MSU Women's Basketball Opens the Final Week of the Regular Season at Illinois

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State women's basketball concludes the regular season this week with a pair of games. The Spartans will play their final regular-season road game against Illinois on Wednesday, Feb. 26 at 8 p.m. ET. MSU will say goodbye to its seniors in the home finale against Penn State on Sunday, March 1 at 2 p.m.

• The Spartans had their three-game winning streak halted against Michigan on Feb. 23. Michigan State now stands 14-13 overall and 7-9 in Big Ten play. Illinois is 11-16 overall and 2-14 in Big Ten play. The Illini have lost four-straight games and will honor their seniors against MSU on Wednesday.

• In their annual Pink Game against Michigan on Feb. 23, the Spartans had a season-high 11,462 people in the stands. The crowd was the 15th highest in MSU history. It was the highest since 12,434 attended the game against Michigan on Feb. 11, 2018.

• 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 5-2 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 134-86 (.609) 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 ILLINOIS
Illinois comes into the meeting with Michigan State with an 11-16 overall record and holds a 2-14 record in Big Ten play. The Illini's two league wins came against Minnesota on Jan. 12 and Penn State on Feb. 9. Overall, Illinois has lost four-straight with their last win coming against Penn State. Illinois is 13th in the league standings ahead of PSU.

Illinois is 13th in scoring margin (-8.3) and 14th in field goal percentage (.376). The Illini are also sixth in the Big Ten in steals with 9.2 spg.

Petra Holesínská leads 13.5 ppg, while Kennedi Myles is tied for fifth in rebounding with 8.6 rpg. Myles is also fifth in the league in steals, averaging 2.0 spg. Holesínská is tied for second in 3-point field goals made with 2.6. In Big Ten games, Myles is ninth in rebounding with 7.1 rpg.

SERIES HISTORY VS. ILLINOIS
The Spartans lead the overall series with the Illini, 43-28, including winning seven straight. The Illini's last win against MSU was a 71-62 overtime affair in 2012. Michigan State is 16-16 in Champaign and has won seven in a row on the road against Illinois. Illinois' last win at home was a 56-46 win in 2007. MSU is also 24-9 at the Breslin Center against UI. Last season, the teams met only once with MSU taking a 77-60 win in East Lansing. The Spartans had five players in double figures in that game.

LAST TIME VS. THE ILLINI
Using a fast start and five players in double figures, the No. 23/21 Michigan State women's basketball team breezed past Illinois, 77-60, at the Breslin Center on Jan. 24, 2019. The Spartans have now won 14-straight games at home, dating back to last season.

The Spartans have now won seven-straight games against the Illini dating back to 2014.

Michigan State was led by a quintet of players in double figures, including three players with 14 points in senior center Jenna Allen, redshirt-junior guard Shay Colley and junior guard Taryn McCutcheon. Sophomore guard Sidney Cooks also added 12 points and five rebounds in her first start of the season, while redshirt-junior forward Victoria Gaines scored 11 points off the bench.

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.

PACKING THE STANDS
In their annual Pink Game against Michigan on Feb. 23, the Spartans had a season-high 11,462 people in the stands. The crowd was the 15th highest in MSU history. It was the highest since 12,434 attended the game against Michigan on Feb. 11, 2018.

Overall, the Spartans are 17th in the nation in attendance, averaging 4,937 fans per game. They stand fifth in the Big Ten with Iowa leading the way with 7,017 fans a game.

WECLOME BACK COLLEY
Michigan State welcomed back senior Shay Colley against Michigan on Feb. 23. The guard missed 14-straight games due to Canadian National Team duties and injuries. In limited action against the Wolverines, she scored two points with one steal. Overall, she has played in seven games this season, averaging 8.6 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game.

COMING DOWN TO THE WIRE
The Spartans have two regular-season games remaining and hold a 7-9 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), Michigan (9-7) and Rutgers (9-7). Maryland and Northwestern are tied for first place in the standings with a 14-2 records. Michigan State concludes the regular season against Illinois (2-14) and Penn State (1-15).

WATCH OUT COACH
Taryn McCutcheon's three assists against Michigan on Feb. 23 give her 91 for the season and 563 for her career. The senior guard is now just 12 helpers from breaking the school record of 574 assists, held by her current assistant coach Kristin Haynie (2001-05).

SPARTAN TIDBITS
• The Spartans scored 20 points off of turnovers compared to eight by the Wolverines. This was the second-most points off of opponent miscues this season during conference games after scoring 23 against Wisconsin on Jan. 12. This is the eighth time this season that MSU has scored at least 20 points off of turnovers in a game. The most Michigan State has scored in a season is 37 against Detroit Mercy on Nov. 11.

• The Spartans tied a season-low with 11 turnovers against Michigan. MSU also had 11 turnovers against Purdue on Feb. 20 and Indiana on Dec. 28.

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.

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 47-12 at the friendly confines of the Breslin Center. MSU has won 28 of the last 32 games at home. This season, the Spartans are 10-3 at home. Michigan State's only losses this season came against No. 22 Northwestern on Jan. 23, against Purdue on Jan. 30 and Michigan on Feb. 23.

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-) 1,169   563
Brittney Thomas (2007-11) 932   401
Deb Traxinger (1978-82) 926   443

CLIMBING THE CHARTS
With 14 points on Feb. 23, senior guard Taryn McCutcheon now has 1,169 points, , still in the No. 21 spot, previously held by Julie Polakowski (1982-86) with 1,143 points. She is now just 12 points behind Rene Haynes (2003-07), who scored 1,181 career points. McCutcheon's five assists gives her 91 for the season and 563 for her career. The senior guard is now just 12 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.

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 23.8 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 fifth in rebounding with 4.5 rpg. Taiyier Parks is for 10th in rebounding (4.1 rpg), while Joiner is tied for 14th (3.4 rpg.). Ayrault is this tied for first in blocks among freshman with 0.9 bpg.

SWITCHING STARTERS
Through 27 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 Michigan on Feb. 23, the Spartans used the lineup of Clouden, McCutcheon, Moira Joiner, Kayla Belles and Tory Ozment for just the seventh time, earning a 5-2 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 14.5 points per game. Rutgers' Arella Guirantes leads the league in scoring with 19.9 ppg. Clouden is also third in free throw percentage (.821). 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 3.8 helpers per game.

FINDING CONSISTENCY
Nia Clouden has been the most consistent Spartan this season, leading the team in scoring 15 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 six occasions.

SPARTANS IN THE B1G/NCAA RANKINGS
After 27 games, Michigan State is 85th in the nation and fourth in the Big Ten in steals per game (9.2 spg). The Spartans continue to deny their opponents the three-point shot, standing 25th in the country and second in the Big Ten 3-point field goal defense, holding teams to 27.6 percent from beyond the arc. MSU is tied for fourth in the Big Ten in 3-pointers made (7.0) and second in offensive rebounds (14.2).

In Big Ten contests, Nia Clouden is tied for 15th in scoring, averaging 13.4 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 tied for sixth in blocks per game (1.5). McCutcheon is tied for 11th 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.

MSU Women's Basketball Opens the Final Week of the Regular Season at Illinois

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Players Mentioned

Jenna Allen

Julia Ayrault

Kayla Belles

Nia Clouden

Shay Colley

Mardrekia Cook

Sidney Cooks

Victoria Gaines

Tori Jankoska

Moira Joiner

Taryn McCutcheon

Tory Ozment

Taiyier Parks

Alyza Winston