Michigan State University Athletics
Clouden Named to Preseason Women’s Basketball All-Big Ten Team
11/11/2020 10:53:00 AM | Women's Basketball
The Spartans leading scorer earns her first preseason honor.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State junior guard Nia Clouden has been named Preseason All-Big Ten by both the coaches and media to kickoff the beginning of Big Ten Women's Basketball Media Week.
Indiana was picked to finish first in both the coaches and the media polls, while Maryland was picked second in the coaches poll and Northwestern in the media poll. Michigan was voted third in the coaches poll, while Maryland was picked third in the media poll. In the coaches poll, Michigan's Naz Hillmon and Rutgers' Arella Guirantes were named Co-Preseason Players of the Year. The media voted Northwestern's Lindsey Pulliam as Preseason Player of the Year.
During the 2019-20 campaign, Clouden finished the season first on the team in scoring, averaging 14.5 points per game, which was also eighth in the Big Ten. She also tied for 14th in the league in assists (3.3 apg) and 11th in steals (1.7 spg). Last season, Clouden captured second-team All-Big Big Ten honors after being named to the honorable mention squad as a freshman.
Michigan State completed the abbreviated 2019-20 season with a 16-14 record before the remainder of the season as canceled to the COVID-19 pandemic. Along with Clouden, sophomore guard Moira Joiner and redshirt-senior forward Mardrekia Cook return for MSU, who loses All-Big Ten performers Taryn McCutcheon and Shay Colley to graduation.
2020-21 COACHES BIG TEN PRESEASON RANKINGS
1. Indiana
2. Maryland
3. Michigan
4. Northwestern
5. Ohio State
2020-21 COACHES PRESEASON ALL-BIG TEN TEAM
Grace Berger, Jr., G, Indiana
Ali Patberg, Sr., G, Indiana
Monika Czinano, Jr., F/C, Iowa
Ashley Owusu, So., G, Maryland
NAZ HILLMON, Jr., F, Michigan
Nia Clouden, Jr., G, Michigan State
Veronica Burton, Jr., G, Northwestern
LINDSEY PULLIAM, Sr., G, Northwestern
DORKA JUHÁSZ, Jr., F, Ohio State
ARELLA GUIRANTES, Sr., G, Rutgers
2020-21 CO-COACHES BIG TEN PRESEASON PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
Naz Hillmon, Jr., F, Michigan
Arella Guirantes, Sr., G, Rutgers
2020-21 MEDIA BIG TEN PRESEASON RANKINGS
1. Indiana
2. Northwestern
3. Maryland
4. Michigan
5. Ohio State
2020-21 MEDIA PRESEASON ALL-BIG TEN TEAM
Grace Berger, Jr., G, Indiana
Ali Patberg, Sr., G, Indiana
Monika Czinano, Jr., F/C, Iowa
Ashley Owusu, So., G, Maryland
Naz Hillmon, Jr., F, Michigan
Nia Clouden, Jr., G, Michigan State
Veronica Burton, Jr., G, Northwestern
LINDSEY PULLIAM, Sr., G, Northwestern
Dorka Juhász, Jr., F, Ohio State
ARELLA GUIRANTES, Sr., G, Rutgers
2020-21 MEDIA BIG TEN PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Lindsey Pulliam, Sr., G, Northwestern
Unanimous selections listed in ALL CAPS
Indiana was picked to finish first in both the coaches and the media polls, while Maryland was picked second in the coaches poll and Northwestern in the media poll. Michigan was voted third in the coaches poll, while Maryland was picked third in the media poll. In the coaches poll, Michigan's Naz Hillmon and Rutgers' Arella Guirantes were named Co-Preseason Players of the Year. The media voted Northwestern's Lindsey Pulliam as Preseason Player of the Year.
During the 2019-20 campaign, Clouden finished the season first on the team in scoring, averaging 14.5 points per game, which was also eighth in the Big Ten. She also tied for 14th in the league in assists (3.3 apg) and 11th in steals (1.7 spg). Last season, Clouden captured second-team All-Big Big Ten honors after being named to the honorable mention squad as a freshman.
Michigan State completed the abbreviated 2019-20 season with a 16-14 record before the remainder of the season as canceled to the COVID-19 pandemic. Along with Clouden, sophomore guard Moira Joiner and redshirt-senior forward Mardrekia Cook return for MSU, who loses All-Big Ten performers Taryn McCutcheon and Shay Colley to graduation.
2020-21 COACHES BIG TEN PRESEASON RANKINGS
1. Indiana
2. Maryland
3. Michigan
4. Northwestern
5. Ohio State
2020-21 COACHES PRESEASON ALL-BIG TEN TEAM
Grace Berger, Jr., G, Indiana
Ali Patberg, Sr., G, Indiana
Monika Czinano, Jr., F/C, Iowa
Ashley Owusu, So., G, Maryland
NAZ HILLMON, Jr., F, Michigan
Nia Clouden, Jr., G, Michigan State
Veronica Burton, Jr., G, Northwestern
LINDSEY PULLIAM, Sr., G, Northwestern
DORKA JUHÁSZ, Jr., F, Ohio State
ARELLA GUIRANTES, Sr., G, Rutgers
2020-21 CO-COACHES BIG TEN PRESEASON PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
Naz Hillmon, Jr., F, Michigan
Arella Guirantes, Sr., G, Rutgers
2020-21 MEDIA BIG TEN PRESEASON RANKINGS
1. Indiana
2. Northwestern
3. Maryland
4. Michigan
5. Ohio State
2020-21 MEDIA PRESEASON ALL-BIG TEN TEAM
Grace Berger, Jr., G, Indiana
Ali Patberg, Sr., G, Indiana
Monika Czinano, Jr., F/C, Iowa
Ashley Owusu, So., G, Maryland
Naz Hillmon, Jr., F, Michigan
Nia Clouden, Jr., G, Michigan State
Veronica Burton, Jr., G, Northwestern
LINDSEY PULLIAM, Sr., G, Northwestern
Dorka Juhász, Jr., F, Ohio State
ARELLA GUIRANTES, Sr., G, Rutgers
2020-21 MEDIA BIG TEN PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Lindsey Pulliam, Sr., G, Northwestern
Unanimous selections listed in ALL CAPS
Players Mentioned
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