Friday, November 27
East Lansing, Mich.
3 PM ET
Michigan State University
1-0,0-0Big Ten
77
vs
44
Saint Francis
0-1,0-0NEC
1
2
3
4
F
Saint Francis (PA)
14
8
8
14
44
Michigan St.
24
18
19
16
77
Team Stats
SF-PA
MSU
FG%
.354
.483
3FG%
.188
.533
FT%
.875
.786
RB
32
31
TO
26
11
STL
4
14
Game Leaders
Pts
15
FGM
6
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
15
FGM
6
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
Forward
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballG/F
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's BasketballPhoto by: Matthew Mitchell/MSU Athletic Communications
Bostic’s Breakout Performance Leads MSU Past Saint Francis in Season Opener
11/27/2020 7:04:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Spartans had four players in double figures.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Behind an impressive Michigan State debut by freshman forward Kendall Bostic, the Spartan women's basketball team opened the season with a resounding 77-44 win over Saint Francis Friday after at the Breslin Center.
Bostic and junior guard Nia Clouden led all scorers with 15 points apiece. Clouden also recorded her fourth career double-double by adding a game-high 10 assists. Sophomore forward Taiyier Parks chipped in with 11 points, while junior guard/forward Tory Ozment scored 10.
Bostic's 15 points was the most in a Spartan debut since Sidney Cooks scored 17 against Robert Morris in 2017.
The Red Flash were led by 10 points and two rebounds by Lili Benzel, while Karson Swogger added nine points and four assists.
Clouden started the 2020-21 season with a trey a minute and a half into the game to get the Spartans going. Michigan State hit five-straight baskets to jump out to an early 12-5 lead midway through the quarter. Graduate senior Lauren Rewers and Bostic made their Spartan debuts in the first quarter as MSU maintained its scoring advantage. Bostic drained a 3-pointer with time expiring in the quarter to give the Spartans their first double-digit lead of the game at 24-14.
In the second quarter, MSU continued to pull away from the Red Flash. Bostic continued to shine in her Spartan debut, reaching double figures midway through the second period. A Moira Joiner 3-pointer with under four minutes remaining in the half gave MSU its first 20-point advantage at 40-20. The Spartans kept the Red Flash off the scoreboard for the final 3:39 of the half, as Michigan State went into the locker room with a 42-22 lead.
Michigan State scored 15 of the first 19 points of the second half, taking a 57-26 lead half-way through the quarter. The Spartans went on to out-score Saint Francis, 19-8, in the period.
In the final period, the MSU bench was able to stretch its legs. Sophomore forward Julia Ayrault sored six of the Spartans' 16 fourth-quarter points, going 2-for-2 from long range. Redshirt-senior guard Laurel Jacqmain also hit from beyond the arc in the final 10 minutes, finishing with eight points, as the Green & White's reserves had a 33-17 bench-scoring advantage.
The Spartans remain at home to take on Detroit Mercy on Wednesday, Dec. 2 at 7 p.m.
Post-Game Notes vs. Saint Francis
• After missing the final 13 games of the season with a torn Achilles' tendon, redshirt-senior forward Mardrekia Cook made a triumphant return Friday in the 2020-21 season-opener. In 19 minutes of action, she scored three points with four rebounds and three assists.
• Graduate senior Lauren Rewers and freshman Kendall Bostic both played their first games for the Green & White. Bostic scored 15 points to go along with six rebounds to lead MSU. Her 15 points were the most in a MSU debut since Sidney Cooks tallied 17 against Robert Morris in 2017. Rewers posted two points with one rebound and one block.
• All-time, the Spartans are now 34-15 in season openers, but also 26-2 when the opener is in East Lansing. Coach Merchant is 11-3 in season openers at MSU, and has won 17 of her last 20, including her time at Eastern Michigan.
• This is the first time that Nia Clouden, Moira Joiner, Tory Ozment, Mardrekia Cook and Taiyier Parks have all started at once. Last season, Clouden started all 30 games, while Joiner started 25. Ozment was in the starting lineup 12 times with Cook and Parks starting five and three, respectively.
• The eighth points allowed in third quarter were the least allowed in a third period in MSU history. Previously, the low was nine points by Detroit Mercy and Loyola Chicago both in 2015.
• Off the bench, sophomore forward Julia Ayrault had a career-high four assists. She also added a team-high two blocks.
Bostic and junior guard Nia Clouden led all scorers with 15 points apiece. Clouden also recorded her fourth career double-double by adding a game-high 10 assists. Sophomore forward Taiyier Parks chipped in with 11 points, while junior guard/forward Tory Ozment scored 10.
Bostic's 15 points was the most in a Spartan debut since Sidney Cooks scored 17 against Robert Morris in 2017.
The Red Flash were led by 10 points and two rebounds by Lili Benzel, while Karson Swogger added nine points and four assists.
Clouden started the 2020-21 season with a trey a minute and a half into the game to get the Spartans going. Michigan State hit five-straight baskets to jump out to an early 12-5 lead midway through the quarter. Graduate senior Lauren Rewers and Bostic made their Spartan debuts in the first quarter as MSU maintained its scoring advantage. Bostic drained a 3-pointer with time expiring in the quarter to give the Spartans their first double-digit lead of the game at 24-14.
In the second quarter, MSU continued to pull away from the Red Flash. Bostic continued to shine in her Spartan debut, reaching double figures midway through the second period. A Moira Joiner 3-pointer with under four minutes remaining in the half gave MSU its first 20-point advantage at 40-20. The Spartans kept the Red Flash off the scoreboard for the final 3:39 of the half, as Michigan State went into the locker room with a 42-22 lead.
Michigan State scored 15 of the first 19 points of the second half, taking a 57-26 lead half-way through the quarter. The Spartans went on to out-score Saint Francis, 19-8, in the period.
In the final period, the MSU bench was able to stretch its legs. Sophomore forward Julia Ayrault sored six of the Spartans' 16 fourth-quarter points, going 2-for-2 from long range. Redshirt-senior guard Laurel Jacqmain also hit from beyond the arc in the final 10 minutes, finishing with eight points, as the Green & White's reserves had a 33-17 bench-scoring advantage.
The Spartans remain at home to take on Detroit Mercy on Wednesday, Dec. 2 at 7 p.m.
Post-Game Notes vs. Saint Francis
• After missing the final 13 games of the season with a torn Achilles' tendon, redshirt-senior forward Mardrekia Cook made a triumphant return Friday in the 2020-21 season-opener. In 19 minutes of action, she scored three points with four rebounds and three assists.
• Graduate senior Lauren Rewers and freshman Kendall Bostic both played their first games for the Green & White. Bostic scored 15 points to go along with six rebounds to lead MSU. Her 15 points were the most in a MSU debut since Sidney Cooks tallied 17 against Robert Morris in 2017. Rewers posted two points with one rebound and one block.
• All-time, the Spartans are now 34-15 in season openers, but also 26-2 when the opener is in East Lansing. Coach Merchant is 11-3 in season openers at MSU, and has won 17 of her last 20, including her time at Eastern Michigan.
• This is the first time that Nia Clouden, Moira Joiner, Tory Ozment, Mardrekia Cook and Taiyier Parks have all started at once. Last season, Clouden started all 30 games, while Joiner started 25. Ozment was in the starting lineup 12 times with Cook and Parks starting five and three, respectively.
• The eighth points allowed in third quarter were the least allowed in a third period in MSU history. Previously, the low was nine points by Detroit Mercy and Loyola Chicago both in 2015.
• Off the bench, sophomore forward Julia Ayrault had a career-high four assists. She also added a team-high two blocks.
Robyn Fralick Postgame Press Conference | Western Michigan
Sunday, November 16
Robyn Fralick Postgame Press Conference | Youngstown State
Wednesday, November 12
Robyn Fralick Postgame Press Conference | Mercyhurst
Tuesday, November 04
Robyn Fralick Postgame Press Conference | Michigan Tech
Wednesday, October 22