Thursday, February 20
West Lafayette, Ind.
7 PM
Michigan State University
14-12,7-8Big Ten
65
at
63
Purdue
17-11,8-8Big Ten
1
2
3
4
F
Michigan St.
23
4
17
21
65
Purdue
17
14
13
19
63
Clouden’s Late Bucket Guides Spartan Women To Thrilling 65-63 Win At Purdue
2/20/2020 10:54:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Three players reach double figures in road victory for MSU, the Spartans’ third-straight.
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- In a game with 16 lead changes, sophomore Nia Clouden's driving layup with 1.2 seconds remaining gave the Michigan State women's basketball team a thrilling 65-63 win over Purdue Thursday at Mackey Arena.
The win was the Spartans' third-straight win, improving to 14-12 overall and 7-8 in Big Ten action, including capturing their second road B1G win of the season. Purdue falls to 17-11 overall and 8-8 in league action.
After a slow start, with only 1 point in the first half, Clouden ended the game with 14 points, including the final four for MSU, with the last bucket coming on a driving layup with rattled and rolled around on the rim before falling through the net with 1.2 seconds left.
Senior guard Taryn McCutcheon tied for the team lead with 14 points, draining four 3-pointers, to go along with three assists. Her 14 points moved her into 21st place in scoring all-time at MSU with 1,155 points. McCutcheon's three assists gives the senior guard 88 this season and 560 for her career, leaving her just 14 helpers from tying the school record of 574 assists, held by her current assistant coach Kristin Haynie (2001-05).
Sophomore forward Kayla Belles also reached double figures with 13 points, including hitting the first 3-pointer of her career, while adding three blocks.
Purdue was led by a game-high 20 points from Ae'Rianna Harris, who also added nine rebounds.
Both teams got off to a fast start on the offensive end, but back-to-back buckets from Belles gave MSU the 10-9 lead. Back-to-back layups by rookies Ayrault and Joiner put the Spartans back on top 16-12. The Michigan State offense continued to roll as Belles ended the first quarter with six points. The Spartans led at the first break 23-16.
A broken play turned into a wide-open trey for McCutcheon, as MSU opened up a 27-19 lead after the media timeout. The Boilermakers responded with a 9-0 run to take a 28-27 lead with 2:03 left in the half, as the Spartans hit a cold spell. Purdue went on to out-score Michigan State, 14-4, in the second quarter. The Spartans went the final 5:43 without scoring.
In the third quarter, Michigan State looked to battle back into the game after a tough second period. A Joiner bucket as the shot clock expired was reviewed and counted, making it a two-point game with 4:44 remaining. The MSU defense forced five turnovers over 3:42 to battle back into the game. A Ozment steal tied the game at 44-44.
The Spartans took their first lead of second half with a McCutcheon 3-pointer for a 47-46 MSU advantage at the 8:54 point of the fourth period. The final quarter went back and forth. Belles drained her first career 3-pointer, from the right wing as the shot clock about to expire, to once again tie the score, 59-59.
Purdue's Kayana Traylor netted a jumper with 2:12 to go for a 61-59 lead for the home team. The Boilermakers entered Thursday's 16-0 when leading with 2:00 to play in the game, before the Spartans snapped that, as their deficit was short-lived as Belles bucket with 1:53 left leveled the score at 61-61.
The defenses tighten up down the stretch, as neither team scored until Clouden broke the drought with a pull-up jumper with 22 ticks left. However, Jenelle Grant hit a running layup with 10 seconds left to tie the game for the eighth time on the night.
Clouden made sure that it was the final tie of the night, as she took the ball from the top of the key and drove the lane and put up a layup. The ball bounced and rolled around on the rim, before falling through the nylon with 1.2 seconds, for the 16th and final lead change. Purdue's last-ditch heave was off the mark, sparking the Spartans' celebration.
Michigan State concludes its action-packed week by hosting Michigan at the Breslin Center on Sunday, Feb. 23 at 5 p.m. for its annual pink game. The game will be televised on the Big Ten Network.
Michigan State Notes vs. Purdue
• The Spartans used the same starting line-up of senior guard Taryn McCutcheon, sophomore guard Nia Clouden, freshman guard Moira Joiner, sophomore forward Tory Ozment and sophomore forward Kayla Belles for the third-straight game ... This was the fifth game this season with those five starting for the Spartans, as MSU is 5-1 with that lineup ... It is Michigan State's eighth different starting lineup of the season.
• McCutcheon's 14 points on Thursday gives her 1,155 for her career, moving her into the No. 21 spot, previously held by Julie Polakowski (1982-86) with 1,143 points. She is now just 26 points behind Rene Haynes (2003-07), who scored 1,181 career points.
• The four points scored in the second quarter tied the lowest by the Spartans since the quarter system was put into affect. MSU also scored four points in the first quarter against Rutgers on Feb. 18, 2016.
• The Spartans captured the win despite grabbing a season-low 25 rebounds. MSU was out-rebounded by Purdue, 31-25. Michigan State's previous low as 27 boards in losses to Michigan (Jan. 5) and Maryland (Feb. 3).
• Clouden's 14 points was her seventh-straight game in double-figures and 23rd of the season in 26 games ... It was the 46th double-figure scoring outing of Clouden's career.
• Michigan State tied a season high with six blocks against the Boilermakers. MSU also had six blocks against Oakland on Nov. 19 and Florida State on Dec. 5. Kayla Belles led the team with three swats, which was just shy of her career high of four blocks against Ohio State on Jan. 16. She has had eight games this season with multiple blocks.
• The Spartans have been extremely effective closing out games over the last couple years, winning 207 of their last 220 games (.941) when leading with five minutes left, including 157 of their last 172. In Coach Merchant's tenure, Michigan State is 242-19 (.927) when holding a lead with five minutes left. This season, MSU is 14-1 when leading with five minutes remaining with the only loss coming against No. 8 Florida State.
• McCutcheon dished out three assists, giving her three-straight games with at least three assists ... The three helpers gives the senior guard 88 this season and 560 for her career ... McCutcheon is now just 14 helpers from tying the school record of 574 assists, held by her current assistant coach Kristin Haynie (2001-05).
The win was the Spartans' third-straight win, improving to 14-12 overall and 7-8 in Big Ten action, including capturing their second road B1G win of the season. Purdue falls to 17-11 overall and 8-8 in league action.
After a slow start, with only 1 point in the first half, Clouden ended the game with 14 points, including the final four for MSU, with the last bucket coming on a driving layup with rattled and rolled around on the rim before falling through the net with 1.2 seconds left.
Senior guard Taryn McCutcheon tied for the team lead with 14 points, draining four 3-pointers, to go along with three assists. Her 14 points moved her into 21st place in scoring all-time at MSU with 1,155 points. McCutcheon's three assists gives the senior guard 88 this season and 560 for her career, leaving her just 14 helpers from tying the school record of 574 assists, held by her current assistant coach Kristin Haynie (2001-05).
Sophomore forward Kayla Belles also reached double figures with 13 points, including hitting the first 3-pointer of her career, while adding three blocks.
Purdue was led by a game-high 20 points from Ae'Rianna Harris, who also added nine rebounds.
Both teams got off to a fast start on the offensive end, but back-to-back buckets from Belles gave MSU the 10-9 lead. Back-to-back layups by rookies Ayrault and Joiner put the Spartans back on top 16-12. The Michigan State offense continued to roll as Belles ended the first quarter with six points. The Spartans led at the first break 23-16.
A broken play turned into a wide-open trey for McCutcheon, as MSU opened up a 27-19 lead after the media timeout. The Boilermakers responded with a 9-0 run to take a 28-27 lead with 2:03 left in the half, as the Spartans hit a cold spell. Purdue went on to out-score Michigan State, 14-4, in the second quarter. The Spartans went the final 5:43 without scoring.
In the third quarter, Michigan State looked to battle back into the game after a tough second period. A Joiner bucket as the shot clock expired was reviewed and counted, making it a two-point game with 4:44 remaining. The MSU defense forced five turnovers over 3:42 to battle back into the game. A Ozment steal tied the game at 44-44.
The Spartans took their first lead of second half with a McCutcheon 3-pointer for a 47-46 MSU advantage at the 8:54 point of the fourth period. The final quarter went back and forth. Belles drained her first career 3-pointer, from the right wing as the shot clock about to expire, to once again tie the score, 59-59.
Purdue's Kayana Traylor netted a jumper with 2:12 to go for a 61-59 lead for the home team. The Boilermakers entered Thursday's 16-0 when leading with 2:00 to play in the game, before the Spartans snapped that, as their deficit was short-lived as Belles bucket with 1:53 left leveled the score at 61-61.
The defenses tighten up down the stretch, as neither team scored until Clouden broke the drought with a pull-up jumper with 22 ticks left. However, Jenelle Grant hit a running layup with 10 seconds left to tie the game for the eighth time on the night.
Clouden made sure that it was the final tie of the night, as she took the ball from the top of the key and drove the lane and put up a layup. The ball bounced and rolled around on the rim, before falling through the nylon with 1.2 seconds, for the 16th and final lead change. Purdue's last-ditch heave was off the mark, sparking the Spartans' celebration.
Michigan State concludes its action-packed week by hosting Michigan at the Breslin Center on Sunday, Feb. 23 at 5 p.m. for its annual pink game. The game will be televised on the Big Ten Network.
Michigan State Notes vs. Purdue
• The Spartans used the same starting line-up of senior guard Taryn McCutcheon, sophomore guard Nia Clouden, freshman guard Moira Joiner, sophomore forward Tory Ozment and sophomore forward Kayla Belles for the third-straight game ... This was the fifth game this season with those five starting for the Spartans, as MSU is 5-1 with that lineup ... It is Michigan State's eighth different starting lineup of the season.
• McCutcheon's 14 points on Thursday gives her 1,155 for her career, moving her into the No. 21 spot, previously held by Julie Polakowski (1982-86) with 1,143 points. She is now just 26 points behind Rene Haynes (2003-07), who scored 1,181 career points.
• The four points scored in the second quarter tied the lowest by the Spartans since the quarter system was put into affect. MSU also scored four points in the first quarter against Rutgers on Feb. 18, 2016.
• The Spartans captured the win despite grabbing a season-low 25 rebounds. MSU was out-rebounded by Purdue, 31-25. Michigan State's previous low as 27 boards in losses to Michigan (Jan. 5) and Maryland (Feb. 3).
• Clouden's 14 points was her seventh-straight game in double-figures and 23rd of the season in 26 games ... It was the 46th double-figure scoring outing of Clouden's career.
• Michigan State tied a season high with six blocks against the Boilermakers. MSU also had six blocks against Oakland on Nov. 19 and Florida State on Dec. 5. Kayla Belles led the team with three swats, which was just shy of her career high of four blocks against Ohio State on Jan. 16. She has had eight games this season with multiple blocks.
• The Spartans have been extremely effective closing out games over the last couple years, winning 207 of their last 220 games (.941) when leading with five minutes left, including 157 of their last 172. In Coach Merchant's tenure, Michigan State is 242-19 (.927) when holding a lead with five minutes left. This season, MSU is 14-1 when leading with five minutes remaining with the only loss coming against No. 8 Florida State.
• McCutcheon dished out three assists, giving her three-straight games with at least three assists ... The three helpers gives the senior guard 88 this season and 560 for her career ... McCutcheon is now just 14 helpers from tying the school record of 574 assists, held by her current assistant coach Kristin Haynie (2001-05).
Team Stats
MSU
Purdue
FG%
.472
.463
3FG%
.353
.250
FT%
.818
.625
RB
25
31
TO
11
11
STL
4
6
Game Leaders
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
4
FTM
0
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Pts
13
FGM
6
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
9
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Women's BasketballGuard
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's BasketballGuard
/ Women's BasketballGuard/Forward
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