Clouden Earns Preseason Women’s Basketball All-Big Ten Honors
10/26/2021 10:40:00 AM | Women's Basketball
The Spartans leading scorer earns her second-straight preseason accolade.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State women's basketball senior guard Nia Clouden has been named 2021-22 Preseason All-Big Ten by both the coaches and media, capturing the honor for the second-straight season.
During the 2020-21 season, Clouden was fifth in the Big Ten in scoring, averaging 18.7 points per game. It was the most points per game by a Spartan since Tori Jankoska averaged 22.6 ppg during the 2016-17 season. An Owings Mills, Maryland, native, Clouden earned her third-straight All-Big Ten honor after being named to the first team last season.
The Spartans ended the COVID-19 abbreviated season with a 15-9 overall record. Michigan State returns its top seven starters, including Clouden and junior guard Alyza Winston, who averaged 11.1 ppg last year.
Maryland was picked to finish first in both the coaches and the media polls, while Indiana was picked second in both polls. Iowa was voted third in both the coaches and media polls. In the coaches poll, Iowa's Caitlin Clark was named Preseason Player of the Year, while Michigan's Naz Hillmon was chosen by the media.
MSU opens the 2021-22 season with the Spartan Spooktacular, taking on Northwood on Sunday, Oct. 31 at 2 p.m. in its only exhibition of the season.
2021-22 COACHES BIG TEN PRESEASON RANKINGS
1. Maryland
2. Indiana
3. Iowa
4. Michigan
5. Ohio State
2021-22 COACHES PRESEASON ALL-BIG TEN TEAM
Grace Berger, Sr., G, Indiana
Mackenzie Holmes, Jr., F, Indiana
CAITLIN CLARK, So., G, Iowa
Monika Czinano, Sr., F/C, Iowa
Diamond Miller, Jr., G, Maryland
ASHLEY OWUSU, Jr., G, Maryland
Leigha Brown, Sr., G, Michigan
NAZ HILLMON, Sr., F, Michigan
Nia Clouden, Sr., G, Michigan State
Veronica Burton, Sr., G, Northwestern
2021-22 COACHES BIG TEN PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Caitlin Clark, So., G, Iowa
2021-22 MEDIA BIG TEN PRESEASON RANKINGS
1. Maryland
2. Indiana
3. Iowa
4. Michigan
5. Ohio State
2021-22 MEDIA PRESEASON ALL-BIG TEN TEAM
Grace Berger, Sr., G, Indiana
Mackenzie Holmes, Jr., F, Indiana
CAITLIN CLARK, So., G, Iowa
Monika Czinano, Sr., F/C, Iowa
Diamond Miller, Jr., G, Maryland
Ashley Owusu, Jr., G, Maryland
Leigha Brown, Sr., G, Michigan
NAZ HILLMON, Sr., F, Michigan
Nia Clouden, Sr., G, Michigan State
Veronica Burton, Sr., G, Northwestern
2021-22 MEDIA BIG TEN PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Naz Hillmon, Sr., F, Michigan
Unanimous selections listed in ALL CAPS
During the 2020-21 season, Clouden was fifth in the Big Ten in scoring, averaging 18.7 points per game. It was the most points per game by a Spartan since Tori Jankoska averaged 22.6 ppg during the 2016-17 season. An Owings Mills, Maryland, native, Clouden earned her third-straight All-Big Ten honor after being named to the first team last season.
The Spartans ended the COVID-19 abbreviated season with a 15-9 overall record. Michigan State returns its top seven starters, including Clouden and junior guard Alyza Winston, who averaged 11.1 ppg last year.
Maryland was picked to finish first in both the coaches and the media polls, while Indiana was picked second in both polls. Iowa was voted third in both the coaches and media polls. In the coaches poll, Iowa's Caitlin Clark was named Preseason Player of the Year, while Michigan's Naz Hillmon was chosen by the media.
MSU opens the 2021-22 season with the Spartan Spooktacular, taking on Northwood on Sunday, Oct. 31 at 2 p.m. in its only exhibition of the season.
2021-22 COACHES BIG TEN PRESEASON RANKINGS
1. Maryland
2. Indiana
3. Iowa
4. Michigan
5. Ohio State
2021-22 COACHES PRESEASON ALL-BIG TEN TEAM
Grace Berger, Sr., G, Indiana
Mackenzie Holmes, Jr., F, Indiana
CAITLIN CLARK, So., G, Iowa
Monika Czinano, Sr., F/C, Iowa
Diamond Miller, Jr., G, Maryland
ASHLEY OWUSU, Jr., G, Maryland
Leigha Brown, Sr., G, Michigan
NAZ HILLMON, Sr., F, Michigan
Nia Clouden, Sr., G, Michigan State
Veronica Burton, Sr., G, Northwestern
2021-22 COACHES BIG TEN PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Caitlin Clark, So., G, Iowa
2021-22 MEDIA BIG TEN PRESEASON RANKINGS
1. Maryland
2. Indiana
3. Iowa
4. Michigan
5. Ohio State
2021-22 MEDIA PRESEASON ALL-BIG TEN TEAM
Grace Berger, Sr., G, Indiana
Mackenzie Holmes, Jr., F, Indiana
CAITLIN CLARK, So., G, Iowa
Monika Czinano, Sr., F/C, Iowa
Diamond Miller, Jr., G, Maryland
Ashley Owusu, Jr., G, Maryland
Leigha Brown, Sr., G, Michigan
NAZ HILLMON, Sr., F, Michigan
Nia Clouden, Sr., G, Michigan State
Veronica Burton, Sr., G, Northwestern
2021-22 MEDIA BIG TEN PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Naz Hillmon, Sr., F, Michigan
Unanimous selections listed in ALL CAPS
Players Mentioned
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