinals. Overall, MSU is 1-3 as the No. 9 seed.
• MSU has three players averaging over 3.0 assists per game: Taryn McCutcheon (4.2 apg), Nia Clouden (3.9 apg) and Shay Colley (3.3 apg).
• The Spartans are looking to reach the 20-win plateau for the 10th time during Suzy Merchant's 12-year tenure.
SCOUTING NORTHWESTERN
Northwestern wrapped up its regular season with a 16-13 overall record and were 9-9 in the Big Ten which earned them the No. 8 seed in the Big Ten Tournament.
As a team, Northwestern ranks No. 134 nationally in scoring offense (66.8) and No. 78 in scoring defense (60.0). The Wildcats protect the ball well, leading the Big Ten in fewest turnovers and ranking No. 34 nationally with 13.2 turnovers per game.
Lindsey Pulliam leads Northwestern's scoring effort at 16.7 points per game and Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah is the team's leading rebounder at 11.0 per game. Kunaiyi-Akpanah Ranks No. 22 nationally in rebounding and is No. 4 in DI in offensive rebounding with 5.0 offensive rebounds per game. Veronica Burton is No. 23 nationally in assist-turnover ratio at 2.58.
The Wildcats are coached by Joe McKeown, who owns a 686-345 career coaching record with an 177-171 record at Northwestern in his 11 seasons.
AGAINST NORTHWESTERN IN INDY
Michigan State and Northwestern have met just once previously in the Big Ten Tournament since its inception in 1995.
Facing off in the 2011 Big Ten Tournament, No. 1-seeded Michigan State defeated Northwestern by a final score of 56-25. The Spartans closed the game on a 45-14 run after a Northwestern basket cut MSU's lead to 14-11 in the first half.
Porsche Poole led the Spartans in scoring with 11 points off the bench, while Brittney Thomas and Lykendra Johnson each scored 10. Northwestern's starters were held to 18 points combined as the Wildcats shot 21.7 percent from the field (10-of-46).
SERIES HISTORY VS. NORTHWESTERN
Michigan State leads the overall series with Northwestern 43-26. The Spartans had won 20-straight meetings, but the Wildcats have had the edge lately. NU won the first meeting of the season 70-62 in Evanston. Northwestern has won four of the last six meetings.
LAST TIME VS. NORTHWESTERN
Despite a then season-high 28 points redshirt-junior guard Shay Colley, the No. 15/17 Michigan State women's basketball team dropped its Big Ten road opener to Northwestern at Welsh-Ryan Arena on Thursday.
Colley's 28 points were a season high and just three points shy from matching her career high. For the first time this season, only one Spartan reached double figures as senior center Jenna Allen was second in scoring with nine points. For only the third time this year, MSU was out-rebounded, 37-30. The Spartans were also plagued by tying a season-high with 19 turnovers.
NUMBER NINE
MSU is the No. 9 seed in the B1G Tournament for the fourth time. The last time Michigan State was the No. 9 seed was in 2015 in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, when the Spartans defeated Michigan in the second round before falling to Maryland in the quarterfinals. Overall, MSU is 1-3 as the No. 9 seed.
SPARTANS EARN ALL-CONFERENCE HONORS
Michigan State women's basketball had four players named to the All-Big Ten teams Monday. Shay Colley, Jenna Allen, Nia Clouden and Taryn McCutcheon were honored by the Big Ten coaches and media.
Colley, a guard from Brampton, Ontario, earned first-team All-B1G honors by the coaches for the first time in her career. She also took second-team honors from the media. Last season, Colley captured honorable mention honors in her first season as a Spartan. The guard leads the team in scoring, averaging 14.7 points per game.
Clouden, a freshman guard from Owings Mills, Maryland was named to the All-Freshman team, as well as being named to the honorable mention squad by both the coaches and the media. She is the first Spartan to be named to the All-Freshman team since Aerial Powers during the 2013-14 season.
Allen, a center from Bedford, Indiana, earned her second career all-conference honor. Allen was voted to the second team both the coaches and the media after taking honorable mention honors a year ago. She has improved in point production every season, currently standing second on the team in scoring, averaging 12.5 ppg.
McCutcheon, a guard from East Lansing, Michigan, captured honorable mention honors for the third-consecutive season when she was honored by the media. McCutcheon is tied for third in the league in steals with 2.0 spg. She also stands second in the conference in 3-point field goal percentage, shooting 39.0 percent from behind the arc. The junior is one of only three Spartans to have started all 29 games.
HOOSIER STATE SPARTANS
Michigan State has two players, who hail from the Indiana. Jenna Allen hails from Bedford, Indiana and scored 15 points in front of family in Bloomington on Jan. 6. Victoria Gaines is a native of Merrilliville, Indiana. She also scored 15 points against the Hoosiers in the Spartans last game in the Hoosier State.
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.
B1G TOURNAMENT REWIND: THE MARATHON
In the longest game in Big Ten Tournament history, the No. 10-seeded Michigan State women's basketball team dropped a four overtime heartbreaker to No. 7-seeded Indiana, 111-109 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on March 1, 2018.
The game was also the longest in Michigan State history topping triple overtime games in 2016 and 1991.
Indiana's Amanda Cahill drained a pair of free throws with three seconds remaining in the fourth overtime to put the Hoosiers up 111-109.
Michigan State had career highs from redshirt-sophomore guard Shay Colley who had 27 points and senior forward Taya Reimer, who added 22.
ALLEN CLIMBING UP THE CHARTS
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 1,046 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.
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.
DID YOU KNOW?
Nia Clouden has set the freshman record for free throws made with 115 so far this season. She passed Spartan great Aerial Powers who made 107 from the charity stripe during her rookie campaign during the 2013-14 season. The 115 free throws also leads the team this season.
MCCUTCHEON MOVIN' ON UP
With one assist against Minnesota on March 3, junior guard Taryn McCutcheon remains third in career helpers with 465 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 25 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 fourth among freshmen in scoring, averaging 12.1 point per game. She is also second in assists with 3.9 helpers per contest and fourth in steals per game with 1.2. Clouden also has a 1.9 assist-to-turnover ratio, which is second in the league behind Northwestern's Veronica Burton (2.6).
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.
SCORING SHAY
Redshirt-junior guard Shay Colley has been one of MSU's most consistent players. Against Minnesota on March 3, Colley's 10 points was her seventh-straight double-figure game and 19th of the season. She now has scored in double digits in 33 career games as a Spartan. 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.
ON CLOUD(EN) NINE
Freshman sensation Nia Clouden is climbing up the MSU freshman record charts. She moved up to sixth in freshman assists with 114 helpers, passing Kim Archer who had 106 assists during the 1983-84 season. Clouden is now just three 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 350 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 28 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 second in both 3-point field goal percentage (.369) and second in 3-pointers made per game (7.1). Michigan State is second in scoring offense with 76.0 ppg, trailing Iowa's leading 80.1 ppg, along with also ranking second in assists (18.2 apg), turnover margin (+2.2) and assist/turnover ratio (1.3). MSU is also third in steals (8.3 spg) and fourth in field goal percentage (.443).
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.
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 junior Taryn McCutcheon and freshman guard Nia Clouden rank sixth and eighth in the B1G and 70th and 81st in the NCAA, respectively in assist-to-turnover ratio. McCutcheon has a 1.98 ratio, while Clouden stands 1.90. McCutcheon is also 61st in the country and second in the conference in 3-point percentage (.390). Senior center Jenna Allen is 62nd in the country and sixth in the league in field-goal percentage with a 50.0 percentage.
As a team, MSU is eighth in the NCAA and second in the B1G in assists per game, averaging 18.2. Michigan State is also 20th in the country and second in the conference in assist/turnover ratio (1.27). MSU is also 22nd in the nation and second in the league in 3-point field goal percentage, shooting 36.9 percent behind the arc. The Spartans are 29th in the country and second in the Big Ten in scoring offense, netting 76.0 points per game, as well as ranking 70th in the nation and fifth in the league in scoring margin at +8.3. MSU is also 38th in the country and fourth in the league in field goal percentage, shooting 44.3 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 11,542 per game.
LAST TIME OUT
Michigan State women's basketball closed out regular-season action with an 81-63 loss to Minnesota at Williams Arena in Minneapolis on March 3.
For the sixth time this season, the Spartans were led in scoring by freshman guard Nia Clouden, who scored 18 points to go along with three rebounds. She has scored in double figures a team-leading 20 times this season. Redshirt-junior guard Shay Colley was the other MSU player in double figures with 10 points, four rebounds and three assists. Colley has scored in double figures 19 times this season.
WELCOME TO SPARTAN NATION - SIGNING DAY
MSU 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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/ Women's BasketballTuesday, September 22
Sunday, March 15
Sunday, March 01
Wednesday, February 18