Sunday, January 10
East Lansing, Mich.
3 PM ET
Michigan State University
vs
Nebraska
No. 23 MSU Women's Basketball Closes Out Homestand Against Nebraska Sunday
1/9/2021 12:19:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Spartans and the Huskers meet just once in the regular season.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - No. 23/24 Michigan State women's basketball concludes its two-game homestand, hosting Nebraska on Sunday, Jan. 10 at 3 p.m. at the Breslin Center. The Spartans hold a 8-1 mark overall and 3-1 in league play after suffering their first loss of the season against No. 12/12 Maryland on Jan. 7. Nebraska comes to town with a 5-4 record and are 3-3 in Big Ten play. The Huskers have stayed in Michigan after a tough 64-62 loss to the Wolverines on Thursday.
• With a loss to Maryland on Jan. 7, the Spartans longest winning streak since the 2018-19 season came to an end. Michigan State's 8-0 start was its best since the 2012-13 season.
• After nine games, the Spartans are currently sixth in the nation and first in the Big Ten in assists per game (21.4 apg) and fourth in the NCAA and second in the B1G assists to turnover ratio (1.66). Michigan State is 26th and third in the Big Ten in turnover margin +5.78 margin.
•Junior guard Nia Clouden scored her 1,000th career point with a jumper from the left wing with 9:43 left in the third quarter for her 14th point in the game. Clouden becomes the 29th player in MSU women's basketball history to reach the 1,000 career points plateau.Â
•Clouden now has 1,018 points in her MSU career, climbing up to No. 28 on the MSU career scoring list, passing Jill Prudden (1974-78) with 1,012 points, and now 16 points shy of the No. 27 spot held by Brenda Jezowski (1980-85) with 1,034 points.
SCOUTING NEBRASKA
Nebraska currently holds a 5-4 overall record and are 3-3 in Big Ten play. The Huskers have B1G wins against Illinois, Northwestern and Rutgers. Michigan, Purdue and Indiana have handed Nebraska losses. The Huskers started the season with three-straight wins, before dropping three in a row.
Nebraska is fourth in the Big Ten in rebounding offense (41.9) and second in defensive rebounds (31.3). The Huskers also stand 13th in scoring (65.7 ppg) and seventh in scoring defense (67.0).Â
Sam Haiby leads the team in scoring, averaging 17.3 ppg, which is 15th in the B1G. Against Michigan, Haiby led Nebraska with 27 points and nine rebounds. Kate Cain is second in the league in blocks, averaging 2.6 bpg. Â Indiana's Mackenzie Holmes leads the Big Ten with 3.3 bpg. The Spartans' Julia Ayrault is fourth in blocks per game (1.6).
SERIES HISTORY VS. CORNHUSKERS
Overall, the Huskers lead the overall series with the Spartans 8-4. Michigan State captured an overtime win, 78-70 in East Lansing last season. Nebraska had won the three previous meetings, including a 79-69 win in East Lansing in 2018. All four of the Spartans' wins have come at home as the Huskers hold a 5-0 record in Lincoln. Half of Nebraska's eight wins have been by 10 points or less, while NU's most lopsided win in the series came with an 86-58 victory over the Spartans in the Big Ten Tournament in 2014 in Indianapolis.
LAST TIME VS. NEBRASKA
Behind five players in double figures, Michigan State women's basketball captured its Big Ten home opener, 78-70, in overtime on New Year's Eve at the Breslin Center. MSU trailed by as many as 10 points in the third quarter, but chipped away at the deficit.
Nia Clouden had a strong second half for MSU to lead the Spartans in scoring with 16 points, scoring 14 of her 16 in the second half. She also added seven assists and five rebounds. Senior guard Taryn McCutcheon added 15 points, including going 8-for-12 from the free throw line. Freshman guard Moira Joiner scored a career-high 13 points, while sophomores Kayla Belles and Tory Ozment both added 11.
FILLING OUT THE ROSTER
During the month of December, Michigan State had three player become eligible. Junior guard Janai Crooms, a transfer from Ohio State, was cleared to play on Dec. 4 and has had an immediate impact. Against Oakland on Dec. 22, she had a season-high 10 rebounds. Penn State transfers Alisia Smith and Jayla James found out they were eligible on Dec. 22, just in time to play against Oakland. Smith, a junior forward, scored nine points in her Spartan debut.
JOINING THE CLUB
Junior guard Nia Clouden, a native of Owings Mills, Maryland, scored her 1,000th career point with a jumper from the left wing with 9:43 left in the third quarter for her 14th point in the game. Clouden becomes the 29th player in MSU women's basketball history to reach the 1,000 career points plateau. She now has 1,018 points in her Spartan career, climbing up to No. 28 on the MSU career scoring list, passing Jill Prudden (1974-78) with 1,012 points, and now 16 points shy of the No. 27 spot held by Brenda Jezowski (1980-85) with 1,034 points.
She became the seventh player in the last seven years to reach the 1,000-point mark.
Years   Player                         Points
2020-21   Nia Clouden              1,018
2019-20   Taryn McCutcheon     1,119
2018-19   Jenna Allen             1,098
2017-18   Branndais Agee     1,250
2015-16   Tori Jankoska       2,212
2014-15   Aerial Powers       1,817
2014-15   Becca Mills         1,157
AYRAULT DRAINING THE THREE
Sophomore guard Julia Ayrault netted a career-high three 3-pointers on the way to 17 points Thursday against Maryland, her second-highest outing of the season behind 19 points vs. Iowa (12/12/20). The three triples was her third game with multi-treys this season, and all three at home, joining her previous career-best of two 3-pointers vs. Saint Francis (11/27/20) and vs. Iowa (12/12/20). Â Thursday was Ayrault's third-straight double-figure outing as part of her sixth of the season and 11th of her career.
NOTES ON NIA
• In her record-setting game against Maryland, Nia Clouden finished with a career-high 32 points, topping her previous career-high of 28 at Notre Dame (11/14/19) and bettering her previous season-high of 25 points, at Minnesota (12/9/20) ... Clouden is the first Spartan with 30 points since Shay Colley also scored 32, vs. Indiana on 2/11/19 ... Her 32 points ties for No. 14 on the MSU single-game scoring list, and is the 10th 32-point outing in Spartan history ... Clouden becomes the eighth different Spartan player with 32 points, as Tori Jankoska and Maxann Reese both netted 32 in a game twice.
• The 32 points was Clouden's fifth game this season with 20+ points, all coming in the last six games ... it was her 15th career game with 20+ points ... the Spartan junior guard led Michigan State in scoring for the eighth outing in the nine games this season and Thursday was her 30th career game leading the Spartans in scoring ... this season  Clouden has now netted double-digits in all nine contests, as part of 20th-straight games in her career, now with double-figures in 36 of her last 39 games played, tallying double-figures in all but three games last season ... in her career, Clouden has now scored in double-figures in 59 of 72 career games played.
AROUND THE LEAGUE
Around the Big Ten, Nia Clouden ranks fourth in scoring (20.6 ppg), as well as standing fifth in steals (2.4 spg). Two Spartans standout in assists per game with Clouden holding down the eighth spot (5.0 apg), and fellow junior Tory Ozment standing 10th (4.7 apg.). Sophomore Julia Ayrault is fourth in blocks (1.6 bpg), while fellow sophomore Alyza Winston is tied for 11th in 3-pointers made (2.1/game).
SPARTANS AGAINST THE NCAA
After nine games, the Spartans are currently sixth in the nation and first in the Big Ten in assists per game (21.4 apg) and fourth in the NCAA and second in the B1G assists to turnover ratio (1.66). Michigan State is 26th and third in the Big Ten in turnover margin +5.78 margin.
TUNING INTO THE SPARTANS
The Big Ten Network announced a pair of Michigan State games that will be broadcast on BTN. The in-state rivalry between MSU and Michigan in Ann Arbor will be televised on BTN on Monday, Jan. 18 at 12:30 p.m. as part of a MLK Day celebration. On Thursday, Jan. 21, the Spartans will host Indiana at 6 p.m. Remaining televised games have yet to be determined.
ERASE HATE
Michigan State women's basketball head coach Suzy Merchant is proud to launch the Erase Hate campaign for the 2020-21 season. The Erase Hate campaign aims to put the focus on student-athlete driven programming to address social injustice issues. Throughout this season, women's basketball players work to help lift up the voices of underrepresented groups both on campus and across the Greater Lansing area.
GETTING IN THE LINEUP
Juniors Tory Ozment and Nia Clouden are the lone Spartans to start in all nine games this season. Sophomore Julia Ayrault and Alyza Winston started for the sixth time of their careers, all in the last six games. Meanwhile, Clouden made her 72nd career start in playing in her 72nd career game. Ozment started for the 21st time of her career in playing her 57th game. Sophomore Taiyier Parks started for the seventh time this season in the ninth games as part of her 10th career start, while playing in her 39th career game. Redshirt-senior Mardrekia Cook and sophomore Moira Joiner are the only other two Spartans to start this season.Â
MAKING IT RAIN
Against Oakland on Dec. 22, Â MSU finished with a season-high 65.0 percent shooting from the field (39-of-60), cooling off from over 70 percent partway through the fourth quarter, which would have topped the school record of 67.2 percent vs. Bowling Green (12/23/86). Michigan State's 39 field goals was also a season-best.
The Spartans also set a school record, shooting 92.3 percent in the third quarter, going 12-of-13. Nia Clouden led the way with 11 of the Spartans' 31 points. Sophomore guard Moira Joiner also scored seven points.
MASK UP, MICHIGAN
Things will look very different in the Breslin Center to start the season. Currently, there will be no fans in the stands. Starting with the game on Jan. 7, a limited number of family member of the players will be allowed. Crowd noise will be piped and the music will be going to get the players hyped up. From the comfort  of home, fans can look for familiar faces in the cardboard cutouts in the stands. All postgame media will be done via Zoom this year.
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 154 of their last 173 games (.890) when scoring at least 70 points, and the Spartans are 172-29 (.860) under head coach Suzy Merchant when hanging at least 70 points on the scoreboard. The Spartans are now 8-1 this season when reaching the 70-point mark with the only loss coming against Maryland on Jan. 7.
CLOSING OUT THE GAMES
The Spartans have been extremely effective closing out games over the last couple years, winning 217 of its last 230 games (.943) Â when leading with five minutes left, including 167 of their last 182. In Coach Merchant's tenure, Michigan State is 252-19 (.930) when holding a lead with five minutes left. This season, MSU is 7-0 when leading with five minutes remaining.Â
CLIMBING THE CHARTS
For the third-straight week, the Big Ten has six Top 25 teams in the Associated Press poll, while also having six schools in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA)/USA Today Top 25 poll, with both being the most ranked teams among all conferences. This is the first time in Big Ten women's basketball history the conference has had six AP Top 25 teams for multiple weeks in the same season, let alone consecutive weeks (the Big Ten had six in the AP Top 25 for single weeks on Nov. 17, 2014 and Jan. 14, 2019).s
CLOUDEN EARNS PRESEASON HONORS
Michigan State junior guard Nia Clouden has been named Preseason All-Big Ten by both the coaches and media. During the 2019-20 campaign, Clouden finished the season first on the team in scoring, averaging 14.5 points per game, which was also eighth in the Big Ten. She also tied for 14th in the league in assists (3.3 apg) and 11th in steals (1.7 spg). Last season, Clouden captured second-team All-Big Big Ten honors after being named to the honorable mention squad as a freshman.
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• With a loss to Maryland on Jan. 7, the Spartans longest winning streak since the 2018-19 season came to an end. Michigan State's 8-0 start was its best since the 2012-13 season.
• After nine games, the Spartans are currently sixth in the nation and first in the Big Ten in assists per game (21.4 apg) and fourth in the NCAA and second in the B1G assists to turnover ratio (1.66). Michigan State is 26th and third in the Big Ten in turnover margin +5.78 margin.
•Junior guard Nia Clouden scored her 1,000th career point with a jumper from the left wing with 9:43 left in the third quarter for her 14th point in the game. Clouden becomes the 29th player in MSU women's basketball history to reach the 1,000 career points plateau.Â
•Clouden now has 1,018 points in her MSU career, climbing up to No. 28 on the MSU career scoring list, passing Jill Prudden (1974-78) with 1,012 points, and now 16 points shy of the No. 27 spot held by Brenda Jezowski (1980-85) with 1,034 points.
SCOUTING NEBRASKA
Nebraska currently holds a 5-4 overall record and are 3-3 in Big Ten play. The Huskers have B1G wins against Illinois, Northwestern and Rutgers. Michigan, Purdue and Indiana have handed Nebraska losses. The Huskers started the season with three-straight wins, before dropping three in a row.
Nebraska is fourth in the Big Ten in rebounding offense (41.9) and second in defensive rebounds (31.3). The Huskers also stand 13th in scoring (65.7 ppg) and seventh in scoring defense (67.0).Â
Sam Haiby leads the team in scoring, averaging 17.3 ppg, which is 15th in the B1G. Against Michigan, Haiby led Nebraska with 27 points and nine rebounds. Kate Cain is second in the league in blocks, averaging 2.6 bpg. Â Indiana's Mackenzie Holmes leads the Big Ten with 3.3 bpg. The Spartans' Julia Ayrault is fourth in blocks per game (1.6).
SERIES HISTORY VS. CORNHUSKERS
Overall, the Huskers lead the overall series with the Spartans 8-4. Michigan State captured an overtime win, 78-70 in East Lansing last season. Nebraska had won the three previous meetings, including a 79-69 win in East Lansing in 2018. All four of the Spartans' wins have come at home as the Huskers hold a 5-0 record in Lincoln. Half of Nebraska's eight wins have been by 10 points or less, while NU's most lopsided win in the series came with an 86-58 victory over the Spartans in the Big Ten Tournament in 2014 in Indianapolis.
LAST TIME VS. NEBRASKA
Behind five players in double figures, Michigan State women's basketball captured its Big Ten home opener, 78-70, in overtime on New Year's Eve at the Breslin Center. MSU trailed by as many as 10 points in the third quarter, but chipped away at the deficit.
Nia Clouden had a strong second half for MSU to lead the Spartans in scoring with 16 points, scoring 14 of her 16 in the second half. She also added seven assists and five rebounds. Senior guard Taryn McCutcheon added 15 points, including going 8-for-12 from the free throw line. Freshman guard Moira Joiner scored a career-high 13 points, while sophomores Kayla Belles and Tory Ozment both added 11.
FILLING OUT THE ROSTER
During the month of December, Michigan State had three player become eligible. Junior guard Janai Crooms, a transfer from Ohio State, was cleared to play on Dec. 4 and has had an immediate impact. Against Oakland on Dec. 22, she had a season-high 10 rebounds. Penn State transfers Alisia Smith and Jayla James found out they were eligible on Dec. 22, just in time to play against Oakland. Smith, a junior forward, scored nine points in her Spartan debut.
JOINING THE CLUB
Junior guard Nia Clouden, a native of Owings Mills, Maryland, scored her 1,000th career point with a jumper from the left wing with 9:43 left in the third quarter for her 14th point in the game. Clouden becomes the 29th player in MSU women's basketball history to reach the 1,000 career points plateau. She now has 1,018 points in her Spartan career, climbing up to No. 28 on the MSU career scoring list, passing Jill Prudden (1974-78) with 1,012 points, and now 16 points shy of the No. 27 spot held by Brenda Jezowski (1980-85) with 1,034 points.
She became the seventh player in the last seven years to reach the 1,000-point mark.
Years   Player                         Points
2020-21   Nia Clouden              1,018
2019-20   Taryn McCutcheon     1,119
2018-19   Jenna Allen             1,098
2017-18   Branndais Agee     1,250
2015-16   Tori Jankoska       2,212
2014-15   Aerial Powers       1,817
2014-15   Becca Mills         1,157
AYRAULT DRAINING THE THREE
Sophomore guard Julia Ayrault netted a career-high three 3-pointers on the way to 17 points Thursday against Maryland, her second-highest outing of the season behind 19 points vs. Iowa (12/12/20). The three triples was her third game with multi-treys this season, and all three at home, joining her previous career-best of two 3-pointers vs. Saint Francis (11/27/20) and vs. Iowa (12/12/20). Â Thursday was Ayrault's third-straight double-figure outing as part of her sixth of the season and 11th of her career.
NOTES ON NIA
• In her record-setting game against Maryland, Nia Clouden finished with a career-high 32 points, topping her previous career-high of 28 at Notre Dame (11/14/19) and bettering her previous season-high of 25 points, at Minnesota (12/9/20) ... Clouden is the first Spartan with 30 points since Shay Colley also scored 32, vs. Indiana on 2/11/19 ... Her 32 points ties for No. 14 on the MSU single-game scoring list, and is the 10th 32-point outing in Spartan history ... Clouden becomes the eighth different Spartan player with 32 points, as Tori Jankoska and Maxann Reese both netted 32 in a game twice.
• The 32 points was Clouden's fifth game this season with 20+ points, all coming in the last six games ... it was her 15th career game with 20+ points ... the Spartan junior guard led Michigan State in scoring for the eighth outing in the nine games this season and Thursday was her 30th career game leading the Spartans in scoring ... this season  Clouden has now netted double-digits in all nine contests, as part of 20th-straight games in her career, now with double-figures in 36 of her last 39 games played, tallying double-figures in all but three games last season ... in her career, Clouden has now scored in double-figures in 59 of 72 career games played.
AROUND THE LEAGUE
Around the Big Ten, Nia Clouden ranks fourth in scoring (20.6 ppg), as well as standing fifth in steals (2.4 spg). Two Spartans standout in assists per game with Clouden holding down the eighth spot (5.0 apg), and fellow junior Tory Ozment standing 10th (4.7 apg.). Sophomore Julia Ayrault is fourth in blocks (1.6 bpg), while fellow sophomore Alyza Winston is tied for 11th in 3-pointers made (2.1/game).
SPARTANS AGAINST THE NCAA
After nine games, the Spartans are currently sixth in the nation and first in the Big Ten in assists per game (21.4 apg) and fourth in the NCAA and second in the B1G assists to turnover ratio (1.66). Michigan State is 26th and third in the Big Ten in turnover margin +5.78 margin.
TUNING INTO THE SPARTANS
The Big Ten Network announced a pair of Michigan State games that will be broadcast on BTN. The in-state rivalry between MSU and Michigan in Ann Arbor will be televised on BTN on Monday, Jan. 18 at 12:30 p.m. as part of a MLK Day celebration. On Thursday, Jan. 21, the Spartans will host Indiana at 6 p.m. Remaining televised games have yet to be determined.
ERASE HATE
Michigan State women's basketball head coach Suzy Merchant is proud to launch the Erase Hate campaign for the 2020-21 season. The Erase Hate campaign aims to put the focus on student-athlete driven programming to address social injustice issues. Throughout this season, women's basketball players work to help lift up the voices of underrepresented groups both on campus and across the Greater Lansing area.
GETTING IN THE LINEUP
Juniors Tory Ozment and Nia Clouden are the lone Spartans to start in all nine games this season. Sophomore Julia Ayrault and Alyza Winston started for the sixth time of their careers, all in the last six games. Meanwhile, Clouden made her 72nd career start in playing in her 72nd career game. Ozment started for the 21st time of her career in playing her 57th game. Sophomore Taiyier Parks started for the seventh time this season in the ninth games as part of her 10th career start, while playing in her 39th career game. Redshirt-senior Mardrekia Cook and sophomore Moira Joiner are the only other two Spartans to start this season.Â
MAKING IT RAIN
Against Oakland on Dec. 22, Â MSU finished with a season-high 65.0 percent shooting from the field (39-of-60), cooling off from over 70 percent partway through the fourth quarter, which would have topped the school record of 67.2 percent vs. Bowling Green (12/23/86). Michigan State's 39 field goals was also a season-best.
The Spartans also set a school record, shooting 92.3 percent in the third quarter, going 12-of-13. Nia Clouden led the way with 11 of the Spartans' 31 points. Sophomore guard Moira Joiner also scored seven points.
MASK UP, MICHIGAN
Things will look very different in the Breslin Center to start the season. Currently, there will be no fans in the stands. Starting with the game on Jan. 7, a limited number of family member of the players will be allowed. Crowd noise will be piped and the music will be going to get the players hyped up. From the comfort  of home, fans can look for familiar faces in the cardboard cutouts in the stands. All postgame media will be done via Zoom this year.
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 154 of their last 173 games (.890) when scoring at least 70 points, and the Spartans are 172-29 (.860) under head coach Suzy Merchant when hanging at least 70 points on the scoreboard. The Spartans are now 8-1 this season when reaching the 70-point mark with the only loss coming against Maryland on Jan. 7.
CLOSING OUT THE GAMES
The Spartans have been extremely effective closing out games over the last couple years, winning 217 of its last 230 games (.943) Â when leading with five minutes left, including 167 of their last 182. In Coach Merchant's tenure, Michigan State is 252-19 (.930) when holding a lead with five minutes left. This season, MSU is 7-0 when leading with five minutes remaining.Â
CLIMBING THE CHARTS
For the third-straight week, the Big Ten has six Top 25 teams in the Associated Press poll, while also having six schools in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA)/USA Today Top 25 poll, with both being the most ranked teams among all conferences. This is the first time in Big Ten women's basketball history the conference has had six AP Top 25 teams for multiple weeks in the same season, let alone consecutive weeks (the Big Ten had six in the AP Top 25 for single weeks on Nov. 17, 2014 and Jan. 14, 2019).s
CLOUDEN EARNS PRESEASON HONORS
Michigan State junior guard Nia Clouden has been named Preseason All-Big Ten by both the coaches and media. During the 2019-20 campaign, Clouden finished the season first on the team in scoring, averaging 14.5 points per game, which was also eighth in the Big Ten. She also tied for 14th in the league in assists (3.3 apg) and 11th in steals (1.7 spg). Last season, Clouden captured second-team All-Big Big Ten honors after being named to the honorable mention squad as a freshman.
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Players Mentioned
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