Michigan State Women's Basketball Travels to Purdue Thursday

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State women's basketball continues its busy week, traveling to West Lafayette, Indiana to take on Purdue on Thursday, Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. The game will be televised on the Big Ten Network with Jordan Bernfield and Tyra Buss on the call. The Spartans started the week with a win over Minnesota on Feb. 17 and will end with a home game against Michigan on Feb. 23.

• The Spartans have now won two-straight games and hold a 13-12 overall record with a 6-8 record in league action. Purdue is 17-10 overall and 8-7 in conference play, having also won two in a row.

• Sophomore guard Nia Clouden collected her first double-double of the season and second of her career with a game-high 16 points and a career-best 10 rebounds against Minnesota. Monday's double-double was her first with points and rebounds, as her previous only other double-double was with 10 points and 11 assists vs. Virginia (11/28/18).

• The Spartans have used eight different starting lineups this season. The most recent lineup of Taryn McCutcheon, Moira Joiner, Nia Clouden, Tory Ozment and Kayla Belles has started. Michigan State is 4-1 with this lineup.

• Taryn McCutcheon dished out five assists for the second game in a row and fourth in the last six games. The five helpers gives the senior guard 85 this season and 557 for her career. She is now just 17 helpers from tying the school record of 574 assists, held by her current assistant coach Kristin Haynie (2001-05).

SCOUTING PURDUE
Purdue stands at 17-10 going in to the game with Michigan State, holding an 8-7 mark in Big Ten games and 9-4 in Mackey Arena. The Boilermakers have not won a game in West Lafayette since Jan. 26 in an 81-68 win over Penn State.

Last time out, Purdue defeated Illinois, 70-58, on the road on Feb. 16 to improve to 8-7 in conference play, just breaking the .500 mark. The Boilermakers had five players reach double-figures for the first time this season.

Purdue is fourth in the Big Ten in three-point field goal percentage, notching a percentage of .353 in 27 games. The Boilermakers are third in the league in rebounding defense, averaging 34.0 rebounds per game, behind the Big Ten co-leader in rebounds, senior Ae'Rianna Harris who averages 6.5 rpg. Harris also is second in the conference in blocked shots, averaging 2.8 per game.

Purdue has three players that are averaging in double-figures, including Harris (13.6 ppg), senior Dominique Oden (13.0 ppg) and junior Karissa McLaughlin (12.9 ppg).

SERIES HISTORY VS. PURDUE
The Boilermakers hold the overall series lead with the Spartans, 41-33. Michigan State has had success lately in the series, winning six of the last eight. MSU is 9-23 against Purdue in West Lafayette.

Earlier this season, Purdue stopped a two-game losing streak against Michigan State with a 76-66 win in East Lansing on Jan. 30. The Boilermakers were led by 24 points from Karissa McLaughlin who hit seven e-pointers.

LAST TIME VS. THE BOILERMAKERS
Despite four players reaching double figures, the injury-plagued Michigan State women's basketball team fell to Purdue, 76-66, at the Breslin Center on Jan. 30. Senior guard Nia Clouden led four Spartans in double-figures with 17 points, marking the sixth game this season with four players in double-digits. Senior guard Taryn McCutcheon added 16 points and at team-high five assists. Freshman guard Moira Joiner scored 12 points, while sophomore forward Kayla Belles added 10 points.

NAIL BITERS
The Spartans have had success in close games this season. Michigan State is 4-1 in games decided by five points or less with MSU's only loss came against LSU, 58-56 on Nov. 29. The Spartans are winning conference games by a close margin as well. In six Big Ten wins, MSU is winning by a margin of 9.2 points. On Jan. 16, Michigan State defeated Ohio State, 68-65 at home, while earning a 57-53 win at home against Rutgers on Feb. 13.

YOUNG GUNS
A total of 61 of Michigan State's 66 points against Minnesota on Feb. 17 were scored by underclassmen, as senior guard Taryn McCutcheon's five points were the lone upperclassmen points. Sophomore Nia Clouden led the way with 16 points, while freshman Julia Ayrault tied her career high with 14. Clouden, Ayrault and Joiner also combined for 39 points. Clouden and Joiner also combined for 21 rebounds, despite being 5-8 and 5-10, respectively.

HOME SWEET HOME
With a pair of home wins against Rutgers (Feb. 13) and Minnesota (Feb. 17), the Spartans improved to 10-2 at the Breslin Center this season. At home, MSU is averaging 74.6 points per game, while allowing only 57.2 Overall, the Spartans are scoring 68.6 ppg, while allowing 66.1. A key to the Michigan State home success has been the boards. At home, the Spartans are averaging 42.2 rpg, while bringing down 38.9 rpg for the season.

Tayrn McCutcheon and Nia Clouden are leading the way at home offensively. Clouden is averaging 13.4 ppg and 3.5 apg with McCutcheon adding 10.3 ppg and a team-leading 3.92 apg.

SPARTAN TIDBITS
• Freshman forward Taiyier Parks was one rebound and three points shy of a double-double with nine rebounds and seven points ... The nine rebounds is her second-highest of the season and most in a Big Ten game, behind 10 boards vs. Oakland ... Parks' seven points tied her third-highest scoring output of the season, and also her most in a Big Ten contest.

• Sophomore Kayla Belles rounded out the five Spartans in double-digits with 10 points, her first double-figure scoring game since Jan. 9 at Penn State and first time at home since Dec. 31 vs. Nebraska ... overall, Thursday's 10 points was the seventh game this season that Belles has posted double-digits.

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. MSU was able to get McCutcheon, Ozment and Ayrault back for the game against Northwestern on Feb. 10.

LOGGING IN THE MINUTES
With the multitude of injuries of late, the five Michigan State freshmen have been logging in more minutes of late. Freshman guard Moira Joiner is fourth on the team in minutes, averaging 23.0 mpg. Joiner has had a solid rookie campaign for the Spartans. She is 14th among freshman in the Big Ten in scoring, averaging 7.0 ppg. She is also third in 3-point field goals made with 34. Julia Ayrault is fourth in rebounding with 4.6 rpg. Taiyier Parks is tied for 10th in rebounding (4.2 rpg), while Joiner is tied for 14th (3.2 rpg.). Ayrault is this tied for second in blocks among freshman with 0.9 bpg.

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 47-11 at the friendly confines of the Breslin Center. MSU has won 28 of the last 31 games at home. This season, the Spartans are 10-2 at home. Michigan State's only losses this season came against No. 22 Northwestern on Jan. 23 and against Purdue on Jan. 30.

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-)   1,141   557
Brittney Thomas (2007-11)   932   401
Deb Traxinger (1978-82) 926   443

CLIMBING THE CHARTS
With five points on Feb. 17, senior guard Taryn McCutcheon now has 1,141 points, still standing 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 two points shy of the No. 21 spot, held by Julie Polakowski (1982-86) with 1,143 points. McCutcheon's five assists gives her 85 for the season and 557 for her career. The senior guard is now just 17 helpers from breaking the school record of 574 assists, held by her current assistant coach Kristin Haynie (2001-05).

FABULOUS FRESHIE
Freshman guard Moira Joiner is looking to place herself among the top rookies in MSU history. She has made 34 3-pointers this season and is just two away from tying Kalisha Keane for fifth among MSU freshman, who had 36 as a freshman during the 2007-08 season. Through 25 games, Joiner is shooting 41.0 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 and making 77 treys.

SWITCHING STARTERS
Through 25 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 Rutgers, the Spartans used the lineup of Clouden, McCutcheon, Moira Joiner, Kayla Belles and Tory Ozment for just the fifth time, earning a 4-1 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 10th in the league in scoring, averaging 14.4 points per game. Penn State's Kamaria McDaniel leads the league in scoring with 19.5 ppg. Clouden is also third in free throw percentage (.822). 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 seventh in assists, providing 3.9 helpers per game.

FINDING CONSISTENCY
Nia Clouden has been the most consistent Spartan this season, leading the team in scoring 13 times this year. Taryn McCutcheon has led seven 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 11 different players have led the squad in rebounds. Kayla Belles has both led the team in rebounding 10 times, followed by Julia Ayrault who has had the most rebounds on five occasions.

SPARTANS IN THE B1G/NCAA RANKINGS
After 25 games, Michigan State is 71st in the nation and third in the Big Ten in steals per game (9.4 spg). The Spartans continue to deny their opponents the three-point shot, standing 35th in the country and second in the Big Ten 3-point field goal defense, holding teams to 28.1 percent from beyond the arc. MSU is fourth in the Big Ten in 3-pointers made (7.1) and second in offensive rebounds (14.7).

In Big Ten contests, Nia Clouden is tied for 16th in scoring, averaging 13.1 ppg. Clouden is also eighth in assists with 3.7 apg, while Taryn McCutcheon tied for ninth with 3.6 apg. Sophomore forward Kayla Belles is seventh in blocks per game (1.4). Freshman guard Moira Joiner is 11th in 3-pointers made with 28 and fourth in 3-point shooting percentage (.444).

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 206 of their last 219 games (.941) when leading with five minutes left, including 156 of their last 171. In Coach Merchant's tenure, Michigan State is 241-19 (.927) when holding a lead with five minutes left. This season, MSU is 13-1 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.

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. 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 Women's Basketball Travels to Purdue Thursday

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Players Mentioned

Jenna Allen

Julia Ayrault

Kayla Belles

Nia Clouden

Shay Colley

Mardrekia Cook

Victoria Gaines

Tori Jankoska

Moira Joiner

Taryn McCutcheon

Tory Ozment

Taiyier Parks

Alyza Winston