Thursday, January 30
East Lansing, Mich.
7 PM
Michigan State University
vs
Purdue
Photo by: Matthew Mitchell/MSU Athletic Communications
MSU Women's Basketball Returns Home to Face Purdue
1/29/2020 6:38:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Spartans look to snap a two-game losing streak.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State women's basketball returns home to take on Purdue in the first of two meetings against the Boilermakers on Thursday, Jan. 30 at 7 p.m. The Spartans will face Purdue in West Lafayette on Thursday, Feb. 20.
• Michigan State is looking to snap a two-game losing streak after falling to No. 22 Northwestern and No. 19 Iowa last week. The Spartans are 11-9 overall and 4-5 in the Big Ten. Purdue comes to town, winning two straight. The Boilermakers are 14-7 overall and 5-4 in league play.
• After being held scoreless in the last game against Northwestern, both Nia Clouden and Taryn McCutcheon returned to form against Iowa. Clouden, who scored 10 points, has now reached double figures in scoring 16 times in 20 games this season. For her career, she has reached double figures 38 times. McCutcheon had 12 points and has now reached double digits 14 times this season and 52 times during her career.
• The Spartans have reached the midway point of the Big Ten season. Iowa leads the Big Ten with an 8-1 record, while Northwestern and Maryland are second with 7-2 records. There are five teams with records between 5-4 and 4-5. MSU is currently 10th in the league.
• 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 PURDUE
Purdue makes the trip to East Lansing with a 14-7 overall record and 5-4 mark in Big Ten games, The Boilermakers have won their last two conference games, besting Nebraska on the road, 76-68, on Jan. 22 before defeating Penn State, 81-68, on Jan. 26.
The Boilermakers rank first in the Big Ten in field goal percentage defense through all conference games, holding Big Ten opponents to .338 shooting from the field.
Senior Ae'Rianna Harris was tabbed as the Big Ten Conference Player of the Week on Jan. 27 after averaging 23 points and 10.5 rebounds in both games last week. Harris leads the league in blocks and defensive rebounds, averaging 3.2 blocks per game and 6.6 defensive rpg. Harris and Karissa McLaughlin are tied for 17th in scoring, averaging 13.0 ppg. Dominique Oden is also tied for 20th in scoring with, 12.5 ppg.
In league contests, Oden is 10th in scoring, averaging 15.1 ppg. Harris (8.3 prg) and Tamara Farquhar (7.0 rpg) are eight and ninth respectively in rebounds.
SERIES HISTORY VS. PURDUE
Purdue leads the overall series with Michigan State, 40-33 with MSU leading in East Lansing, 23-13. The Spartans have had the advantage of late, winning six of the last eight. Last season, MSU defeated Purdue in East Lansing, 74-66 behind 20-point performances from both Shay Colley and Sidney Cooks. In 2017, Michigan State fell to the Boilermakers at home 77-66. Before that Michigan State had won the last two meetings at home.
LAST TIME AGAINST PURDUE
For the first time since the 2014-15 season, all five Spartan women's basketball starters scored in double-figures as Michigan State battled past Purdue Feb. 3, 2019 at the Breslin Center in the annual Pink Game for Breast Cancer Awareness. MSU has now won 15-straight home games, which is the longest since a streak of 20 games overlapping the 2009-10 and the 2010-11 seasons. This season, the Spartans are 12-0 at the Breslin Center.
This was the first time since a Nov. 30, 2014 win over Miami (Ohio) that all five Spartans scored in double figures. MSU had two score 20 points led by sophomore forward Sidney Cooks and redshirt-junior guard Shay Colley. Junior guard Taryn McCutcheon scored 12 points all from beyond the arc, while freshman guard Nia Clouden and senior center Jenna Allen both added 10.
IF YOU CAN'T BEAT HER JOINER
Freshman guard Moira Joiner has been a solid offense presence for the Spartans of late. In the last three games, she has scored 42 points, as part of 72 points in the last six contests (12.0 ppg) and 87 points (10.9 ppg) in the last eight outings. She posted 17 points against Northwestern on Jan. 23, which was her second-straight double-figure scoring outing and her fourth of the season, all coming in the last eight contests. Joiner tied her career-high by netting a career-high five 3-pointers against the Wildcats, as she drained a combined 10 3-pointers in the last two contests, going 10-for-14 (71.4 percent) over that span.
CLIMBING THE CHARTS
Senior guard Taryn McCutcheon is currently 24th all-time in scoring with 1,095 points. She is just three points away from tying Spartan great Jenna Allen for 23rd. McCutcheon is also fifth all-time in minutes played with 3,896 minutes played. The hard-working guard is also sixth all-time in games started with 118.
FABULOUS FRESHIES
Freshman guard Moira Joiner is looking to place herself among the top rookies in MSU history. She has made 28 3-pointers this season and is just eight away from tying Kalisha Keane who had 36 as a freshman during the 2007-08 season. Through 20 games, Joiner is shooting 45.2 percent from long range, which is currently second among MSU freshman all time. Lindsay Bowen holds the record, shooing 46.4 percent and a freshman during the 2002-03 season.
SPARTAN TIDBITS
• Senior guard Taryn McCutcheon dished out a team-high five assists, giving her 537 for her career. She continues to close the gap on her current assistant coach Kristin Haynie (2001-05), who holds the school record with 574 assists.
• Senior forward Nia Hollie tallied nine points, her second-most of the season after scoring 12 against Morehead State on Dec. 15 and most in a Big Ten game this year. Her career-high was 14 against Minnesota on Jan. 7, 2018.
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 12 points against No. 19 Iowa on Jan. 26 to give her 1,095 career points. McCutcheon moved up to No. 24 on MSU's career scoring list, passing Bella Engen (1994-98). She is now just three points away from tying for Jenna Allen (2015-19) for 23rd on the all-time scoring list with 1,098 points. She also added five assists against Iowa, giving her 537 for her career, which is second all-time.
UP NEXT
After taking on Purdue at home, MSU will then begin February traveling to Maryland on Monday, Feb. 3. The Spartans will remain on the road face Northwestern on Feb. 10.
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 14.4 points per game. Penn State's Kamaria McDaniel leads the league in scoring with 20.1 ppg. Clouden is also fourth in free throw percentage (.790). She is providing help on the defensive end of the ball as well, standing tied for sixth in steals (2.0 spg). In Big Ten games, Clouden is tied for fourth in assists, providing 4.4 helpers per game. She is also tied for fifth in league games in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.0).
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-) 1,095 537
Brittney Thomas (2007-11) 932 401
Deb Traxinger (1978-82) 926 443
SWITCHING STARTERS
Through 20 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 Iowa, the Spartans used the lineup of Clouden, McCutcheon, Moira Joiner, Kayla Belles and Nia Hollie for the sixth-straight game, earning a 3-3 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 six 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 eight times, followed by Julia Ayrault who has had the most rebounds on five occasions.
SPARTANS IN THE B1G/NCAA RANKINGS
After 20 games, Michigan State is 44th in the nation and third in the Big Ten in steals per game (10.4 spg). The Spartans continue to deny their opponents the three-point shot, standing ninth 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 (7.7) and second in offensive rebounds (15.2).
Individually, sophomore guard Nia Clouden is 89th in the nation and fourth in the league in steals with 40.
In Big Ten contests, Nia Clouden is tied for 21st in scoring, averaging 12.3 ppg. Clouden is also tied for in fourth in assists with 4.4 apg. Sophomore forward Kayla Belles is fifth in blocks per game (1.7). Freshman guard Moira Joiner is fourth in 3-pointers made with 22, while senior guard Taryn McCutcheon is tied for 12th 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 20 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. 19 Iowa 74, MSU 57
In front of over 13,000 fans, the Michigan State women's basketball team fought hard but was stopped by No. 19/21 Iowa, 74-57, in Iowa City on Sunday. It was a close battle until the fourth quarter when the Hawkeyes out-scored the Spartans, 28-9, and pulled away for the win.
Prior to the game, MSU head coach Suzy Merchant honored Iowa's Kathleen Doyle, who Merchant coached in the Pan Am Games over the summer.
Michigan State falls to 11-9 overall and 4-5 in Big Ten games, losing two-straight games. Iowa improves to 17-3 overall and now stands atop the Big Ten standings with an 8-1 record. Sunday was the Hawkeyes' 32nd-straight home win, the second-longest active streak in the country.
The Spartans had two players in double figures led by senior guard Taryn McCutcheon who scored 12 points, despite continuing to play with a fractured finger. Sophomore guard Nia Clouden added 10 points for the Spartans. Sophomore forward Kayla Belles was the leader on the boards with seven, while senior forward Nia Hollie added six.
Postgame Notes vs. Iowa
• The Spartans had 30 points in the paint, which were its most since scoring 32 in a win against Ohio State on Jan. 16
• With two steals, freshman forward Taiyier Parks led Michigan State. With a career-high against Northwestern on Jan. 23, she now has six over the last two games and 19 for the season.
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.
• Michigan State is looking to snap a two-game losing streak after falling to No. 22 Northwestern and No. 19 Iowa last week. The Spartans are 11-9 overall and 4-5 in the Big Ten. Purdue comes to town, winning two straight. The Boilermakers are 14-7 overall and 5-4 in league play.
• After being held scoreless in the last game against Northwestern, both Nia Clouden and Taryn McCutcheon returned to form against Iowa. Clouden, who scored 10 points, has now reached double figures in scoring 16 times in 20 games this season. For her career, she has reached double figures 38 times. McCutcheon had 12 points and has now reached double digits 14 times this season and 52 times during her career.
• The Spartans have reached the midway point of the Big Ten season. Iowa leads the Big Ten with an 8-1 record, while Northwestern and Maryland are second with 7-2 records. There are five teams with records between 5-4 and 4-5. MSU is currently 10th in the league.
• 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 PURDUE
Purdue makes the trip to East Lansing with a 14-7 overall record and 5-4 mark in Big Ten games, The Boilermakers have won their last two conference games, besting Nebraska on the road, 76-68, on Jan. 22 before defeating Penn State, 81-68, on Jan. 26.
The Boilermakers rank first in the Big Ten in field goal percentage defense through all conference games, holding Big Ten opponents to .338 shooting from the field.
Senior Ae'Rianna Harris was tabbed as the Big Ten Conference Player of the Week on Jan. 27 after averaging 23 points and 10.5 rebounds in both games last week. Harris leads the league in blocks and defensive rebounds, averaging 3.2 blocks per game and 6.6 defensive rpg. Harris and Karissa McLaughlin are tied for 17th in scoring, averaging 13.0 ppg. Dominique Oden is also tied for 20th in scoring with, 12.5 ppg.
In league contests, Oden is 10th in scoring, averaging 15.1 ppg. Harris (8.3 prg) and Tamara Farquhar (7.0 rpg) are eight and ninth respectively in rebounds.
SERIES HISTORY VS. PURDUE
Purdue leads the overall series with Michigan State, 40-33 with MSU leading in East Lansing, 23-13. The Spartans have had the advantage of late, winning six of the last eight. Last season, MSU defeated Purdue in East Lansing, 74-66 behind 20-point performances from both Shay Colley and Sidney Cooks. In 2017, Michigan State fell to the Boilermakers at home 77-66. Before that Michigan State had won the last two meetings at home.
LAST TIME AGAINST PURDUE
For the first time since the 2014-15 season, all five Spartan women's basketball starters scored in double-figures as Michigan State battled past Purdue Feb. 3, 2019 at the Breslin Center in the annual Pink Game for Breast Cancer Awareness. MSU has now won 15-straight home games, which is the longest since a streak of 20 games overlapping the 2009-10 and the 2010-11 seasons. This season, the Spartans are 12-0 at the Breslin Center.
This was the first time since a Nov. 30, 2014 win over Miami (Ohio) that all five Spartans scored in double figures. MSU had two score 20 points led by sophomore forward Sidney Cooks and redshirt-junior guard Shay Colley. Junior guard Taryn McCutcheon scored 12 points all from beyond the arc, while freshman guard Nia Clouden and senior center Jenna Allen both added 10.
IF YOU CAN'T BEAT HER JOINER
Freshman guard Moira Joiner has been a solid offense presence for the Spartans of late. In the last three games, she has scored 42 points, as part of 72 points in the last six contests (12.0 ppg) and 87 points (10.9 ppg) in the last eight outings. She posted 17 points against Northwestern on Jan. 23, which was her second-straight double-figure scoring outing and her fourth of the season, all coming in the last eight contests. Joiner tied her career-high by netting a career-high five 3-pointers against the Wildcats, as she drained a combined 10 3-pointers in the last two contests, going 10-for-14 (71.4 percent) over that span.
CLIMBING THE CHARTS
Senior guard Taryn McCutcheon is currently 24th all-time in scoring with 1,095 points. She is just three points away from tying Spartan great Jenna Allen for 23rd. McCutcheon is also fifth all-time in minutes played with 3,896 minutes played. The hard-working guard is also sixth all-time in games started with 118.
FABULOUS FRESHIES
Freshman guard Moira Joiner is looking to place herself among the top rookies in MSU history. She has made 28 3-pointers this season and is just eight away from tying Kalisha Keane who had 36 as a freshman during the 2007-08 season. Through 20 games, Joiner is shooting 45.2 percent from long range, which is currently second among MSU freshman all time. Lindsay Bowen holds the record, shooing 46.4 percent and a freshman during the 2002-03 season.
SPARTAN TIDBITS
• Senior guard Taryn McCutcheon dished out a team-high five assists, giving her 537 for her career. She continues to close the gap on her current assistant coach Kristin Haynie (2001-05), who holds the school record with 574 assists.
• Senior forward Nia Hollie tallied nine points, her second-most of the season after scoring 12 against Morehead State on Dec. 15 and most in a Big Ten game this year. Her career-high was 14 against Minnesota on Jan. 7, 2018.
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 12 points against No. 19 Iowa on Jan. 26 to give her 1,095 career points. McCutcheon moved up to No. 24 on MSU's career scoring list, passing Bella Engen (1994-98). She is now just three points away from tying for Jenna Allen (2015-19) for 23rd on the all-time scoring list with 1,098 points. She also added five assists against Iowa, giving her 537 for her career, which is second all-time.
UP NEXT
After taking on Purdue at home, MSU will then begin February traveling to Maryland on Monday, Feb. 3. The Spartans will remain on the road face Northwestern on Feb. 10.
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 14.4 points per game. Penn State's Kamaria McDaniel leads the league in scoring with 20.1 ppg. Clouden is also fourth in free throw percentage (.790). She is providing help on the defensive end of the ball as well, standing tied for sixth in steals (2.0 spg). In Big Ten games, Clouden is tied for fourth in assists, providing 4.4 helpers per game. She is also tied for fifth in league games in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.0).
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-) 1,095 537
Brittney Thomas (2007-11) 932 401
Deb Traxinger (1978-82) 926 443
SWITCHING STARTERS
Through 20 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 Iowa, the Spartans used the lineup of Clouden, McCutcheon, Moira Joiner, Kayla Belles and Nia Hollie for the sixth-straight game, earning a 3-3 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 six 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 eight times, followed by Julia Ayrault who has had the most rebounds on five occasions.
SPARTANS IN THE B1G/NCAA RANKINGS
After 20 games, Michigan State is 44th in the nation and third in the Big Ten in steals per game (10.4 spg). The Spartans continue to deny their opponents the three-point shot, standing ninth 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 (7.7) and second in offensive rebounds (15.2).
Individually, sophomore guard Nia Clouden is 89th in the nation and fourth in the league in steals with 40.
In Big Ten contests, Nia Clouden is tied for 21st in scoring, averaging 12.3 ppg. Clouden is also tied for in fourth in assists with 4.4 apg. Sophomore forward Kayla Belles is fifth in blocks per game (1.7). Freshman guard Moira Joiner is fourth in 3-pointers made with 22, while senior guard Taryn McCutcheon is tied for 12th 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 20 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. 19 Iowa 74, MSU 57
In front of over 13,000 fans, the Michigan State women's basketball team fought hard but was stopped by No. 19/21 Iowa, 74-57, in Iowa City on Sunday. It was a close battle until the fourth quarter when the Hawkeyes out-scored the Spartans, 28-9, and pulled away for the win.
Prior to the game, MSU head coach Suzy Merchant honored Iowa's Kathleen Doyle, who Merchant coached in the Pan Am Games over the summer.
Michigan State falls to 11-9 overall and 4-5 in Big Ten games, losing two-straight games. Iowa improves to 17-3 overall and now stands atop the Big Ten standings with an 8-1 record. Sunday was the Hawkeyes' 32nd-straight home win, the second-longest active streak in the country.
The Spartans had two players in double figures led by senior guard Taryn McCutcheon who scored 12 points, despite continuing to play with a fractured finger. Sophomore guard Nia Clouden added 10 points for the Spartans. Sophomore forward Kayla Belles was the leader on the boards with seven, while senior forward Nia Hollie added six.
Postgame Notes vs. Iowa
• The Spartans had 30 points in the paint, which were its most since scoring 32 in a win against Ohio State on Jan. 16
• With two steals, freshman forward Taiyier Parks led Michigan State. With a career-high against Northwestern on Jan. 23, she now has six over the last two games and 19 for the season.
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
Center
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Forward
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Forward
/ Women's Basketball
Forward
/ Women's Basketball
Forward
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Forward
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's BasketballRobyn Fralick | Women's Basketball Selection Show Press Conference | March 16, 2025
Sunday, March 16
Robyn Fralick | Women's Basketball Press Conference | Mar. 04 2025
Tuesday, March 04
Michigan State Women's Basketball vs Minnosta | Cinematic Highlight
Sunday, March 02
Coach Fralick Post Game Comments | MINN | Mar. 1 2025
Saturday, March 01