Sunday, December 20
East Lansing, Mich.
3 PM ET
Michigan State University
vs
Northern Illinois
Photo by: Matthew Mitchell/MSU Athletic Communications
Michigan State Continues Home Stretch Against Northern Illinois
12/19/2020 6:07:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Spartans have two games remaining in non-conference play.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - For the first time since 2007, the Michigan State women's basketball team will take on Northern Illinois on Sunday, Dec. 20 at 3 p.m. Facing its second Mid-American conference team of the week, the Spartans (5-0) will take on the Huskies (2-4) to conclude finals week. This week, Michigan State received votes in both polls.
• With a win against Central Michigan on Dec. 18, the Spartans improved to 5-0 with Friday's win, their first 5-0 start to a season since the 2012-13 season when MSU opened 8-0.
• Through five games, the Spartans stand second in the nation and first in the league in assist/turnover ration (1.86). They are also third in the NCAA and first in the league in assists per game, averaging 22.0 ppg. Sophomore guard Moira Joiner is third in the nation and first in the Big Ten in assist/turnover ratio (13.00).
• The game against Central Michigan on Dec. 18 was the third-straight game that Nia Clouden and Alyza Winston combined for 40+ points, as the Spartan guard tandem has scored 45, 46 and 40 points in the last three games.
• Junior guard Nia Clouden and sophomore guard Alyza Winston have been quite the scoring due of late. Clouden leads the team in scoring with 19.4 ppg, while Winston averages 18.8 ppg. Clouden also leads the team in assists per game, averaging 5.6 apg.SCOUTING NORTHERN ILLINOIS
The Huskies tote a 2-4 record into Sunday's showdown with the Spartans. Last time out, NIU lost at home to Ohio, 77-67, on Dec. 16 in a Mid-American Conference game, as NIU is 0-2 to start MAC action. Northern Illinois is 1-1 on the road so far, winning at Eastern Illinois, 82-72, on Dec. 4 before losing at Bradley, 79-71, on Dec. 13.
Northern Illinois has two players averaging double-digit points, led by sophomore guard Chelby Koker with 21.2 points per game, as well as leading NIU with 7.8 rebounds per game and 3.8 assists per game. Koker, who has netted 20+ points in the last four games, leads the MAC and ranks 14th in the NCAA in total points (127), while ranking fifth in the conference and 33rd in the country in scoring average. Junior guard Janae Poisson adds 12.8 ppg and is the Huskies' top 3-point shooting, making 21-of-52 (.500) behind the arc, averaging 3.5 treys made per contest. As a team, NIU is averaging 73.2 ppg, but allowing 77.0 ppg, for a scoring margin of -3.8. The Huskies lead the MAC in 3-pointers per game at 11.5, making 69-of-185, averaging 30.8 attempts per game behind the arc.
NIU head coach Lisa Carlsen is in her sixth season at NIU, posting a 79-82 record at the leash of the Huskies' program. Overall, Carlsen is in her 18th season as a head coach, posting a 263-245 record.
SERIES HISTORY VS. NORTHERN ILLINOIS
MSU and NIU are meeting on the hardwood for the first time since 2007 overall, and the first time in East Lansing since 1990. Michigan State and Northern Illinois last met in 2007 in Cancun, Mexico, with the Spartans earning a 67-40 win. The series between the Spartans and Huskies is tied, 2-2, currently on an alternating won-loss pattern, as no team has won two in a row in the short series. They first met on Dec. 11, 1982 in East Lansing, with NIU winning, 73-57, but MSU avenged that loss in on Dec. 8, 1990, 78-69. NIU won in the only series meeting in DeKalb, 58-55, on Nov. 24, 1991, before the 2007 Cancun contest.
LAST TIME VS. HUSKIES
The No. 19/18 Michigan State women's basketball team jumped out to a 26-1 lead en route to a dominating 67-40 victory over Northern Illinois in the Caribbean Challenge at the Moon Palace Resort in Cancun, Mexico on Nov. 21,2007. Sophomore center Allyssa DeHaan led the Spartans (3-1) with 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the field, while freshman forward Kalisha Keane poured in 15 points. Senior guard Alisa Wulff scored a career-high 11 points with a career-best three 3-pointers.
The Spartans shot 52 percent from the field (23-for-44), including a scorching 67 percent in the second half (12-for-18). From the foul line, the Spartans connected on 18-of-19 attempts. MSU out-rebounded the Huskies, 29-17.
CLOUDEN WITH A CHANCE OF SCORING
Junior guard Nia Clouden netted her third-straight 20-point outing with a team-best 21 points against Central Michigan on Dec. 18 after 25 points at Minnesota (Dec. 9) and vs. Iowa (Dec. 12). The guard now has 13 career 20-point games. This was the first time that she has scored 20+ points in three-straight games having scored 20 points in two-straight games last season vs. Wisconsin on Jan. 12 and Ohio State on Jan. 16. Clouden has now posted double-figures in all five games this season as part of 16 games in a row dating back to last season.
Clouden now has 16-straight career games in double-digits dating back to last year, having posted double-figures in 32 of her last 35 games played, doing so in every game but three last season. For her career, Clouden now has double-digits in 55 of her 68 games played.
LOOKING TOWARD 1,000
With 21 points Friday, Nia Clouden now has 930 career points, closing in on the 1,000 career points milestone. She is looking to become the seventh player in the last seven years to reach the 1,000-point mark.
Years Player Points
2019-20 Taryn McCutcheon 1,119
2018-19 Jenna Allen 1,098
2017-18 Branndais Agee 1,250
2015-16 Tori Janksoska 2,212
2014-15 Aerial Powers 1,817
2014-15 Becca Mills 1,157
PUTTING UP BIG NUMBERS
After not having a pair of 20-point scorers in the same since Feb. 3, 2019 vs. Purdue when Shay Colley and Sidney Cooks netted 20 points apiece before Winston and Clouden did it last against Minnesota on Dec. 9, the Spartan duo has now reached that feat in back-to-back games with Winston's 25 points and Clouden's 21 points on Dec. 12 vs. Iowa.
Clouden and Winston's back-to-back 20-point games marks the first time that the Spartans have had two 20-point scorers in consecutive games since the 2016-17 season, when Aerial Powers (27) and Branndais Agee (20) did so on Feb. 3. vs. Michigan, then Powers (31) and Agee (22) on Feb. 5 vs. Maryland.
LOOKING AHEAD
Michigan State women's basketball's game against Ohio State that was set for Thursday, Dec. 31 in Columbus, Ohio, has been postponed due to COVID-19 concerns within the Buckeyes' program.
The decision to pause activities and to postpone the games was made jointly by the Ohio State Department of Athletics and its sports medicine staff in consultation with the Big Ten Conference. For Ohio State's complete release, please click here. Both schools will work with the Conference office to identify potential rescheduling options later this season.
BACK IN UNIFORM
Junior guard Janai Crooms, who was recently granted eligibility on Dec. 4 after transferring from Ohio State last summer, made her Spartan debut at 6:18 of the first quarter, against Minnesota on Dec. 9. Crooms wasted little time in making the first bucket of her career in a Green & White jersey, just minutes later, at 3:42 of the first quarter with a layup. Crooms ended up with three points, three rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block in her Spartan debut. She set a season-high seven points and four assists against Central Michigan on Dec. 18.
CHECKING OUT THE STAT SHEET
• MSU had a 24-to-7 assist-to-turnover ratio (3.43-to-1) against Central Michigan on Dec. 18, which was its highest assist-to-turnover ratio since a 28-to-8 (3.5-to-1) ratio vs. Minnesota on Jan. 9, 2019.
• The Spartans' seven turnovers Friday were a season-low, and the first time in single-digit miscues, as well as their fewest since five vs. Toledo on Feb. 19, 2018 in the WNIT.
SPARTANS AGAINST THE NCAA
After five games, the Spartans are currently third in the nation in assists per game (22.0 apg) and second in assists to turnover ratio (1.86). Michigan State is also in the top 10 in turnover margin, standing 10th with a +9.0 margin. Junior guard Nia Clouden is 27th in the nation and second in the league assists in assists with 28, while standing 25th in the country and fifth in the Big Ten in assists per game with 5.6 apg. Sophomore guard Moira Joiner is third in the NCAA and first in the Big Ten in assist/turnover ratio (13.00).
ERASE HATE
Michigan State women's basketball head coach Suzy Merchant is proud to launch the Erase Hate campaign for the 2020-21 season. The Erase Hate campaign aims to put the focus on student-athlete driven programming to address social injustice issues.
Throughout this season, women's basketball players work to help lift up the voices of underrepresented groups both on campus and across the Greater Lansing area.
BIG TEN OPENERS
Michigan State is 19-19 in Big Ten openers, having won six of their last nine. MSU is now 8-5 in league openers in Coach Merchant's 13 seasons. Last season, the Spartans won their opener in East Lansing against No. 16 Iowa, 84-70. The last time that Michigan State played Minnesota in a B1G opener was to start the 2013-14 league action with MSU winning 81-56 on the road.
FAST OUT OF THE GATE
MSU scored a season-high 48 points in the first half on the way to a 48-38 lead at intermission at Minnesota on Dec. 9. The Spartans' 28 second-quarter points were their most in a quarter this season, bettering the previous quarter-high of 24 points, done twice, first in the opening quarter vs. Saint Francis (PA) in the season-opener on Nov. 27, and again in the fourth frame vs. Detroit Mercy on Dec. 2. Against Iowa on Dec. 12, the Spartans scored 44 points in the first half with 24 points in the first quarter.
LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS
Against Detroit Mercy on Dec. 2, Michigan State forced a season-high 25 turnovers, leading to a season-high 33-8 points off turnovers advantage. MSU's bench also had a 31-5 edge. Against Minnesota on Dec. 9, the Spartans forced 23 turnovers. Through four games, MSU's opponents have 83 turnovers, compared to only 52 by the Spartans. Michigan State has scored 131 points off of turnovers, which is 32.3 percent of its offense.
MASK UP, MICHIGAN
Things will look very different in the Breslin Center to start the season. Currently, there will be no fans in the stands, including the families of the players. Crowd noise will be piped and the music will be going to get the players hyped up. From the comfort of home, fans can look for familiar faces in the cardboard cutouts in the stands. All postgame media will be done via Zoom this year.
SEASON OPENERS
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.
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 151 of their last 169 games (.888) when scoring at least 70 points, and the Spartans are 169-28 (.858) under head coach Suzy Merchant when hanging at least 70 points on the scoreboard. The Spartans are now 5-0 this season when reaching the 70-point mark.
CLOSING OUT THE GAMES
The Spartans have been extremely effective closing out games over the last couple years, winning 214 of their last 227 games (.943) when leading with five minutes left, including 165 of their last 180. In Coach Merchant's tenure, Michigan State is 249-19 (.929) when holding a lead with five minutes left. This season, MSU is 5-0 when leading with five minutes remaining.
CLOUDEN EARNS PRESEASON HONORS
Michigan State junior guard Nia Clouden has been named Preseason All-Big Ten by both the coaches and media. 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.
• With a win against Central Michigan on Dec. 18, the Spartans improved to 5-0 with Friday's win, their first 5-0 start to a season since the 2012-13 season when MSU opened 8-0.
• Through five games, the Spartans stand second in the nation and first in the league in assist/turnover ration (1.86). They are also third in the NCAA and first in the league in assists per game, averaging 22.0 ppg. Sophomore guard Moira Joiner is third in the nation and first in the Big Ten in assist/turnover ratio (13.00).
• The game against Central Michigan on Dec. 18 was the third-straight game that Nia Clouden and Alyza Winston combined for 40+ points, as the Spartan guard tandem has scored 45, 46 and 40 points in the last three games.
• Junior guard Nia Clouden and sophomore guard Alyza Winston have been quite the scoring due of late. Clouden leads the team in scoring with 19.4 ppg, while Winston averages 18.8 ppg. Clouden also leads the team in assists per game, averaging 5.6 apg.SCOUTING NORTHERN ILLINOIS
The Huskies tote a 2-4 record into Sunday's showdown with the Spartans. Last time out, NIU lost at home to Ohio, 77-67, on Dec. 16 in a Mid-American Conference game, as NIU is 0-2 to start MAC action. Northern Illinois is 1-1 on the road so far, winning at Eastern Illinois, 82-72, on Dec. 4 before losing at Bradley, 79-71, on Dec. 13.
Northern Illinois has two players averaging double-digit points, led by sophomore guard Chelby Koker with 21.2 points per game, as well as leading NIU with 7.8 rebounds per game and 3.8 assists per game. Koker, who has netted 20+ points in the last four games, leads the MAC and ranks 14th in the NCAA in total points (127), while ranking fifth in the conference and 33rd in the country in scoring average. Junior guard Janae Poisson adds 12.8 ppg and is the Huskies' top 3-point shooting, making 21-of-52 (.500) behind the arc, averaging 3.5 treys made per contest. As a team, NIU is averaging 73.2 ppg, but allowing 77.0 ppg, for a scoring margin of -3.8. The Huskies lead the MAC in 3-pointers per game at 11.5, making 69-of-185, averaging 30.8 attempts per game behind the arc.
NIU head coach Lisa Carlsen is in her sixth season at NIU, posting a 79-82 record at the leash of the Huskies' program. Overall, Carlsen is in her 18th season as a head coach, posting a 263-245 record.
SERIES HISTORY VS. NORTHERN ILLINOIS
MSU and NIU are meeting on the hardwood for the first time since 2007 overall, and the first time in East Lansing since 1990. Michigan State and Northern Illinois last met in 2007 in Cancun, Mexico, with the Spartans earning a 67-40 win. The series between the Spartans and Huskies is tied, 2-2, currently on an alternating won-loss pattern, as no team has won two in a row in the short series. They first met on Dec. 11, 1982 in East Lansing, with NIU winning, 73-57, but MSU avenged that loss in on Dec. 8, 1990, 78-69. NIU won in the only series meeting in DeKalb, 58-55, on Nov. 24, 1991, before the 2007 Cancun contest.
LAST TIME VS. HUSKIES
The No. 19/18 Michigan State women's basketball team jumped out to a 26-1 lead en route to a dominating 67-40 victory over Northern Illinois in the Caribbean Challenge at the Moon Palace Resort in Cancun, Mexico on Nov. 21,2007. Sophomore center Allyssa DeHaan led the Spartans (3-1) with 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the field, while freshman forward Kalisha Keane poured in 15 points. Senior guard Alisa Wulff scored a career-high 11 points with a career-best three 3-pointers.
The Spartans shot 52 percent from the field (23-for-44), including a scorching 67 percent in the second half (12-for-18). From the foul line, the Spartans connected on 18-of-19 attempts. MSU out-rebounded the Huskies, 29-17.
CLOUDEN WITH A CHANCE OF SCORING
Junior guard Nia Clouden netted her third-straight 20-point outing with a team-best 21 points against Central Michigan on Dec. 18 after 25 points at Minnesota (Dec. 9) and vs. Iowa (Dec. 12). The guard now has 13 career 20-point games. This was the first time that she has scored 20+ points in three-straight games having scored 20 points in two-straight games last season vs. Wisconsin on Jan. 12 and Ohio State on Jan. 16. Clouden has now posted double-figures in all five games this season as part of 16 games in a row dating back to last season.
Clouden now has 16-straight career games in double-digits dating back to last year, having posted double-figures in 32 of her last 35 games played, doing so in every game but three last season. For her career, Clouden now has double-digits in 55 of her 68 games played.
LOOKING TOWARD 1,000
With 21 points Friday, Nia Clouden now has 930 career points, closing in on the 1,000 career points milestone. She is looking to become the seventh player in the last seven years to reach the 1,000-point mark.
Years Player Points
2019-20 Taryn McCutcheon 1,119
2018-19 Jenna Allen 1,098
2017-18 Branndais Agee 1,250
2015-16 Tori Janksoska 2,212
2014-15 Aerial Powers 1,817
2014-15 Becca Mills 1,157
PUTTING UP BIG NUMBERS
After not having a pair of 20-point scorers in the same since Feb. 3, 2019 vs. Purdue when Shay Colley and Sidney Cooks netted 20 points apiece before Winston and Clouden did it last against Minnesota on Dec. 9, the Spartan duo has now reached that feat in back-to-back games with Winston's 25 points and Clouden's 21 points on Dec. 12 vs. Iowa.
Clouden and Winston's back-to-back 20-point games marks the first time that the Spartans have had two 20-point scorers in consecutive games since the 2016-17 season, when Aerial Powers (27) and Branndais Agee (20) did so on Feb. 3. vs. Michigan, then Powers (31) and Agee (22) on Feb. 5 vs. Maryland.
LOOKING AHEAD
Michigan State women's basketball's game against Ohio State that was set for Thursday, Dec. 31 in Columbus, Ohio, has been postponed due to COVID-19 concerns within the Buckeyes' program.
The decision to pause activities and to postpone the games was made jointly by the Ohio State Department of Athletics and its sports medicine staff in consultation with the Big Ten Conference. For Ohio State's complete release, please click here. Both schools will work with the Conference office to identify potential rescheduling options later this season.
BACK IN UNIFORM
Junior guard Janai Crooms, who was recently granted eligibility on Dec. 4 after transferring from Ohio State last summer, made her Spartan debut at 6:18 of the first quarter, against Minnesota on Dec. 9. Crooms wasted little time in making the first bucket of her career in a Green & White jersey, just minutes later, at 3:42 of the first quarter with a layup. Crooms ended up with three points, three rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block in her Spartan debut. She set a season-high seven points and four assists against Central Michigan on Dec. 18.
CHECKING OUT THE STAT SHEET
• MSU had a 24-to-7 assist-to-turnover ratio (3.43-to-1) against Central Michigan on Dec. 18, which was its highest assist-to-turnover ratio since a 28-to-8 (3.5-to-1) ratio vs. Minnesota on Jan. 9, 2019.
• The Spartans' seven turnovers Friday were a season-low, and the first time in single-digit miscues, as well as their fewest since five vs. Toledo on Feb. 19, 2018 in the WNIT.
SPARTANS AGAINST THE NCAA
After five games, the Spartans are currently third in the nation in assists per game (22.0 apg) and second in assists to turnover ratio (1.86). Michigan State is also in the top 10 in turnover margin, standing 10th with a +9.0 margin. Junior guard Nia Clouden is 27th in the nation and second in the league assists in assists with 28, while standing 25th in the country and fifth in the Big Ten in assists per game with 5.6 apg. Sophomore guard Moira Joiner is third in the NCAA and first in the Big Ten in assist/turnover ratio (13.00).
ERASE HATE
Michigan State women's basketball head coach Suzy Merchant is proud to launch the Erase Hate campaign for the 2020-21 season. The Erase Hate campaign aims to put the focus on student-athlete driven programming to address social injustice issues.
Throughout this season, women's basketball players work to help lift up the voices of underrepresented groups both on campus and across the Greater Lansing area.
BIG TEN OPENERS
Michigan State is 19-19 in Big Ten openers, having won six of their last nine. MSU is now 8-5 in league openers in Coach Merchant's 13 seasons. Last season, the Spartans won their opener in East Lansing against No. 16 Iowa, 84-70. The last time that Michigan State played Minnesota in a B1G opener was to start the 2013-14 league action with MSU winning 81-56 on the road.
FAST OUT OF THE GATE
MSU scored a season-high 48 points in the first half on the way to a 48-38 lead at intermission at Minnesota on Dec. 9. The Spartans' 28 second-quarter points were their most in a quarter this season, bettering the previous quarter-high of 24 points, done twice, first in the opening quarter vs. Saint Francis (PA) in the season-opener on Nov. 27, and again in the fourth frame vs. Detroit Mercy on Dec. 2. Against Iowa on Dec. 12, the Spartans scored 44 points in the first half with 24 points in the first quarter.
LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS
Against Detroit Mercy on Dec. 2, Michigan State forced a season-high 25 turnovers, leading to a season-high 33-8 points off turnovers advantage. MSU's bench also had a 31-5 edge. Against Minnesota on Dec. 9, the Spartans forced 23 turnovers. Through four games, MSU's opponents have 83 turnovers, compared to only 52 by the Spartans. Michigan State has scored 131 points off of turnovers, which is 32.3 percent of its offense.
MASK UP, MICHIGAN
Things will look very different in the Breslin Center to start the season. Currently, there will be no fans in the stands, including the families of the players. Crowd noise will be piped and the music will be going to get the players hyped up. From the comfort of home, fans can look for familiar faces in the cardboard cutouts in the stands. All postgame media will be done via Zoom this year.
SEASON OPENERS
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.
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 151 of their last 169 games (.888) when scoring at least 70 points, and the Spartans are 169-28 (.858) under head coach Suzy Merchant when hanging at least 70 points on the scoreboard. The Spartans are now 5-0 this season when reaching the 70-point mark.
CLOSING OUT THE GAMES
The Spartans have been extremely effective closing out games over the last couple years, winning 214 of their last 227 games (.943) when leading with five minutes left, including 165 of their last 180. In Coach Merchant's tenure, Michigan State is 249-19 (.929) when holding a lead with five minutes left. This season, MSU is 5-0 when leading with five minutes remaining.
CLOUDEN EARNS PRESEASON HONORS
Michigan State junior guard Nia Clouden has been named Preseason All-Big Ten by both the coaches and media. 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.
Players Mentioned
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