Thursday, January 23
East Lansing, Mich.
6:30 PM
Michigan State University
vs
#22 Northwestern
Photo by: Matthew Mitchell/MSU Athletic Communications
Spartan Women Hosts No. 22 Northwestern on National Girls and Women in Sports Day
1/22/2020 3:25:00 PM | Women's Basketball
MSU will celebrate all its women's teams at half time.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State women's basketball will celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day on Thursday, Jan. 23 against Northwestern. Game time is set for 6:30 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on BTN+. The Spartans will celebrate NGWSD with several other women's teams, who will hold clinics on the concourse and be honored at half time.
• Both the Spartans and the Wildcats enter the game with winning streaks. MSU is 11-7 overall and 4-3 in league contests, winning three straight. MSU also snapped a six-game losing streak in games away from home, including four-straight true road games. NU is 16-2 overall and 6-1 in the B1G and are winners are four-straight games.
• The Spartans continue a tough stretch, facing three of the top teams in the Big Ten in a seven-day span. After facing Rutgers, the Spartans will take on Northwestern at home on Jan. 23, before facing Iowa on the road on Jan. 26. Both the Wildcats and the Hawkeyes hold 6-1 league marks.
• Sophomore guard Nia Clouden now has 70 assists on the season and exactly 200 for her career, closing in on MSU's career assists list. Clouden's current 3.9 assists per game for her career is 10th on MSU's career assists per game list.
• With senior Victoria Gaines out for the season, sophomore forward Kayla Belles has stepped up. Belles has started the last four games, averaging 8.0 rebounds per game, including a career-high 13 boards against Rutgers on Jan. 20.
SCOUTING NORTHWESTERN
Northwestern is tied with Iowa atop the Big Ten standings with matching 6-1 records. Overall, the Wildcats are 16-2 and have won four-straight games. NU has home league wins over Maryland, Purdue and Penn State. Northwestern has earned road B1G wins against Indiana, Minnesota and Illinois with its only league loss coming against Iowa at home. The Wildcats only other loss came to in-state rival DePaul on Dec. 1.
Three different Wildcats are averaging in double figures led by Lindsey Pulliam who is third in the league in scoring, averaging 18.3 ppg. Abi Scheid is 22nd in scoring (12.3 ppg), while Abbie Fox is 26th (11.7 ppg). Veronica Burton is second in assists with 5.4 apg and first in the league in steals with 3.8 spg.
Northwestern has two 1,000 point scorers on the roster currently. Lindsey Pulliam is third active leading scorer in the Big Ten with 1,403 career points. Abi Scheid just reached the 1,000-point plateau with 1,012 points.
SERIES HISTORY VS. NORTHWESTERN
Michigan State holds a 44-26 advantage in the series vs. Northwestern, after splitting last season's two meetings. The Wildcats won, 70-62, in Evanston in the regular season, before the Spartans bounced back with a 68-52 win in Indianapolis in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament. MSU has won three of the last five overall meetings after NU won the previous two, that came on the heels of the Spartans' 20-game win streak in the series.
Michigan State is 25-7 in the series in games played in East Lansing, having won the last two match-ups as part of winning 19 of the last 20 on its home hardwood. The lone loss in that stretch was a 61-57 defeat on Dec. 28, 2014, that stopped the aforementioned 20-game victory for MSU streak. The last time the Spartans and Wildcats tangled in East Lansing, MSU routed NU, 81-51.
LAST TIME VS. NORTHWESTERN
Ninth-seeded Michigan State women's basketball used a balanced scoring attack to top No. 8-seeded Northwestern, 68-52, Thursday in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. MSU will take on top-seeded Maryland on March 7. 2019.
For the 11th time, the Spartans were led in scoring by redshirt-junior guard Shay Colley, who scored 14 points to go along with a team-leading seven rebounds. Colley was one of four Spartans to reach double figures. MSU is now 8-2 when four players score in double figures. Senior center Jenna Allen and freshman guard Nia Clouden both scored 11 points, with junior guard Taryn McCutcheon adding 10 points.
SPARTAN TIDBITS
• MSU had a dominating 47-26 rebounding advantage against Rutgers on Jan. 20, marking the Spartans' second-highest rebounding output in Big Ten play behind the 53 boards vs. Nebraska (12/31/19). The +11 rebounding margin was also the second-highest during Big Ten action behind +18 vs. Nebraska (53-35, 12/31/19).
• Freshman guard Moira Joiner's 20 points against Rutgers on Jan. 20 was her first time leading MSU in scoring, becoming the sixth different Spartan to top the team in the points category this season. It is also Joiner's third game in double-figures, topping her previous career-high of 15 points at Penn State (1/9/20) and joining her 13 points vs. Nebraska (12/31/19).Joiner has now netted 50 points in the last four games (12.5 ppg) as part of 62 points (10.3 ppg) in the last six games.
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.
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 points, 4.4 rebounds and 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 5.4 ppg as a sophomore. Clouden scored 12.0 ppg with 3.9 apg as a freshman. This year, she is scoring 15.4 ppg with 3.9 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.
REACHING THE PINNACLE
After reaching the 1,000 career points mark vs. Indiana on Dec. 28, Taryn McCutcheon's added 10 points against Rutgers on Jan. 20 to give her 1,083 career points. McCutcheon moved up to No. 25 on MSU's career scoring list, passing Jamie Wesley (1994-98). She is now just five points away from tying Bella Engen (1994-98) for 24th on the all-time scoring list with 1,088 points. She also added two assists against Rutgers, giving her 528 for her career, which is second all-time.
UP NEXT
Michigan State continues its tough week, taking on three of the top teams in the Big Ten. Prior to the loss to the Spartans, Rutgers was tied for first in the league. MSU will now take on first-place Northwestern (6-1) on Jan. 23 and Iowa (6-1) on Jan. 26 to conclude the week.
CLOUDEN VS. THE LEAGUE
Sophomore guard Nia Clouden is among the best in several categories in the Big Ten. She is currently eighth in the league in scoring, averaging 15.4 points per game. Rutgers' Arella Guirantes leads the league in scoring with 19.6 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 (2.2 spg). In Big Ten games, Clouden is second in assists, providing 5.4 helpers per game. She is also second in league games in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.4).
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) 2,212 489
Kristin Haynie (2001-05) 1,199 574
Taryn McCutcheon (2017-) 1,083 528
Brittney Thomas (2007-11) 932 401
Deb Traxinger (1978-82) 926 443
SWITCHING STARTERS
Through 18 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 Rutgers, the Spartans used the lineup of Clouden, McCutcheon, Moira Joiner, Kayla Belles and Nia Hollie for the fourth-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.
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. Moira Joiner, Kayla Belles and Alyza Winston are the only other players to lead MSU in scoring.
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 seven times, followed by Julia Ayrault who has had the most rebounds on five occasions.
SPARTANS IN THE B1G/NCAA RANKINGS
After 18 games, Michigan State is 29th in the nation and second in the Big Ten in steals per game (10.8 spg). The Spartans continue to deny their opponents the three-point shot, standing 10 in the country and second in the Big Ten 3-point field goal defense, holding teams to 25.1 percent from beyond the arc. MSU is third in the Big Ten in 3-pointers made (7.7) and second in offensive rebounds (15.4).
Individually, sophomore guard Nia Clouden is 58th in the nation and fourth in the league in steals with 40.
In Big Ten contests, Nia Clouden is tied for 13th in scoring, averaging 14.4 ppg, while senior guard Taryn McCutcheon is tied for 19th, scoring 12.7 ppg. Clouden is also second in assists with 5.4 apg. Sophomore forward Kayla Belles is third in blocks per game (2.0). McCutcheon and freshman guard Moira Joiner are both tied for sixth in 3-pointers made with 16.
MASTER THIEVES
With 10 steals against Ohio State on Jan. 16, the Spartans reached double figures in takeaways for the 12th time in 18 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 10.8 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. 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 204 of their last 217 games (.940) when leading with five minutes left, including 154 of their last 169. In Coach Merchant's tenure, Michigan State is 239-19 (.926) when holding a lead with five minutes left. This season, MSU is 11-1 when leading with five minutes remaining with the only loss coming against No. 8 Florida State.
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.
GAME REWIND: MSU 66, Rutgers 55
Freshman guard Moira Joiner earned her first collegiate 20-point game, leading the Michigan State women's basketball team to a 66-55 win over Rutgers at the RAC on Monday night.
The Spartans have now won three-straight games and improve to 11-7 overall and 4-3 in league contests. Rutgers falls to 15-3 overall and 5-2 in Big Ten action.
Michigan State has had a 20-point scorer for three-straight games now as sophomore guard Nia Clouden had reach the 20-point mark for two-straight contests. Joiner's previous career high was 15 on the road against Penn State on Jan. 9. She had now reached double figures three times this season. Clouden ended the game with 11 points to go along with six assists and five rebounds, while senior Taryn McCutcheon added 10 points. Sophomore forward Kayla Belles led all players with a career-high 13 rebounds, as MSU out-rebounded Rutgers 47-26.
Postgame Notes vs. Rutgers
• Freshman guard Moira Joiner netted a career-high 20 points, becoming MSU's third different player to post 20+ points, joining sophomore guard Nia Clouden (six 20-point games) and senior guard Taryn McCutcheon (one 20-point games).
• During its current three-game win streak, the Spartan defense has held the opposition to under 70 points in all three games, including under 60 in two of the three outings ... on the season, MSU has kept the opposition to 60 points or less in nine games.
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.
• Both the Spartans and the Wildcats enter the game with winning streaks. MSU is 11-7 overall and 4-3 in league contests, winning three straight. MSU also snapped a six-game losing streak in games away from home, including four-straight true road games. NU is 16-2 overall and 6-1 in the B1G and are winners are four-straight games.
• The Spartans continue a tough stretch, facing three of the top teams in the Big Ten in a seven-day span. After facing Rutgers, the Spartans will take on Northwestern at home on Jan. 23, before facing Iowa on the road on Jan. 26. Both the Wildcats and the Hawkeyes hold 6-1 league marks.
• Sophomore guard Nia Clouden now has 70 assists on the season and exactly 200 for her career, closing in on MSU's career assists list. Clouden's current 3.9 assists per game for her career is 10th on MSU's career assists per game list.
• With senior Victoria Gaines out for the season, sophomore forward Kayla Belles has stepped up. Belles has started the last four games, averaging 8.0 rebounds per game, including a career-high 13 boards against Rutgers on Jan. 20.
SCOUTING NORTHWESTERN
Northwestern is tied with Iowa atop the Big Ten standings with matching 6-1 records. Overall, the Wildcats are 16-2 and have won four-straight games. NU has home league wins over Maryland, Purdue and Penn State. Northwestern has earned road B1G wins against Indiana, Minnesota and Illinois with its only league loss coming against Iowa at home. The Wildcats only other loss came to in-state rival DePaul on Dec. 1.
Three different Wildcats are averaging in double figures led by Lindsey Pulliam who is third in the league in scoring, averaging 18.3 ppg. Abi Scheid is 22nd in scoring (12.3 ppg), while Abbie Fox is 26th (11.7 ppg). Veronica Burton is second in assists with 5.4 apg and first in the league in steals with 3.8 spg.
Northwestern has two 1,000 point scorers on the roster currently. Lindsey Pulliam is third active leading scorer in the Big Ten with 1,403 career points. Abi Scheid just reached the 1,000-point plateau with 1,012 points.
SERIES HISTORY VS. NORTHWESTERN
Michigan State holds a 44-26 advantage in the series vs. Northwestern, after splitting last season's two meetings. The Wildcats won, 70-62, in Evanston in the regular season, before the Spartans bounced back with a 68-52 win in Indianapolis in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament. MSU has won three of the last five overall meetings after NU won the previous two, that came on the heels of the Spartans' 20-game win streak in the series.
Michigan State is 25-7 in the series in games played in East Lansing, having won the last two match-ups as part of winning 19 of the last 20 on its home hardwood. The lone loss in that stretch was a 61-57 defeat on Dec. 28, 2014, that stopped the aforementioned 20-game victory for MSU streak. The last time the Spartans and Wildcats tangled in East Lansing, MSU routed NU, 81-51.
LAST TIME VS. NORTHWESTERN
Ninth-seeded Michigan State women's basketball used a balanced scoring attack to top No. 8-seeded Northwestern, 68-52, Thursday in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. MSU will take on top-seeded Maryland on March 7. 2019.
For the 11th time, the Spartans were led in scoring by redshirt-junior guard Shay Colley, who scored 14 points to go along with a team-leading seven rebounds. Colley was one of four Spartans to reach double figures. MSU is now 8-2 when four players score in double figures. Senior center Jenna Allen and freshman guard Nia Clouden both scored 11 points, with junior guard Taryn McCutcheon adding 10 points.
SPARTAN TIDBITS
• MSU had a dominating 47-26 rebounding advantage against Rutgers on Jan. 20, marking the Spartans' second-highest rebounding output in Big Ten play behind the 53 boards vs. Nebraska (12/31/19). The +11 rebounding margin was also the second-highest during Big Ten action behind +18 vs. Nebraska (53-35, 12/31/19).
• Freshman guard Moira Joiner's 20 points against Rutgers on Jan. 20 was her first time leading MSU in scoring, becoming the sixth different Spartan to top the team in the points category this season. It is also Joiner's third game in double-figures, topping her previous career-high of 15 points at Penn State (1/9/20) and joining her 13 points vs. Nebraska (12/31/19).Joiner has now netted 50 points in the last four games (12.5 ppg) as part of 62 points (10.3 ppg) in the last six games.
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.
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 points, 4.4 rebounds and 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 5.4 ppg as a sophomore. Clouden scored 12.0 ppg with 3.9 apg as a freshman. This year, she is scoring 15.4 ppg with 3.9 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.
REACHING THE PINNACLE
After reaching the 1,000 career points mark vs. Indiana on Dec. 28, Taryn McCutcheon's added 10 points against Rutgers on Jan. 20 to give her 1,083 career points. McCutcheon moved up to No. 25 on MSU's career scoring list, passing Jamie Wesley (1994-98). She is now just five points away from tying Bella Engen (1994-98) for 24th on the all-time scoring list with 1,088 points. She also added two assists against Rutgers, giving her 528 for her career, which is second all-time.
UP NEXT
Michigan State continues its tough week, taking on three of the top teams in the Big Ten. Prior to the loss to the Spartans, Rutgers was tied for first in the league. MSU will now take on first-place Northwestern (6-1) on Jan. 23 and Iowa (6-1) on Jan. 26 to conclude the week.
CLOUDEN VS. THE LEAGUE
Sophomore guard Nia Clouden is among the best in several categories in the Big Ten. She is currently eighth in the league in scoring, averaging 15.4 points per game. Rutgers' Arella Guirantes leads the league in scoring with 19.6 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 (2.2 spg). In Big Ten games, Clouden is second in assists, providing 5.4 helpers per game. She is also second in league games in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.4).
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) 2,212 489
Kristin Haynie (2001-05) 1,199 574
Taryn McCutcheon (2017-) 1,083 528
Brittney Thomas (2007-11) 932 401
Deb Traxinger (1978-82) 926 443
SWITCHING STARTERS
Through 18 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 Rutgers, the Spartans used the lineup of Clouden, McCutcheon, Moira Joiner, Kayla Belles and Nia Hollie for the fourth-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.
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. Moira Joiner, Kayla Belles and Alyza Winston are the only other players to lead MSU in scoring.
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 seven times, followed by Julia Ayrault who has had the most rebounds on five occasions.
SPARTANS IN THE B1G/NCAA RANKINGS
After 18 games, Michigan State is 29th in the nation and second in the Big Ten in steals per game (10.8 spg). The Spartans continue to deny their opponents the three-point shot, standing 10 in the country and second in the Big Ten 3-point field goal defense, holding teams to 25.1 percent from beyond the arc. MSU is third in the Big Ten in 3-pointers made (7.7) and second in offensive rebounds (15.4).
Individually, sophomore guard Nia Clouden is 58th in the nation and fourth in the league in steals with 40.
In Big Ten contests, Nia Clouden is tied for 13th in scoring, averaging 14.4 ppg, while senior guard Taryn McCutcheon is tied for 19th, scoring 12.7 ppg. Clouden is also second in assists with 5.4 apg. Sophomore forward Kayla Belles is third in blocks per game (2.0). McCutcheon and freshman guard Moira Joiner are both tied for sixth in 3-pointers made with 16.
MASTER THIEVES
With 10 steals against Ohio State on Jan. 16, the Spartans reached double figures in takeaways for the 12th time in 18 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 10.8 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. 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 204 of their last 217 games (.940) when leading with five minutes left, including 154 of their last 169. In Coach Merchant's tenure, Michigan State is 239-19 (.926) when holding a lead with five minutes left. This season, MSU is 11-1 when leading with five minutes remaining with the only loss coming against No. 8 Florida State.
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.
GAME REWIND: MSU 66, Rutgers 55
Freshman guard Moira Joiner earned her first collegiate 20-point game, leading the Michigan State women's basketball team to a 66-55 win over Rutgers at the RAC on Monday night.
The Spartans have now won three-straight games and improve to 11-7 overall and 4-3 in league contests. Rutgers falls to 15-3 overall and 5-2 in Big Ten action.
Michigan State has had a 20-point scorer for three-straight games now as sophomore guard Nia Clouden had reach the 20-point mark for two-straight contests. Joiner's previous career high was 15 on the road against Penn State on Jan. 9. She had now reached double figures three times this season. Clouden ended the game with 11 points to go along with six assists and five rebounds, while senior Taryn McCutcheon added 10 points. Sophomore forward Kayla Belles led all players with a career-high 13 rebounds, as MSU out-rebounded Rutgers 47-26.
Postgame Notes vs. Rutgers
• Freshman guard Moira Joiner netted a career-high 20 points, becoming MSU's third different player to post 20+ points, joining sophomore guard Nia Clouden (six 20-point games) and senior guard Taryn McCutcheon (one 20-point games).
• During its current three-game win streak, the Spartan defense has held the opposition to under 70 points in all three games, including under 60 in two of the three outings ... on the season, MSU has kept the opposition to 60 points or less in nine games.
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.
Players Mentioned
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