MSU Women Conclude Busy Week at No. 19/21 Iowa Sunday

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State women's basketball concludes a tough three-game week, facing No. 19/21 Iowa on the road on Sunday, Jan. 26 at 4 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on BTN with Sloane Martin and Vera Jones on the call.

• The Spartans head to Iowa City with an 11-8 overall record and have an even 4-4 mark in B1G play. No. 19/21 Iowa has won seven-straight games and holds a 16-3 overall record. The Hawkeyes are tied with Northwestern atop the Big Ten standings with a 7-1 record. The Spartans faced the Wildcats on Jan. 23.

• The Spartans continue a tough stretch, facing three of the top teams in the Big Ten in a seven-day span. Michigan State is 1-1 during this stretch with a road win over Rutgers and a home lost against Northwestern.

• Freshman guard Moira Joiner posted 17 points against Northwestern on Jan. 23, which gives her 37 points in her last two games as part of 67 points in the last five contests (13.4 ppg) and 82 points (11.7 ppg) in the last seven outing. Thursday's 17 points against Northwestern were her second-straight double-figure scoring outing and her fourth of the season, all coming in the last seven contests.

• Dating back to last season, the Spartans had won 10-straight home games, until their loss to Northwestern on Jan. 23. This season at the Breslin Center are averaging 78.4 ppg, while allowing only 55.9 ppg. Nia Clouden is averaging 13.1 ppg at home this season.

SCOUTING IOWA
Iowa stands tied for first in the Big Ten ranking with Northwestern with both teams holding 7-1 league records. The Hawkeyes only league loss came at Nebraska, 78-69, on Dec. 28. Overall, Iowa is 16-3 with its only losses coming against Northern Iowa, Washington and Nebraska.

The Hawkeyes are first in the Big Ten in field goal percentage (.488), assists (20.9) and 3-pointers made (8.2). In league contests, Iowa is first in scoring offense with 81.1 ppg and assists, averaging 20.8 apg.

Kathleen Doyle is third in the league in scoring, averaging 18.6 ppg and is first in assists with 6.2 apg. The Hawkeyes are solid from the charity stripe with Makenzie Meyer (.836) and Doyle (.793), standing second and third in the Big Ten, respectively.

SERIES HISTORY VS. IOWA
Iowa leads the all-time series with Michigan State, 38-29. This is the lone meeting in a season for the third time in last four seasons, playing twice last season, but only once in the 2018 and 2017 seasons. The Spartans and Hawkeyes have split the last six meetings, with Iowa winning three of the last four, with each team winning on their home hardwood last season. No. 21 Michigan State captured an 84-70 win over then No. 16 Iowa on Dec. 30 in East Lansing, but Iowa split the season series with an 86-71 win in Iowa City on Feb. 7, in a match-up of the No. 16 Hawkeyes and the No. 23 Spartans.

MSU holds a slight, 16-15, edge in the series in games played in East Lansing, winning two of the last three as part of nine of the last 11 on the Spartans' home court.

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
The Spartans and the Hawkeyes met twice last season with very different results. In East Lansing, Michigan State came out on top 84-70. In Iowa City, it was Iowa that had the big win, 86-71.

EAST LANSING - DEC. 30, 2018
Career-high performances from senior Jenna Allen and freshman Nia Clouden pushed No. 21 Michigan State past No. 16 Iowa, 84-70, on Dec. 30, 2018 on MSU's Alumni Day. The Spartans were led by a career-high 27 points from Clouden, who previously had scored 18 points on two occasions. Allen was huge for the Spartans with 20 points and a career-high 17 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the season. After missing the previous three games, Mardrekia Cook battled for 14 points and five boards, while Nia Hollie added 10 points off the bench. Iowa's Megan Gustafson led all scorers with 30 points and 14 boards, while becoming the all-time scorer in Iowa women's basketball history.

IOWA CITY - FEB. 7, 2019
No. 23 Michigan State had its three-game winning streak come to an end with a 86-71 loss at No. 16 Iowa on Feb. 7, 2019 in Iowa City. The Spartans endured a tough travel day, unable to arrive in Iowa City the night before due to inclement weather in Iowa. MSU was able to arrive in Iowa late morning the day of the game.

The Spartans were led by 20 points from freshman guard Nia Clouden, who reached the 20-point mark for the second time of the season, both against Iowa. She scored a career-high 27 in the win against the Hawkeyes on Dec. 30. Iowa was led by senior Megan Gustafson who scored a game high 41 points and added 14 rebounds.

LAST FOUR
Michigan State is 3-1 in its last four games, out-scoring its opponents 62.8-62.0 ppg in those contests. Freshman guard Moira Joiner has averaged 13.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg and 1.8 apg in those games. Only sophomore guard Nia Clouden is scoring more with 13.5 ppg 2.8 rpg and 4.5 apg. The Spartans are out-scoring their opponents 69-56 in the last four as well.

IF YOU CAN'T BEAT HER JOINER
Freshman guard Moira Joiner posted 17 points against Northwestern on Jan. 23, which gave her 37 points in her last two games as part of 67 points in the last five contests (13.4 ppg) and 82 points (11.7 ppg) in the last seven outings. Thursday's 17 points were her second-straight double-figure scoring outing and her fourth of the season, all coming in the last seven contests. Joiner tied her career-high by netting a career-high five 3-pointers against the Wildcats, as she has drained a combined 10 3-pointers in the last two contests, going 10-for-14 (71.4 percent) over that span.

SPARTAN TIDBITS
• Against Northwestern, freshman forward Taiyier Parks snared a team-high seven rebounds, marking her eighth game with five or more boards. Parks posted two blocks, her fifth game with multiple rejections, but was her first Big Ten contest with multiple blocks. She also topped the team and tied a career-high with four steals, matching her four swipes vs. Kansas State (11/30/19).

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 45-10 at the friendly confines of the Breslin Center. MSU has won 26 of the last 28 games at home. This season, the Spartans are 8-1 at home. Michigan State's only loss this season came against No. 22 Northwestern on Jan. 23.

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 four assists against Northwestern, giving her 532 for her career, which is second all-time.

UP NEXT
After concluding this tough three-game stretch, the Spartans return home to take on Purdue on Thursday, Jan. 30. MSU will then begin February traveling to Maryland on Monday, Feb. 3.

CLOUDEN VS. THE LEAGUE
Sophomore guard Nia Clouden is among the best in several categories in the Big Ten. She is currently 10th in the league in scoring, averaging 14.6 points per game. Rutgers' Arella Guirantes leads the league in scoring with 19.6 ppg. Clouden is also fourth in free throw percentage (.792). She is providing help on the defensive end of the ball as well, standing tied for fourth in steals (2.1 spg). In Big Ten games, Clouden is fourth in assists, providing 4.9 helpers per game. She is also third in league games in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.3).

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   532
Brittney Thomas (2007-11) 932   401
Deb Traxinger (1978-82) 926   443

SWITCHING STARTERS
Through 19 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 Northwestern, the Spartans used the lineup of Clouden, McCutcheon, Moira Joiner, Kayla Belles and Nia Hollie for the fifth-straight game, earning a 3-2 record. 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 and Moira Joiner have both led twice. 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 19 games, Michigan State is 41st in the nation and third in the Big Ten in steals per game (10.5 spg). The Spartans continue to deny their opponents the three-point shot, standing 12th in the country and second in the Big Ten 3-point field goal defense, holding teams to 25.5 percent from beyond the arc. MSU is third in the Big Ten in 3-pointers made (7.7) and second in offensive rebounds (15.2).

Individually, sophomore guard Nia Clouden is 70th in the nation and fourth in the league in steals with 40.

In Big Ten contests, Nia Clouden is tied for 20th in scoring, averaging 12.6 ppg. Clouden is also fourth in assists with 4.9 apg. Sophomore forward Kayla Belles is fifth in blocks per game (1.8). Freshman guard Moira Joiner is fourth in 3-pointers made with 21, while senior guard Taryn McCutcheon is tied for ninth 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 19 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 10.5 spg, which is third 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: No. 22 Northwestern 76, MSU 48
Michigan State women's basketball had its three-game winning streak snapped by No. 22 Northwestern, 76-48, on Thursday night at the Breslin Center. The Wildcats were relentless on both the offensive and defensive ends of the ball to stop the Spartans.

MSU celebrated all of its women's sports programs on National Girls and Women in Sports Day, with all the programs doing demonstrations on the Breslin Center concourse before the game, and recognizing them on the court at halftime.

Postgame Notes vs. Northwestern
• The Spartan reserves had a 24-11 bench scoring advantage over their counterparts from Northwestern, marking the 15th time in the 19 games this season that MSU have had more bench scoring.

• Freshman forward Taiyier Parks snared a team-high seven rebounds, marking her eighth game with five or more boards ... Parks posted two blocks, her fifth game with multiple rejections, but was her first Big Ten contest with multiple blocks ... she also topped the team and tied a career-high with four steals, matching her four swipes vs. Kansas State (11/30/19).

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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Players Mentioned

Jenna Allen

Julia Ayrault

Kayla Belles

Nia Clouden

Shay Colley

Mardrekia Cook

Nia Hollie

Tori Jankoska

Moira Joiner

Taryn McCutcheon

Taiyier Parks

Alyza Winston