MSU Women Host Michigan For Annual Pink Game Sunday

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State women's basketball returns home to take on in-state rival Michigan on Sunday, Feb. 23 at 5 p.m. It is also the Spartans' annual Pink Game to honor cancer survivors and promote cancer awareness with the game being sponsored by Sparrow Hospital. The game will be broadcast on BTN with Lisa Byington and Vera Jones on the call. MSU has won three-straight games and now hold a 14-12 overall record and stand 7-8 in league action.

• The Spartans have now won three-straight games and hold a 14-12 overall record with a 7-8 record in league action. Michigan holds a 17-9 record overall and stands 8-7 in league action. The Wolverines are tied for sixth in the B1G standings, while MSU is ninth.

• Senior guard Taryn 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 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 5-1 with this lineup.

• Suzy Merchant moved into a tie for eighth place on the Big Ten career wins list after the Spartans' 65-63 victory at Purdue on Feb. 20. Merchant, who is 134-85 (.612) in conference games during her 13 seasons at MSU, has matched the 134 Big Ten wins earned by Ohio State's Nancy Darsch from 1985-97.

SCOUTING MICHIGAN
This is the second meeting between the Spartans and the Wolverines this season with Michigan taking the first meeting in Ann Arbor, 89-69 on Jan. 5. MSU was without starters Victoria Gaines and Shay Colley in the loss. Michigan State was led by a season-high 23 points from senior guard Taryn McCutcheon.

Michigan holds a 17-9 record overall and stand 8-7 in league play. The Wolverines have won four of their last six games, including a 80-59 win over Illinois on Feb. 19.

The Wolverines are shooting 45.4 percent from the floor this season, good for fourth in the Big Ten and 19th nationally. Naz Hillmon leads the way by hitting 56.8 percent of her shots, ranked second in the conference and 21st nationally. Michigan has three players averaging at least 10 points and four rebounds per game in Naz Hillmon (16.6 ppg, 8.5 rpg), Amy Dilk (11.4 ppg, 4.8 rpg) and Akienreh Johnson (10.8 ppg, 6.2 rpg).

SERIES HISTORY VS. MICHIGAN
The Spartans lead the overall series with the Wolverines, 72-20, including winning seven of the last nine meetings. Last season, Michigan State swept the series. The Spartans are 35-7 at the Breslin Center against the Wolverines, including a 74-64 on Senior Day last season. Michigan State's lone senior Jenna Allen scored team-high 18 points. The Spartans have captured the last three wins in East Lansing. The last time Michigan earned a victory at the Breslin Center was a 72-59 win in 2015.

LAST TIME VS. THE WOLVERINES
Senior guard Taryn McCutcheon scored a season-high 23 points, but the Michigan State women's basketball team was topped by Michigan 89-69 at the Crisler Center on Jan. 5. A tough fourth quarter lifted the Wolverines past the Spartans.

McCutcheon's 23 points were just shy of her career-high 25 points against Maryland on Jan. 11, 2018. Redshirt-junior forward Mardrekia Cook also reached double figures in scoring with a season-high 13 points off the bench. For only the second time this season, sophomore guard Nia Clouden did not reach double figures in scoring with only eight points due to early foul trouble.

NAIL BITERS
The Spartans have had success in close games this season. Michigan State is 5-1 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 seven Big Ten wins, MSU is winning by a margin of 8.1 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. Most recently, MSU edged Purdue, 65-63 on Feb. 20.

BIG SHOT CLOUDEN
Sophomore guard Nia Clouden has had a flair for the dramatic this season. She has had clutch game winners against Ohio State on Jan. 16 and Purdue on Feb. 20. Against the Buckeyes, Clouden's old-fashioned three-point play with 14 seconds remaining to give Michigan State a one-point lead. The guard also hit a pair of free throws with six seconds left to seal the win.

Against Purdue on Feb. 20, Clouden once against came to the rescue in a game with 16 lead changes. Her driving layup with less than two seconds remaining gave MSU the win.

COMING DOWN TO THE WIRE
The Spartans have three regular-season games remaining and hold a 7-8 record in Big Ten action. MSU is currently ninth in the standings looking to move up. Just ahead of the Spartans are Purdue (8-8), Rutgers (8-7) and Michigan (8-7). Maryland is in first place in the standings with a 14-2 record, followed by Northwestern with a 13-2 mark.

WATCH OUT COACH
Taryn McCutcheon's three assists gives her 88 for the season and 560 for her career. The senior guard is now just 14 helpers from breaking the school record of 574 assists, held by her current assistant coach Kristin Haynie (2001-05).

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.

SPARTAN TIDBITS
• Senior guard Taryn 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.

• 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.

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.

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.

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-) 1,155   560
Brittney Thomas (2007-11)   932   401
Deb Traxinger (1978-82) 926   443

CLIMBING THE CHARTS
With 14 points on Feb. 20, senior guard Taryn McCutcheon now has 1,155 points, , 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. McCutcheon's five assists gives her 88 for the season and 560 for her career. The senior guard is now just 14 helpers from breaking the school record of 574 assists, held by her current assistant coach Kristin Haynie (2001-05).

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 23.4 mpg. Joiner has had a solid rookie campaign for the Spartans. 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.

She is 14th among freshman in the Big Ten in scoring, averaging 6.9 ppg. She is also tied for third in 3-point field goals made with 34. Julia Ayrault is tied for fifth in rebounding with 4.5 rpg. Taiyier Parks is for 10th in rebounding (4.2 rpg), while Joiner is tied for 14th (3.4 rpg.). Ayrault is this tied for second in blocks among freshman with 0.9 bpg.

SWITCHING STARTERS
Through 26 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 Purdue on Feb. 20, the Spartans used the lineup of Clouden, McCutcheon, Moira Joiner, Kayla Belles and Tory Ozment for just the sixth time, earning a 5-1 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 11th in the league in scoring, averaging 14.3 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 (.820). She is providing help on the defensive end of the ball as well, standing tied for seventh in steals (1.8 spg). In Big Ten games, Clouden is seventh in assists, providing 3.8 helpers per game.

FINDING CONSISTENCY
Nia Clouden has been the most consistent Spartan this season, leading the team in scoring 14 times this year. Taryn McCutcheon has led eight 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 26 games, Michigan State is 79th in the nation and third in the Big Ten in steals per game (9.2 spg). The Spartans continue to deny their opponents the three-point shot, standing 37th in the country and second in the Big Ten 3-point field goal defense, holding teams to 28.0 percent from beyond the arc. MSU is fourth in the Big Ten in 3-pointers made (7.1) and second in offensive rebounds (14.3).

In Big Ten contests, Nia Clouden is tied for 16th in scoring, averaging 13.1 ppg. Clouden is also seventh in assists with 3.8 apg, while Taryn McCutcheon tied for 10th with 3.5 apg. Sophomore forward Kayla Belles is sixth in blocks per game (1.5). Freshman guard Moira Joiner is 13th in 3-pointers made with 28 and fourth in 3-point shooting percentage (.431).

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 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.

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.

Next Event

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