Spartan Women Open February at No. 17/16 Maryland Monday

Monday, February 3

College Park, Md.

8 PM

Michigan State University

#17 Maryland

2/1/2020 8:27:00 PM | Women's Basketball

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This is the only regular-season meeting between the teams.

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State women's basketball returns to the road to take on No. 17/16 Maryland on Monday, Feb. 3 at 8 p.m. It is the Terrapins Play4Kay Pink Game to support breast cancer awareness. The game will be televised on the Big Ten Network with Lisa Byington and Christy Winters Scott on the call.

• Michigan State is looking to snap a three-game losing streak after falling to Purdue aat home 76-66 on Jan. 30. The Spartans are 11-10 overall and 4-6 in league play. Maryland has won six-straight and are 17-4 overall and 8-2 in B1G contests.

• With 16 points on Jan. 30, senior guard Taryn McCutcheon now has 1,111 career points, vaulting from No. 24 on MSU's career scoring list up to No. 22, passing former teammate Jenna Allen (2015-19) with 1,098 points and Becky Cummings (1997-2001) with 1,108 points. McCutcheon is just 42 points shy of the No. 21 spot, held by Julie Polakowski (1982-86) with 1,143 points.

• The Spartans have used eight different starting lineups this season. The most recent lineup of Taryn McCutcheon, Moira Joiner, Nia Clouden, Nia Hollie and Kayla Belles has started seven straight, the longest streak of the season.

• Senior guard Nia Hollie swiped a career-high four steals on Jan. 30, doubling her previous career-best of two swipes, done two previous times this season and 11 other times in her career. Hollie also snared five rebounds, her second-most in Big Ten play behind a season-best seven at Penn State (Jan. 9).

SCOUTING MARYLAND
Maryland has won six-straight games heading into the battle with Michigan State. Overall, the Terrapins are 17-4 overall and 8-2 in the Big Ten and are tied for second in the conference with Northwestern. Maryland's only losses this season have come against South Carolina, NC State, Northwestern and Iowa, all of which are currently ranked.

Maryland is first in the league in scoring offense (81.1) and scoring margin (+24.0). The Terps also lead the league in rebound margin (+8.1) and steals (12.9).

Individually, Kaila Charles is tied for ninth in scoring, averaging 14.5 ppg, while also standing eighth in rebounding with 7.9 rpg. Blair Watson is second in steals per game (3.0 spg), while Taylor Mikesell is tied for third in 3-pointers made with 53.

SERIES HISTORY VS. MARYLAND
Maryland leads the overall series with Michigan State 12-2, but the Spartans two wins have both come in the last two seasons. MSU earned its first-ever win against Maryland on Jan. 11, 2018 in College Park, 82-68. After the Terps won the next game, Michigan State earned the win in East Lansing, 77-60, on Jan. 17, 2019. Maryland won the first nine games in the series before MSU's first victory.

LAST YEAR AGAINST THE TERPS
The Spartans and the Terrapins met twice last season once in the regular season and in the Big Ten Tournament. The Spartans won at home during the regular season 77-60, while the Terps won the re-match in the B1G Tournament 71-55.

REGULAR SEASON | 1/17/19
Senior center Jenna Allen scored 16 points and freshman guard Nia Clouden added 15 to lift No. 17 Michigan State to a 77-60 victory over No. 9 Maryland on Jan. 17, 2019.

The Spartans (13-4, 3-3 Big Ten) led almost throughout, racing out to a 20-4 advantage in the first quarter. Maryland (15-2, 4-2) closed to within three at halftime, but Michigan State took control again in the third in this matchup between the highest-ranked Big Ten teams in this week's AP Top 25. Overall, the is MSU's second all-time win over Maryland, but the Spartans have captured two of the last three meetings. It was the second victory over a top-10 team for the Spartans this season. They beat No. 3 Oregon on Dec. 9. Overall, Michigan State has defeated four ranked teams this season with all four victories coming at the Breslin Center.

BIG TEN TOURNAMENT | 3/8/19
Jenna Allen's team-high 19 points were not enough as No. 8-seeded Michigan State women's basketball fell to No. 1 seeded Maryland, 71-55, at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament on March 8, 2019.

Allen led Michigan State in scoring with 19 points to go along with seven rebounds. It was her 19th double-figure scoring game of the season and 45th of her career. Shay Colley and Nia Clouden both added 12 points to pace the Spartans. Overall, MSU struggled from the field shooting a season-low 29.0 percent from the field (18-of-62).

FIGHTING THE INJURY BUG
Michigan State has been battling injuries all season. Preseason All-Big Ten selection Shay Colley has only played six games this season due to a knee injury. Her last game was against Indiana on Dec. 28. The Indiana game was also the last time that Victoria Gaines played before tearing her MCL. Mardrekia Cook was also lost for the season after tearing her Achilles' tendon in practice on Jan. 29.

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 four games, she has scored 54 points, as part of 84 points in the last seven contests (12.0 ppg) and 99 points (11.0 ppg) in the last nine outings. She posted 12 points against Purdue on Jan. 30, which was her fifth double-figure scoring game of the season. Joiner tied her career-high by netting a career-high five 3-pointers against Northwestern on Jan. 23.

CLIMBING THE CHARTS
With 16 points on Jan. 30, senior guard Taryn McCutcheon now has 1,111 points, vaulting from No. 24 on MSU's career scoring list up to No. 22, passing former teammate Jenna Allen (2015-19) with 1,098 points and Becky Cummings (1997-2001) with 1,108 points. McCutcheon is just 42 points shy of the No. 21 spot, held by Julie Polakowski (1982-86) with 1,143 points. McCutcheon's five assists gives her 70 for the season and 542 for her career. The senior guard is now just 33 helpers from breaking the school record of 574 assists, held by her current assistant coach Kristin Haynie (2001-05).

BATTLE ON THE BOARDS
MSU also had a 29-26 rebounding advantage, the ninth game this season that the Spartans had more rebounds than the opposition, but also the first loss doing so, now 8-1.

SPARTAN TIDBITS
• Senior guard Taryn McCutcheon dished out a team-high five assists against Purdue on Jan. 30, 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 against Purdue, 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.

FABULOUS FRESHIES
Freshman guard Moira Joiner is looking to place herself among the top rookies in MSU history. She has made 29 3-pointers this season and is just seven away from tying Kalisha Keane who had 36 as a freshman during the 2007-08 season. Through 21 games, Joiner is shooting 44.6 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.

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 45-11 at the friendly confines of the Breslin Center. MSU has won 26 of the last 29 games at home. This season, the Spartans are 8-2 at home. Michigan State's only losses this season came against No. 22 Northwestern on Jan. 23 and against Purdue on Jan. 30.

UP NEXT
After facing Maryland on Monday, Feb. 3, Michigan State will take a much-needed break. The Spartans will return to action against second-place Northwestern on Monday, Feb. 10 in Northwestern.

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-) 1,111   542
Brittney Thomas (2007-11)   932   401
Deb Traxinger (1978-82) 926   443

SWITCHING STARTERS
Through 21 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 seventh-straight game, earning a 3-4 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.

CLOUDEN VS. THE LEAGUE
Sophomore guard Nia Clouden is among the best in several categories in the Big Ten. She is currently tied for ninth in the league in scoring with Maryland's Kaila Charles, averaging 14.5 points per game. Penn State's Kamaria McDaniel leads the league in scoring with 20.0 ppg. Clouden is also fourth in free throw percentage (.796). She is providing help on the defensive end of the ball as well, standing tied for sixth in steals (1.9 spg). In Big Ten games, Clouden is tied for fifth in assists, providing 4.3 helpers per game. She is also tied for fourth in league games in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.9).

FINDING CONSISTENCY
Nia Clouden has been the most consistent Spartan this season, leading the team in scoring 10 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 nine times, followed by Julia Ayrault who has had the most rebounds on five occasions.

SPARTANS IN THE B1G/NCAA RANKINGS
After 21 games, Michigan State is 43rd in the nation and third in the Big Ten in steals per game (10.2 spg). The Spartans continue to deny their opponents the three-point shot, standing 18th in the country and third in the Big Ten 3-point field goal defense, holding teams to 26.6 percent from beyond the arc. MSU is third in the Big Ten in 3-pointers made (7.3) and second in offensive rebounds (15.0).

In Big Ten contests, Nia Clouden is tied for 18th in scoring, averaging 12.8 ppg. Clouden is also fifth in assists with 4.3 apg. Sophomore forward Kayla Belles is fifth in blocks per game (1.7). Freshman guard Moira Joiner is sixth in 3-pointers made with 23, while senior guard Taryn McCutcheon is tied for 10th with 19.

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: Purdue 76, MSU 66
Despite four players reaching double figures, the injury-plagued Michigan State women's basketball team fell to Purdue, 76-66, at the Breslin Center Thursday night.

Michigan State falls to 11-10 overall and 4-6 in Big Ten games, having lost three-straight. Purdue has now won three-straight games and improves to 15-7 and 6-4 in league contests.

After the game head coach Suzy Merchant announced that redshirt-junior forward Mardrekia Cook will miss the remainder of the season with a torn Achilles' tendon.

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.