Monday, January 20
Piscataway, N.J.
6 PM
Michigan State University
at
RV/RV Rutgers
Michigan State Women's Basketball Travels to Rutgers Monday
1/18/2020 5:35:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Spartans and the Scarlet Knights meet on BTN.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State women's basketball will hit the road after two at home to take on Rutgers on Monday, Jan. 20 at 6 p.m. The game will be televised on the Big Ten Network with Jason Horowitz and Julianne Viani on the call. The Spartans have won two-straight games and stand 10-7 overall and 3-3 in league play.
• Rutgers is in a three-way tie for first-place in the Big Ten with Northwestern and Iowa all holding 5-1 league marks. Overall, Rutgers holds a 15-2 record. This will be the second-straight season that Michigan State and Rutgers will have met on Jan. 20. Last year, the Scarlet Knights stopped the Spartans, 76-62, at home on Jan. 20.Â
• The Spartans are hitting a tough stretch, facing the top three teams in the Big Ten in the next seven days. After facing Rutgers, the Spartans will take on Northwestern at home on Jan. 23, before facing Iowa on the road on Jan. 26. All three teams hold 5-1 Big Ten records.
• With her second-straight 20-point game, Nia Clouden is now eighth in the Big Ten in scoring, averaging 15.5 ppg. In league contests, Clouden is tied for 11th in scoring with 14.5 ppg. As a freshman, she averaged 12.0 ppg.
• With senior Victoria Gaines out for the season, sophomore forward Kayla Belles has stepped up.  Belles is averaging 11.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game in the last three games, starting all three contests. Over the last five games, Belles is averaging 9.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game in the last five contests.
SCOUTING RUTGERS
With a 15-2 start, Rutgers is off to its best start to a season during the C. Vivian Stringer era (since 1995). Overall, it is the Scarlet Knights best start since the 1990-91 team that started 16-1 on their way to the NCAA Tournament.
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Always tough on the defensive side of the ball, Rutgers is first in the Big Ten in scoring defense, allowing only 53.1 ppg. with teams shooting only 32.7 percent against them. The Scarlet Knights are third in the B1G in rebound margin (+5.1) and fifth in steals (9.5 spg).
Guard Arella Guirantes is tied for first the Big Ten in scoring at 19.1 points per game, which is also 29th in the nation. She has earned Big Ten Player of the Week honors twice this season. She is just 21 points away from reaching 1,000 for her career. Khadaizha Sanders is fifth in the league in steals (2.2 spg), just behind Nia Clouden (2.3 spg). In league contests, Guirantes is third in scoring with 19.0 ppg. and second in free throw percentage (.880).
SERIES HISTORY VS. RUTGERS Â
Rutgers leads the overall series with Michigan State, 5-4. The Scarlet Knights have won three-straight games after the Spartans had won three games in a row. Michigan State has only one game at Rutgers, 70-67, in 2016. The Spartans other three wins have all come in East Lansing. RU stopped MSU, 76-62 in Piscataway on Jan. 20, 2019.
LAST TIME VS. RUTGERS
In a battle of ranked teams, the No. 17 Michigan State women's basketball team was stopped on the road by first-place and No. 20 Rutgers 76-62 at the RAC on Jan. 20, 2019.
With the loss, Michigan State falls to 13-5 this season and 3-4 in the very competitive Big Ten conference. Rutgers remains atop the Big Ten, standing 15-3 overall and 7-0 in Big Ten action. The road continues to be a tough play for the Spartans in B1G play, falling to 0-4 away from the Breslin Center.
The Spartans were led by 15 points from junior guard Taryn McCutcheon and sophomore forward Sidney Cooks. McCutcheon also added a team-high four assists and three steals.Â
SPARTAN TIDBITS
• Senior guard Taryn McCutcheon notched nine points and seven assists, as she now has 1,073 points, just two behind Jamie Wesley (1994-98) with 1,075 points for No. 25 on MSU's career scoring list. McCutcheon's seven assists gives her 526 for her career, continuing to close the gap on her current assistant coach Kristin Haynie (2001-05), who holds the school record with 574 assists.
• Sophomore forward Kayla Belles swatted a career-high four blocks against Ohio State on Jan. 16. It was her fourth game this season with multiple blocks. Belles also netted eight points, for her third game in a row with 7+ points. She also snared six rebounds for her third-consecutive game with 5+ rebounds, along with fourth in the last five games as part of the sixth time on the season. Belles is averaging 11.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game in the last three games in starting all three contests. Over the last five games, Belles is averaging 9.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game in the last five contests.
BEING A BOSS AT THE BREZ
The Spartans continue to dominate at home. Last season, Michigan State set a record with 15 wins at home. Since the 2016-17 season, the Spartans are 43-9 at the friendly confines of the Breslin Center. MSU has won 26 of the last 27 games at home. This season, the Spartans are 8-0 at home.Â
NO SOPHOMORE SLUMP
Sophomores Nia Clouden, Kayla Belles and Tory Ozment are certainly not showing any signs of a sophomore slump. Belles is averaging 6.2 point, Â 3.9 rebounds ad 0.9 blocks per game. As a rookie, she averaged 2.8 ppg, 1.9 rpg along with 0.5 bpg. Ozment is up from 5.1 ppg to 5.5 ppg as a sophomore. Clouden scored 12.0 ppg with 3.9 apg as a freshman. This year, she is scoring 15.5 ppg with 3.8 apg.
HOME COOKING
The Spartans concluded their two-game homestand against Ohio State on Jan. 16. Michigan State is now 8-0 at home this season, including earning its three Big Ten wins. MSU is averaging 45.8 rebounds per game at home, while averaging 39.9 rpg for the season. The Spartans are scoring 82.3 ppg at home, while putting in 73.4 ppg for the season.
FINAL COUNTDOWN
The fourth quarter has told the tale for the Spartans this season. The Spartans have out-scored their opponents in eight of their 10 wins. MSU has allowed over 20 points in the fourth quarter seven times this season and are 2-5 in those games. Michigan State has been out-scored in the final 10 minutes 122-101 in Big Ten contests.
REACHING THE PINNACLEÂ
After reaching the 1,000 career points mark vs. Indiana on Dec. 28, Taryn McCutcheon's added nine points against Ohio State on Jan. 16 to give her 1,073 career points. McCutcheon is still No. 26 on MSU's career scoring list, passing Brenda Jezowski (1980-85). She is now just two points away from tying Jamie Wesley for 25th on the all-time scoring list with 1,075 points. She also added a season-high seven assists Sunday, giving her 526 for her career, which is second all-time.
UP NEXT
The Spartans are hitting a tough stretch, facing the top three teams in the Big Ten in the next seven days. After facing Rutgers, the Spartans will take on Northwestern at home on Jan. 23, before facing Iowa on the road on Jan. 26. All three teams hold 5-1 Big Ten records.
CLOUDEN CLIMBS THE CHARTS
Sophomore guard Nia Clouden is among the best in several categories in the Big Ten. She is currently tied for eighth in the league in scoring, averaging 15.5 points per game. Rutgers' Arella Guirantes and Penn State's Kamaria McDaniel lead the league in scoring with 19.1 ppg. Clouden is also third in free throw percentage (.809). She is providing help on the defensive end of the ball as well, standing fourth in steals (2.3 spg).
EXCLUSIVE COMPANY
Guard Taryn McCutcheon is part of an exclusive Michigan State group. She is one of only five players in Spartan history with at least 900 points and 400 assists. Tori Jankoska is the all-time points leader with 2,212 points, while current MSU assistant coach Kristin Haynie holds the all-time assist crown with 574 helpers. McCutcheon and Haynie are now the only Spartans with at least 1,000 points and 500 assists.
Player                  Pts   Assists
Tori Jankoska (2013-17)Â Â Â Â 2,212Â Â Â 489
Kristin Haynie (2001-05)Â Â Â Â 1,199Â Â Â 574
Taryn McCutcheon (2017-)Â Â Â 1,073Â Â Â 526
Brittney Thomas (2007-11)Â Â Â 932Â Â Â 401
Deb Traxinger  (1978-82)    926   443
SWITCHING STARTERS
Through 17 games this season, Nia Clouden and Taryn McCutcheon are the only two players to have started every game. Overall, the Spartans have had eight different starting lineups. Against Ohio State, the Spartans used the lineup of Clouden, McCutcheon, Moira Joiner, Kayla Belles and Nia Hollie for the third-straight game. Gaines had become a fixture in the starting five before being lost for the season against Indiana on Dec. 28. Shay Colley and Mardrekia Cook have both missed time to injury, forcing them to come in and out of the starting five.Â
FABULOUS FRESHMEN
The Spartan freshmen continue to be key contributors this season. Julia Ayrault (5.5 ppg, T-15th), Moira Joiner (5.5 ppg, T-15th), Alyza Winston (3.9 ppg, T-26th) and Taiyier Parks (3.6, T-29th) are all in the top 30 in the Big Ten in scoring among freshmen. Ayrault has led MSU in rebounds five times this season, which is the second-most on the team. Overall, the rookie leads the Spartans on the boards, averaging 5.1 rpg, which is tied for third among B1G freshmen. Ayrault is tied for second in blocks with 1.1 bpg, while Taiyier Parks is tied for fourth (0.8 bpg).
FINDING CONSISTENCY
Nia Clouden has been the most consistent Spartan this season, leading the team in scoring nine times this year. Taryn McCutcheon has led five times, while Julia Ayrault has led twice including tying with McCutcheon once. Kayla Belles and Alyza Winston are the only other players to lead MSU in scoring.Â
On the boards is a very different story, as nine different players have led the squad in rebounds. Kayla Belles has both led the team in rebounding six times, followed by Julia Ayrault who has had the most rebounds on five occasions.
SPARTANS IN THE B1G/NCAA RANKINGS
After 17 games, Michigan State is 17th in the nation and second in the Big Ten in steals per game (11.4 spg). After holding Hartford and LSU to no 3-pointers earlier this season, the Spartans are 10th in the country and second in the Big Ten 3-point field goal defense, holding teams to 25.3 percent from beyond the arc. MSU is third in the Big Ten in 3-pointers made (7.6) and second in offensive rebounds (15.4).
Individually, sophomore guard Nia Clouden is 47th in the nation and fourth in the league in steals with 39.
In Big Ten contests, Nia Clouden is tied for 11th in scoring, averaging 14.0 ppg, while Taryn McCutcheon is tied for 16th, scoring 13.2 ppg. Clouden is also second in assists with 5.3 apg. Sophomore forward Kayla Belles is third in blocks per game (2.0), while McCutcheon is fifth in 3-pointers made with 14.
MASTER THIEVES
With 10 steals against Ohio State on Jan. 16, the Spartans reached double figures in takeaways for the 12th time in 17 games. This was the first double-digit steal game since Penn State on Jan. 9 when MSU also had 10. Against OSU, six different Spartans had a steal in the game, led by two steals apiece by Nia Clouden, Moira Joiner and Taryn McCutcheon. This is the most double-figure steal games that MSU has had since Coach Merchant's arrival during the 2007-08 season was 17 during the 2010-11 season. During the 2005-06 season, MSU had 20 double-digit steal games. As a team, Michigan State is averaging 11.4 spg, which is second in the Big Ten.
FREQUENT FLIER
Three Spartans earned international experience during the offseason. MSU head coach Suzy Merchant earned a silver medal as the head coach of U.S. Pan American team that competed in Lima, Peru. Â Sophomore guard Nia Clouden also participated in the U.S. U19 World Cup Trials in Colorado Spring in May. Redshirt-senior guard Shay Colley continues her quest for the 2020 Olympics continuing training with the Canadian National Team.
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. The Green & White have won 144 of their last 163 games (.883) when scoring at least 70 points, and the Spartans are 162-28 (.852) under head coach Suzy Merchant when hanging at least 70 points on the scoreboard. The Spartans are now 7-1 this season when reaching the 70-point mark with its only loss coming against Penn State on Jan. 9.
CLOSING OUT THE GAMES
The Spartans have been extremely effective closing out games over the last couple years, winning 203 of their last 216 games (.940) when leading with five minutes left, including 153 of their last 168. In Coach Merchant's tenure, Michigan State is 238-19 (.926) when holding a lead with five minutes left. This season, MSU is 10-1 when leading with five minutes remaining with the only loss coming against No. 8 Florida State.Â
RETURN TO THE GREAT LAKES STATE
Michigan State adds two new coaches to the staff this season in Dean Lockwood and former Spartan All-American Kristin Haynie. Lockwood and Haynie come to Michigan State with extensive basketball roots in the state of Michigan, as well as highly-decorated careers. During his 15-year tenure as an assistant coach at Tennessee, Lockwood won two NCAA titles. Haynie returns to Michigan State where she earned All-American honors, leading MSU to the 2005 National Championship game.Â
GAME REWIND: MSU 68, Ohio State 65
Sophomore guard Nia Clouden's old-fashioned three-point play with 14 seconds remaining led the Michigan State women's basketball team past Ohio State, 68-65, Thursday at the Breslin Center. The guard also hit a pair of free throws with six seconds left to seal the win.
The Spartans have now won two-straight games for first time since November, improving to 10-7 overall and 3-3 in the Big Ten. Ohio State falls to 10-7 and 3-3 in league play.
Clouden scored 20 points for the second-straight game, adding six assists. Redshirt-junior forward Mardrekia Cook was the only other MSU player in double figures with 10 points, eight of which came in the fourth quarter. Senior guard Taryn McCutcheon tied a season-high with seven assists.
Postgame Notes vs. Ohio State
• The Spartans distributed 20 assists for the second-straight game ... it was MSU's fifth game this season with 20+ helpers.
• Michigan State had a 16-14 fast break points edge, as the Spartans are now 8-4 when out-scoring the opposition in fast break points, including the second-straight game.
SIGNING DAY
Michigan State women's basketball head coach Suzy Merchant announced the signing of Kendall Bostic (Kokomo, Indiana/Northwestern High School) to a National Letter of Intent. Bostic is a 6-2 forward who plays for head coach Katie Layden at Northwestern High School in Kokomo, Indiana and AAU basketball for Tony Marlin and the Indiana Flight/Elite. Bostic is ranked No. 16 at her position and No. 67 overall by ESPN HoopGurlz. As a junior, Bostic averaged 18.7 points, 9.2 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game on 68 percent shooting from the field. Last season, Northwestern captured its second consecutive state championship, as Bostic earned State Championship Player of the Game accolades, along with AP First-Team All-State and Co-Player of the Year honors.
• Rutgers is in a three-way tie for first-place in the Big Ten with Northwestern and Iowa all holding 5-1 league marks. Overall, Rutgers holds a 15-2 record. This will be the second-straight season that Michigan State and Rutgers will have met on Jan. 20. Last year, the Scarlet Knights stopped the Spartans, 76-62, at home on Jan. 20.Â
• The Spartans are hitting a tough stretch, facing the top three teams in the Big Ten in the next seven days. After facing Rutgers, the Spartans will take on Northwestern at home on Jan. 23, before facing Iowa on the road on Jan. 26. All three teams hold 5-1 Big Ten records.
• With her second-straight 20-point game, Nia Clouden is now eighth in the Big Ten in scoring, averaging 15.5 ppg. In league contests, Clouden is tied for 11th in scoring with 14.5 ppg. As a freshman, she averaged 12.0 ppg.
• With senior Victoria Gaines out for the season, sophomore forward Kayla Belles has stepped up.  Belles is averaging 11.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game in the last three games, starting all three contests. Over the last five games, Belles is averaging 9.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game in the last five contests.
SCOUTING RUTGERS
With a 15-2 start, Rutgers is off to its best start to a season during the C. Vivian Stringer era (since 1995). Overall, it is the Scarlet Knights best start since the 1990-91 team that started 16-1 on their way to the NCAA Tournament.
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Always tough on the defensive side of the ball, Rutgers is first in the Big Ten in scoring defense, allowing only 53.1 ppg. with teams shooting only 32.7 percent against them. The Scarlet Knights are third in the B1G in rebound margin (+5.1) and fifth in steals (9.5 spg).
Guard Arella Guirantes is tied for first the Big Ten in scoring at 19.1 points per game, which is also 29th in the nation. She has earned Big Ten Player of the Week honors twice this season. She is just 21 points away from reaching 1,000 for her career. Khadaizha Sanders is fifth in the league in steals (2.2 spg), just behind Nia Clouden (2.3 spg). In league contests, Guirantes is third in scoring with 19.0 ppg. and second in free throw percentage (.880).
SERIES HISTORY VS. RUTGERS Â
Rutgers leads the overall series with Michigan State, 5-4. The Scarlet Knights have won three-straight games after the Spartans had won three games in a row. Michigan State has only one game at Rutgers, 70-67, in 2016. The Spartans other three wins have all come in East Lansing. RU stopped MSU, 76-62 in Piscataway on Jan. 20, 2019.
LAST TIME VS. RUTGERS
In a battle of ranked teams, the No. 17 Michigan State women's basketball team was stopped on the road by first-place and No. 20 Rutgers 76-62 at the RAC on Jan. 20, 2019.
With the loss, Michigan State falls to 13-5 this season and 3-4 in the very competitive Big Ten conference. Rutgers remains atop the Big Ten, standing 15-3 overall and 7-0 in Big Ten action. The road continues to be a tough play for the Spartans in B1G play, falling to 0-4 away from the Breslin Center.
The Spartans were led by 15 points from junior guard Taryn McCutcheon and sophomore forward Sidney Cooks. McCutcheon also added a team-high four assists and three steals.Â
SPARTAN TIDBITS
• Senior guard Taryn McCutcheon notched nine points and seven assists, as she now has 1,073 points, just two behind Jamie Wesley (1994-98) with 1,075 points for No. 25 on MSU's career scoring list. McCutcheon's seven assists gives her 526 for her career, continuing to close the gap on her current assistant coach Kristin Haynie (2001-05), who holds the school record with 574 assists.
• Sophomore forward Kayla Belles swatted a career-high four blocks against Ohio State on Jan. 16. It was her fourth game this season with multiple blocks. Belles also netted eight points, for her third game in a row with 7+ points. She also snared six rebounds for her third-consecutive game with 5+ rebounds, along with fourth in the last five games as part of the sixth time on the season. Belles is averaging 11.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game in the last three games in starting all three contests. Over the last five games, Belles is averaging 9.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game in the last five contests.
BEING A BOSS AT THE BREZ
The Spartans continue to dominate at home. Last season, Michigan State set a record with 15 wins at home. Since the 2016-17 season, the Spartans are 43-9 at the friendly confines of the Breslin Center. MSU has won 26 of the last 27 games at home. This season, the Spartans are 8-0 at home.Â
NO SOPHOMORE SLUMP
Sophomores Nia Clouden, Kayla Belles and Tory Ozment are certainly not showing any signs of a sophomore slump. Belles is averaging 6.2 point, Â 3.9 rebounds ad 0.9 blocks per game. As a rookie, she averaged 2.8 ppg, 1.9 rpg along with 0.5 bpg. Ozment is up from 5.1 ppg to 5.5 ppg as a sophomore. Clouden scored 12.0 ppg with 3.9 apg as a freshman. This year, she is scoring 15.5 ppg with 3.8 apg.
HOME COOKING
The Spartans concluded their two-game homestand against Ohio State on Jan. 16. Michigan State is now 8-0 at home this season, including earning its three Big Ten wins. MSU is averaging 45.8 rebounds per game at home, while averaging 39.9 rpg for the season. The Spartans are scoring 82.3 ppg at home, while putting in 73.4 ppg for the season.
FINAL COUNTDOWN
The fourth quarter has told the tale for the Spartans this season. The Spartans have out-scored their opponents in eight of their 10 wins. MSU has allowed over 20 points in the fourth quarter seven times this season and are 2-5 in those games. Michigan State has been out-scored in the final 10 minutes 122-101 in Big Ten contests.
REACHING THE PINNACLEÂ
After reaching the 1,000 career points mark vs. Indiana on Dec. 28, Taryn McCutcheon's added nine points against Ohio State on Jan. 16 to give her 1,073 career points. McCutcheon is still No. 26 on MSU's career scoring list, passing Brenda Jezowski (1980-85). She is now just two points away from tying Jamie Wesley for 25th on the all-time scoring list with 1,075 points. She also added a season-high seven assists Sunday, giving her 526 for her career, which is second all-time.
UP NEXT
The Spartans are hitting a tough stretch, facing the top three teams in the Big Ten in the next seven days. After facing Rutgers, the Spartans will take on Northwestern at home on Jan. 23, before facing Iowa on the road on Jan. 26. All three teams hold 5-1 Big Ten records.
CLOUDEN CLIMBS THE CHARTS
Sophomore guard Nia Clouden is among the best in several categories in the Big Ten. She is currently tied for eighth in the league in scoring, averaging 15.5 points per game. Rutgers' Arella Guirantes and Penn State's Kamaria McDaniel lead the league in scoring with 19.1 ppg. Clouden is also third in free throw percentage (.809). She is providing help on the defensive end of the ball as well, standing fourth in steals (2.3 spg).
EXCLUSIVE COMPANY
Guard Taryn McCutcheon is part of an exclusive Michigan State group. She is one of only five players in Spartan history with at least 900 points and 400 assists. Tori Jankoska is the all-time points leader with 2,212 points, while current MSU assistant coach Kristin Haynie holds the all-time assist crown with 574 helpers. McCutcheon and Haynie are now the only Spartans with at least 1,000 points and 500 assists.
Player                  Pts   Assists
Tori Jankoska (2013-17)Â Â Â Â 2,212Â Â Â 489
Kristin Haynie (2001-05)Â Â Â Â 1,199Â Â Â 574
Taryn McCutcheon (2017-)Â Â Â 1,073Â Â Â 526
Brittney Thomas (2007-11)Â Â Â 932Â Â Â 401
Deb Traxinger  (1978-82)    926   443
SWITCHING STARTERS
Through 17 games this season, Nia Clouden and Taryn McCutcheon are the only two players to have started every game. Overall, the Spartans have had eight different starting lineups. Against Ohio State, the Spartans used the lineup of Clouden, McCutcheon, Moira Joiner, Kayla Belles and Nia Hollie for the third-straight game. Gaines had become a fixture in the starting five before being lost for the season against Indiana on Dec. 28. Shay Colley and Mardrekia Cook have both missed time to injury, forcing them to come in and out of the starting five.Â
FABULOUS FRESHMEN
The Spartan freshmen continue to be key contributors this season. Julia Ayrault (5.5 ppg, T-15th), Moira Joiner (5.5 ppg, T-15th), Alyza Winston (3.9 ppg, T-26th) and Taiyier Parks (3.6, T-29th) are all in the top 30 in the Big Ten in scoring among freshmen. Ayrault has led MSU in rebounds five times this season, which is the second-most on the team. Overall, the rookie leads the Spartans on the boards, averaging 5.1 rpg, which is tied for third among B1G freshmen. Ayrault is tied for second in blocks with 1.1 bpg, while Taiyier Parks is tied for fourth (0.8 bpg).
FINDING CONSISTENCY
Nia Clouden has been the most consistent Spartan this season, leading the team in scoring nine times this year. Taryn McCutcheon has led five times, while Julia Ayrault has led twice including tying with McCutcheon once. Kayla Belles and Alyza Winston are the only other players to lead MSU in scoring.Â
On the boards is a very different story, as nine different players have led the squad in rebounds. Kayla Belles has both led the team in rebounding six times, followed by Julia Ayrault who has had the most rebounds on five occasions.
SPARTANS IN THE B1G/NCAA RANKINGS
After 17 games, Michigan State is 17th in the nation and second in the Big Ten in steals per game (11.4 spg). After holding Hartford and LSU to no 3-pointers earlier this season, the Spartans are 10th in the country and second in the Big Ten 3-point field goal defense, holding teams to 25.3 percent from beyond the arc. MSU is third in the Big Ten in 3-pointers made (7.6) and second in offensive rebounds (15.4).
Individually, sophomore guard Nia Clouden is 47th in the nation and fourth in the league in steals with 39.
In Big Ten contests, Nia Clouden is tied for 11th in scoring, averaging 14.0 ppg, while Taryn McCutcheon is tied for 16th, scoring 13.2 ppg. Clouden is also second in assists with 5.3 apg. Sophomore forward Kayla Belles is third in blocks per game (2.0), while McCutcheon is fifth in 3-pointers made with 14.
MASTER THIEVES
With 10 steals against Ohio State on Jan. 16, the Spartans reached double figures in takeaways for the 12th time in 17 games. This was the first double-digit steal game since Penn State on Jan. 9 when MSU also had 10. Against OSU, six different Spartans had a steal in the game, led by two steals apiece by Nia Clouden, Moira Joiner and Taryn McCutcheon. This is the most double-figure steal games that MSU has had since Coach Merchant's arrival during the 2007-08 season was 17 during the 2010-11 season. During the 2005-06 season, MSU had 20 double-digit steal games. As a team, Michigan State is averaging 11.4 spg, which is second in the Big Ten.
FREQUENT FLIER
Three Spartans earned international experience during the offseason. MSU head coach Suzy Merchant earned a silver medal as the head coach of U.S. Pan American team that competed in Lima, Peru. Â Sophomore guard Nia Clouden also participated in the U.S. U19 World Cup Trials in Colorado Spring in May. Redshirt-senior guard Shay Colley continues her quest for the 2020 Olympics continuing training with the Canadian National Team.
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. The Green & White have won 144 of their last 163 games (.883) when scoring at least 70 points, and the Spartans are 162-28 (.852) under head coach Suzy Merchant when hanging at least 70 points on the scoreboard. The Spartans are now 7-1 this season when reaching the 70-point mark with its only loss coming against Penn State on Jan. 9.
CLOSING OUT THE GAMES
The Spartans have been extremely effective closing out games over the last couple years, winning 203 of their last 216 games (.940) when leading with five minutes left, including 153 of their last 168. In Coach Merchant's tenure, Michigan State is 238-19 (.926) when holding a lead with five minutes left. This season, MSU is 10-1 when leading with five minutes remaining with the only loss coming against No. 8 Florida State.Â
RETURN TO THE GREAT LAKES STATE
Michigan State adds two new coaches to the staff this season in Dean Lockwood and former Spartan All-American Kristin Haynie. Lockwood and Haynie come to Michigan State with extensive basketball roots in the state of Michigan, as well as highly-decorated careers. During his 15-year tenure as an assistant coach at Tennessee, Lockwood won two NCAA titles. Haynie returns to Michigan State where she earned All-American honors, leading MSU to the 2005 National Championship game.Â
GAME REWIND: MSU 68, Ohio State 65
Sophomore guard Nia Clouden's old-fashioned three-point play with 14 seconds remaining led the Michigan State women's basketball team past Ohio State, 68-65, Thursday at the Breslin Center. The guard also hit a pair of free throws with six seconds left to seal the win.
The Spartans have now won two-straight games for first time since November, improving to 10-7 overall and 3-3 in the Big Ten. Ohio State falls to 10-7 and 3-3 in league play.
Clouden scored 20 points for the second-straight game, adding six assists. Redshirt-junior forward Mardrekia Cook was the only other MSU player in double figures with 10 points, eight of which came in the fourth quarter. Senior guard Taryn McCutcheon tied a season-high with seven assists.
Postgame Notes vs. Ohio State
• The Spartans distributed 20 assists for the second-straight game ... it was MSU's fifth game this season with 20+ helpers.
• Michigan State had a 16-14 fast break points edge, as the Spartans are now 8-4 when out-scoring the opposition in fast break points, including the second-straight game.
SIGNING DAY
Michigan State women's basketball head coach Suzy Merchant announced the signing of Kendall Bostic (Kokomo, Indiana/Northwestern High School) to a National Letter of Intent. Bostic is a 6-2 forward who plays for head coach Katie Layden at Northwestern High School in Kokomo, Indiana and AAU basketball for Tony Marlin and the Indiana Flight/Elite. Bostic is ranked No. 16 at her position and No. 67 overall by ESPN HoopGurlz. As a junior, Bostic averaged 18.7 points, 9.2 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game on 68 percent shooting from the field. Last season, Northwestern captured its second consecutive state championship, as Bostic earned State Championship Player of the Game accolades, along with AP First-Team All-State and Co-Player of the Year honors.
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