Tuesday, November 16
East Lansing, Mich.
7 PM
Michigan State University
vs
Valparaiso
Spartans Continue Homestand Against Valparaiso Tuesday
11/15/2021 6:18:00 PM | Women's Basketball
This is the first meeting between the teams.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State women's basketball continues its four-game homestand, facing Valparaiso on Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. The Spartans have a quick turnaround after earning an 89-65 win against Niagara on Nov. 14 at the Breslin Center.
• With the win against Niagara, the Spartans improve to 2-0. This is the seventh-straight season that Michigan State has started the season with a 2-0 record.
• Michigan State freshman DeeDee Hagemann has started the season with a bang, averaging 10.5 points and 6.0 assists per game in her first two games. Those strong performances earned her Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors. She is the first Spartan to capture the accolade since Nia Clouden in 2018.
• Spartan head coach Suzy Merchant is nearing a couple milestones. With the win against Niagara on Nov. 14, she holds a 298-157 record at MSU, along with a 499-277 career record. Merchant is looking to become just the second Spartan women's basketball coach to capture 300 wins at MSU. Karen Langeland is the all-time leader with a 376-290 record at MSU.
• Michigan State has been distributing the ball really well in the first two games. MSU is second in the nation and first in the Big Ten in assists per game with 26.5 apg. Purdue Fort Wayne is first in the nation, averaging 27.0 apg. DeeDee Hagemann (6.0 apg) and Nia Couden (5.5 apg) are the two Spartans averaging over 5.0 apg.
SCOUTING VALPARAISO
The Beacons are looking for their first win of the season after starting the season 0-2. In its season opener, Valpo lost to Miami (OH), 85-60. The Beacons played the first of two-straight games against a team from the Mitten State on Sunday, losing to Central Michigan, 65-61. Last season, Valpo beat both Purdue and Illinois on the road.
So far this season, Valparaiso is averaging 60.5 points and 24.0 rebounds per game, while allowing 75.0 ppg and 44.0 rpg. Leah Earnest is the team's leading scorer, averaging 13.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. The Beacons have one player from the Mitten State in Olivia Brown, who hails from East Grand Rapids.
The voice of Michigan State women's basketball Keaton Gillogly is also a product of Valpo.
SERIES HISTORY VS. BEACONS
This is the first meeting between Michigan State and Valparaiso.
MERCHANT MILESTONES
Spartan head coach Suzy Merchant is nearing a couple milestones. With the win against Niagara, she holds a 298-157 record at MSU, along with a 499-277 career record. In her 27th season, she is just one win shy of 500 career wins. Merchant earned her 400th career win in a dramatic, 114-106 win against Minnesota on Feb. 21, 2016. MSU All-American Aerial Powers dropped 40 points, while Gopher star Rachel Banham scored 52 points in the loss.
Merchant is also looking to become just the second Spartan women's basketball coach to capture 300 wins at MSU. Karen Langeland is the all-time leader with a 376-290 record at MSU.
FRESHMEN SCORING FRENZY
The Spartans have gotten great production from their freshmen so far this season. Freshman guard DeeDee Hagemann is one of three to score in double figures in both games along with junior Alyza Winston and senior Nia Clouden. Hagemann is averaging 10.5 points and 6.0 assists per game. She scored 10 points vs. Morehead State and added 11 vs. Niagara. Freshman forward Mathilda Ekh scored 11 points in the season opener against Morehead State on Nov. 9. Freshman forward Isaline Alexander added eight points against Niagara on Nov. 14.
FAST STARTS...FUN FACTS
Junior guard Alyza Winston set a new career high with six assists, while freshman DeeDee Hagemann set a new career mark with seven in her young MSU career against Niagara on Nov. 14. On her birthday, junior guard tied her career high with six assists. She previously had six against Detroit Mercy on Dec. 2, 2020.
PUTTING UP THE POINTS
Against Morehead State in the season opener, the Spartans put up some big number with six players reaching double figures. This is the first time since Dec. 2, 2020 against Detroit Mercy that six Spartans scored in double figures with Alyza Winston (20), Nia Clouden (15), Mathilda Ekh (11), Laurel Jacqmain (11), Moira Joiner (10) and DeeDee Hagemann (10) all reaching double figures. Against Niagara, four players reached double figures in Winston (17), Clouden (12), Hagemann (11) and Taiyier Parks (11).
SEASON OPENERS
All-time, the Spartans are now 34-15 in season openers, but 27-2 when the opener is in East Lansing. Coach Merchant is 12-3 in season openers at MSU, and has won 18 of her last 21, including her time at Eastern Michigan. This season, the Spartans earned a dominating 93-31 win over Morehead State on Nov. 9 paced by six MSU players reaching double figures.
CLIMBING THE CHARTS
With 27 points this season, senior guard Nia Clouden continues to rise up the charts. Clouden now has 1,308 career points and is just 63 points from passing Kelli Roehrig (2001-05) for No. 12 on the all-time MSU scoring list. Clouden also now has 335 career assists. She needs five assists to pass Brenda Jezowski (1980-85) No. 13 in all-time assists.
IT'S RAINING THREES
The Spartans set a new school record with 17 3-pointers. The previous record 15 by Michigan State vs. Bowling Green on Nov. 6, 2018 at the Breslin Center. Michigan State shot 60.7 percent from long range, led by junior guard Alyza Winstons 4-for-7 performance. Senior guard Laurel Jacqmain set a new career high with 11 points, highlighted by back-to-back-to-back treys in the fourth quarter.
HAGEMANN EARNS B1G HONOR
DeeDee Hagemann was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week on Monday. The Detroit, Michigan native captured the first Freshman of the Week honor of the season after a stellar first week of action, scoring in double figures in both games. For the week, she averaged 10.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game, while adding 6.0 helpers per contest. She is the first Spartan named Big Ten Freshman of the Week since Nia Clouden on Dec. 31, 2018.
LAST TIME OUT
A strong first-half start was all the Spartan women's basketball team needed to cruise to a 89-65 win over Niagara Sunday afternoon at the Breslin Center.
For the second-straight game, MSU had at least four players in double figures, paced once again by junior guard Alyza Winston, who led all scorers with 17 points to go along with a career-high six assists. Senior guard Nia Clouden added 12 points, while freshman guard DeeDee Hagemann and junior forward Taiyier Parks both scored 11. Hagemann continues her strong start adding a game-high seven helpers.
MASK UP, MICHIGAN
Currently, masks are required indoors for all individuals. Michigan State University requires all campus visitors, faculty, staff and students to wear a mask while indoors, regardless of vaccination status.
MEET THE NEWBIES
MSU introduces five freshmen to the team this season, featuring Miss Basketball DeeDee Hagemann (Detroit, Mich.), Brooklyn Rewers (Coeur D'Alene), Isaline Alexander (Keswick, Ontario), Mathilda Ekh (Vasteras, Sweden) and Lauren Walker (Marietta, Ga.). The Spartans also added graduate transfer Tamara Farquhar who comes to MSU from Purdue.
KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR CLOUDEN
Last week, senior guard Nia Clouden added to her preseason accolades. Clouden was named to the John R. Wooden Award® Women's Preseason Top 50 Watch List and the 2022 Wade Trophy preseason Watch List, as well as the Naismith Watch List. She had already been named to the Lieberman Watch List and earned preseason All-Big Ten honors.
PLAY THE BEST TO BE THE BEST
During the regular season, the Spartans will take on eight teams that advanced to the NCAA Tournament, including B1G foes, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Northwestern and Rutgers. MSU opponents Florida Gulf Coast and West Virginia also reached the NCAA Tournament last season.
CLOSING OUT THE GAMES
The Spartans have been extremely effective closing out games over the last couple years, winning 226 of its last 239 games (.946) when leading with five minutes left, including 176 of their last 191. In Coach Merchant's tenure, Michigan State is 261-19 (.932) when holding a lead with five minutes left. This season, MSU is 2-0 when leading with five minutes remaining.
CLOUDEN EARNS PRESEASON HONORS
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.
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 159 of their last 184 games (.864) when scoring at least 70 points, and the Spartans are 179-32 (.848) under head coach Suzy Merchant when hanging at least 70 points on the scoreboard. This season, MSU is now 2-0 this season when scoring 70 points.
MEET THE NEW SIGNEES
Michigan State women's basketball head coach Suzy Merchant announced the signing of two National Letters of Intent, including Theryn Hallock (Grand Rapids, Michigan/ Forest Hills Central High School) and Abbey Kimball (Grand Rapids, Michigan/ West Catholic High School).
Hallock is a 5-11 guard, who is a native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, attends Forest Hills Central and is coached by Kristina Prins. As a junior, she averaged 23.4 points, 7.3 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 6.6 steals per game. She reached the 1,000-career point mark as a junior last season. She also earned first-team all-state honors. Hallock is a three-time all-conference honoree, including capturing first-team honors as a junior. Last season, her team finished seventh in the nation in the UAA national finals. Hallock is also a top candidate for 2022 Miss Michigan Basketball.
Kimball is a 5-10 guard, who is a native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, plays for head coach Jill VanderEnde at West Catholic High School. She is rated No. 80 nationally overall and No. 18 at her position by HoopGurlz. During her junior season, she averaged 22.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 5.0 steals per game. Kimball has captured first-team all-conference honors for three-straight seasons. Kimball was selected to the Michigan Associated Press All-State first team and the Grand Rapids Dream Team first team. The three-time captain also scored her 1,000th career point as a junior last season. Last season, Kimball scored 27 points to lead West Catholic to the Regional Final. She is also a candidate for 2022 Miss Michigan Basketball. She is the daughter of Rick and Jeanne Kimball.
• With the win against Niagara, the Spartans improve to 2-0. This is the seventh-straight season that Michigan State has started the season with a 2-0 record.
• Michigan State freshman DeeDee Hagemann has started the season with a bang, averaging 10.5 points and 6.0 assists per game in her first two games. Those strong performances earned her Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors. She is the first Spartan to capture the accolade since Nia Clouden in 2018.
• Spartan head coach Suzy Merchant is nearing a couple milestones. With the win against Niagara on Nov. 14, she holds a 298-157 record at MSU, along with a 499-277 career record. Merchant is looking to become just the second Spartan women's basketball coach to capture 300 wins at MSU. Karen Langeland is the all-time leader with a 376-290 record at MSU.
• Michigan State has been distributing the ball really well in the first two games. MSU is second in the nation and first in the Big Ten in assists per game with 26.5 apg. Purdue Fort Wayne is first in the nation, averaging 27.0 apg. DeeDee Hagemann (6.0 apg) and Nia Couden (5.5 apg) are the two Spartans averaging over 5.0 apg.
SCOUTING VALPARAISO
The Beacons are looking for their first win of the season after starting the season 0-2. In its season opener, Valpo lost to Miami (OH), 85-60. The Beacons played the first of two-straight games against a team from the Mitten State on Sunday, losing to Central Michigan, 65-61. Last season, Valpo beat both Purdue and Illinois on the road.
So far this season, Valparaiso is averaging 60.5 points and 24.0 rebounds per game, while allowing 75.0 ppg and 44.0 rpg. Leah Earnest is the team's leading scorer, averaging 13.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. The Beacons have one player from the Mitten State in Olivia Brown, who hails from East Grand Rapids.
The voice of Michigan State women's basketball Keaton Gillogly is also a product of Valpo.
SERIES HISTORY VS. BEACONS
This is the first meeting between Michigan State and Valparaiso.
MERCHANT MILESTONES
Spartan head coach Suzy Merchant is nearing a couple milestones. With the win against Niagara, she holds a 298-157 record at MSU, along with a 499-277 career record. In her 27th season, she is just one win shy of 500 career wins. Merchant earned her 400th career win in a dramatic, 114-106 win against Minnesota on Feb. 21, 2016. MSU All-American Aerial Powers dropped 40 points, while Gopher star Rachel Banham scored 52 points in the loss.
Merchant is also looking to become just the second Spartan women's basketball coach to capture 300 wins at MSU. Karen Langeland is the all-time leader with a 376-290 record at MSU.
FRESHMEN SCORING FRENZY
The Spartans have gotten great production from their freshmen so far this season. Freshman guard DeeDee Hagemann is one of three to score in double figures in both games along with junior Alyza Winston and senior Nia Clouden. Hagemann is averaging 10.5 points and 6.0 assists per game. She scored 10 points vs. Morehead State and added 11 vs. Niagara. Freshman forward Mathilda Ekh scored 11 points in the season opener against Morehead State on Nov. 9. Freshman forward Isaline Alexander added eight points against Niagara on Nov. 14.
FAST STARTS...FUN FACTS
Junior guard Alyza Winston set a new career high with six assists, while freshman DeeDee Hagemann set a new career mark with seven in her young MSU career against Niagara on Nov. 14. On her birthday, junior guard tied her career high with six assists. She previously had six against Detroit Mercy on Dec. 2, 2020.
PUTTING UP THE POINTS
Against Morehead State in the season opener, the Spartans put up some big number with six players reaching double figures. This is the first time since Dec. 2, 2020 against Detroit Mercy that six Spartans scored in double figures with Alyza Winston (20), Nia Clouden (15), Mathilda Ekh (11), Laurel Jacqmain (11), Moira Joiner (10) and DeeDee Hagemann (10) all reaching double figures. Against Niagara, four players reached double figures in Winston (17), Clouden (12), Hagemann (11) and Taiyier Parks (11).
SEASON OPENERS
All-time, the Spartans are now 34-15 in season openers, but 27-2 when the opener is in East Lansing. Coach Merchant is 12-3 in season openers at MSU, and has won 18 of her last 21, including her time at Eastern Michigan. This season, the Spartans earned a dominating 93-31 win over Morehead State on Nov. 9 paced by six MSU players reaching double figures.
CLIMBING THE CHARTS
With 27 points this season, senior guard Nia Clouden continues to rise up the charts. Clouden now has 1,308 career points and is just 63 points from passing Kelli Roehrig (2001-05) for No. 12 on the all-time MSU scoring list. Clouden also now has 335 career assists. She needs five assists to pass Brenda Jezowski (1980-85) No. 13 in all-time assists.
IT'S RAINING THREES
The Spartans set a new school record with 17 3-pointers. The previous record 15 by Michigan State vs. Bowling Green on Nov. 6, 2018 at the Breslin Center. Michigan State shot 60.7 percent from long range, led by junior guard Alyza Winstons 4-for-7 performance. Senior guard Laurel Jacqmain set a new career high with 11 points, highlighted by back-to-back-to-back treys in the fourth quarter.
HAGEMANN EARNS B1G HONOR
DeeDee Hagemann was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week on Monday. The Detroit, Michigan native captured the first Freshman of the Week honor of the season after a stellar first week of action, scoring in double figures in both games. For the week, she averaged 10.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game, while adding 6.0 helpers per contest. She is the first Spartan named Big Ten Freshman of the Week since Nia Clouden on Dec. 31, 2018.
LAST TIME OUT
A strong first-half start was all the Spartan women's basketball team needed to cruise to a 89-65 win over Niagara Sunday afternoon at the Breslin Center.
For the second-straight game, MSU had at least four players in double figures, paced once again by junior guard Alyza Winston, who led all scorers with 17 points to go along with a career-high six assists. Senior guard Nia Clouden added 12 points, while freshman guard DeeDee Hagemann and junior forward Taiyier Parks both scored 11. Hagemann continues her strong start adding a game-high seven helpers.
MASK UP, MICHIGAN
Currently, masks are required indoors for all individuals. Michigan State University requires all campus visitors, faculty, staff and students to wear a mask while indoors, regardless of vaccination status.
MEET THE NEWBIES
MSU introduces five freshmen to the team this season, featuring Miss Basketball DeeDee Hagemann (Detroit, Mich.), Brooklyn Rewers (Coeur D'Alene), Isaline Alexander (Keswick, Ontario), Mathilda Ekh (Vasteras, Sweden) and Lauren Walker (Marietta, Ga.). The Spartans also added graduate transfer Tamara Farquhar who comes to MSU from Purdue.
KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR CLOUDEN
Last week, senior guard Nia Clouden added to her preseason accolades. Clouden was named to the John R. Wooden Award® Women's Preseason Top 50 Watch List and the 2022 Wade Trophy preseason Watch List, as well as the Naismith Watch List. She had already been named to the Lieberman Watch List and earned preseason All-Big Ten honors.
PLAY THE BEST TO BE THE BEST
During the regular season, the Spartans will take on eight teams that advanced to the NCAA Tournament, including B1G foes, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Northwestern and Rutgers. MSU opponents Florida Gulf Coast and West Virginia also reached the NCAA Tournament last season.
CLOSING OUT THE GAMES
The Spartans have been extremely effective closing out games over the last couple years, winning 226 of its last 239 games (.946) when leading with five minutes left, including 176 of their last 191. In Coach Merchant's tenure, Michigan State is 261-19 (.932) when holding a lead with five minutes left. This season, MSU is 2-0 when leading with five minutes remaining.
CLOUDEN EARNS PRESEASON HONORS
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.
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 159 of their last 184 games (.864) when scoring at least 70 points, and the Spartans are 179-32 (.848) under head coach Suzy Merchant when hanging at least 70 points on the scoreboard. This season, MSU is now 2-0 this season when scoring 70 points.
MEET THE NEW SIGNEES
Michigan State women's basketball head coach Suzy Merchant announced the signing of two National Letters of Intent, including Theryn Hallock (Grand Rapids, Michigan/ Forest Hills Central High School) and Abbey Kimball (Grand Rapids, Michigan/ West Catholic High School).
Hallock is a 5-11 guard, who is a native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, attends Forest Hills Central and is coached by Kristina Prins. As a junior, she averaged 23.4 points, 7.3 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 6.6 steals per game. She reached the 1,000-career point mark as a junior last season. She also earned first-team all-state honors. Hallock is a three-time all-conference honoree, including capturing first-team honors as a junior. Last season, her team finished seventh in the nation in the UAA national finals. Hallock is also a top candidate for 2022 Miss Michigan Basketball.
Kimball is a 5-10 guard, who is a native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, plays for head coach Jill VanderEnde at West Catholic High School. She is rated No. 80 nationally overall and No. 18 at her position by HoopGurlz. During her junior season, she averaged 22.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 5.0 steals per game. Kimball has captured first-team all-conference honors for three-straight seasons. Kimball was selected to the Michigan Associated Press All-State first team and the Grand Rapids Dream Team first team. The three-time captain also scored her 1,000th career point as a junior last season. Last season, Kimball scored 27 points to lead West Catholic to the Regional Final. She is also a candidate for 2022 Miss Michigan Basketball. She is the daughter of Rick and Jeanne Kimball.
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