Tuesday, November 9
East Lansing, Mich.
6 PM
Michigan State University
vs
Morehead State
MSU Women's Basketball Opens Season Hosting Morehead State Tuesday
11/8/2021 4:53:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Head coach Suzy Merchant begins her 15th year at MSU.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State women's basketball begins the 49th season of Spartan basketball. MSU opens the campaign against Morehead State on Tuesday, Nov. 9 at 6 p.m. at the Breslin Center. The Spartans ended the abbreviated 2020-21 season with 15-9 record, advancing to their 18th NCAA Tournament.
• In its only exhibition action of the season, the Spartans defeated Northwood, 95-49. Despite a slow start, MSU had five players in double figures in the win. In her Spartan debut, freshman guard/forward Mathilda Ekh scored 15 points.
• 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.
• Spartan head coach Suzy Merchant enters her 15th season at the helm the squad. She holds a 296-157 record at MSU, along with a 497-277 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. Merchant is also 12 wins away tying Langeland for the most Big Ten wins by an MSU coach with 156.
• Michigan State senior guard Nia Clouden returns to leads the Spartans, averaging 18.7 points and 3.9 assists per game last season. She was named to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and WBCA Preseason Watch List for the Nancy Lieberman Award. She was also named to the Big Ten preseason All-Big Ten team.
SCOUTING MOREHEAD STATE
In their only exhibition of the season, Morehead State fell to Georgetown (Ky.), 72-63 at home on Nov. 4. The Eagles had four players in double figures led by 17 points by Alana Denson, who also added five rebounds.
Tuesday is the regular-season debut for head coach Cayla Petree, who was named the 11th head coach in program history. She comes to the Eagles after successful stints at Gulf Coast State College and South Plains College. Last season, the Eagles finished the season with a 7-16 overall record and were 6-13 in Ohio Valley Conference action.
SERIES HISTORY VS. EAGLES
Michigan State holds an overall series lead over Morehead State, 1-0. The Spartans defeated the Eagles, 93-48, in East Lansing in 2019. Then-freshman forward Julia Ayrault had her first collegiate double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
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.
SEASON OPENERS
All-time, the Spartans are 34-15 in season openers, but 26-2 when the opener is in East Lansing. Coach Merchant is 11-3 in season openers at MSU, and has won 17 of her last 20, including her time at Eastern Michigan.
In last season's opener against St. Francis, the Spartans captured a 77-44 win. Kendall Bostic and Nia Clouden led all scorers with 15 points apiece. Clouden also recorded her fourth career double-double by adding a game-high 10 assists. Taiyier Parks chipped in with 11 points, while Tory Ozment scored 10.
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.
LAST TIME OUT
Five Spartans reached double figures as the Michigan State women's basketball team debuted action for the 2021-22 season with a 95-49 exhibition win over Northwood on Oct. 31 during the Halloween-themed Spartan Spooktacular.
Prior to the game there was games and trick-or-treating on the concourse, as well as a halftime costume contest.
Michigan State ended the game with five in double figures led by 20 points and four assists from junior guard Alyza Winston. Freshman guard/forward Mathilda Ekh had a solid Spartan debut with 15 points, while both junior guard Moira Joiner and freshman guard DeeDee Hagemann scored 12. Senior guard Nia Clouden scored points with five assists. Michigan State passed the ball well with 30 assists on 37 made baskets.
CLOUDEN NAMED TO LIEBERMAN WATCH LIST
Michigan State women's basketball senior guard Nia Clouden was named to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and WBCA Preseason Watch List for the Nancy Lieberman Award.
Now in its 23rd year, the award recognizes the top point guard in NCAA Division I women's college basketball. To be considered for this prestigious award, candidates exhibit the floor leadership, playmaking and ball-handling skills of Class of 1996 Hall-of-Famer Nancy Lieberman.
Clouden, a native of Owings Mills, Maryland, was fifth in the Big Ten in scoring last season, averaging 18.7 points per game. A first-team All-Big Ten selection a year ago, Clouden also averaged 3.9 assists per game last season. She shot a career-best 46.4 percent from the field, along with 32.4 percent from beyond the arc and 78.0 percent from the charity stripe.
Last season, Clouden was one of only six players in the Big Ten with multiple 30-point games, recording three. She scored a career-high 34 points at Michigan on Feb. 16.
BRINGING BACK THE NUMBERS
The Spartans return 84% of their scoring from last season, including its top seven scorers. Despite season-ending injuries to senior Tory Ozment and Julia Ayrault, MSU still brings back much of its firepower. Combined senior guard Nia Clouden and junior guard Alyza Winston averaged 29.3 points and 5.9 assists per game. Senior forward Alisia Smith averaged a team-leading 6.2 rebounds per game, while adding 8.7 ppg.
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 223 of its last 236 games (.945) when leading with five minutes left, including 173 of their last 188. In Coach Merchant's tenure, Michigan State is 258-19 (.931) when holding a lead with five minutes left. Last season, MSU was 14-0 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 146 of their last 165 games (.885) when scoring at least 70 points, and the Spartans are 164-28 (.853) under head coach Suzy Merchant when hanging at least 70 points on the scoreboard. The Spartans are now 9-1 this season when reaching the 70-point mark with its only loss coming against Penn State on Jan. 9.
• In its only exhibition action of the season, the Spartans defeated Northwood, 95-49. Despite a slow start, MSU had five players in double figures in the win. In her Spartan debut, freshman guard/forward Mathilda Ekh scored 15 points.
• 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.
• Spartan head coach Suzy Merchant enters her 15th season at the helm the squad. She holds a 296-157 record at MSU, along with a 497-277 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. Merchant is also 12 wins away tying Langeland for the most Big Ten wins by an MSU coach with 156.
• Michigan State senior guard Nia Clouden returns to leads the Spartans, averaging 18.7 points and 3.9 assists per game last season. She was named to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and WBCA Preseason Watch List for the Nancy Lieberman Award. She was also named to the Big Ten preseason All-Big Ten team.
SCOUTING MOREHEAD STATE
In their only exhibition of the season, Morehead State fell to Georgetown (Ky.), 72-63 at home on Nov. 4. The Eagles had four players in double figures led by 17 points by Alana Denson, who also added five rebounds.
Tuesday is the regular-season debut for head coach Cayla Petree, who was named the 11th head coach in program history. She comes to the Eagles after successful stints at Gulf Coast State College and South Plains College. Last season, the Eagles finished the season with a 7-16 overall record and were 6-13 in Ohio Valley Conference action.
SERIES HISTORY VS. EAGLES
Michigan State holds an overall series lead over Morehead State, 1-0. The Spartans defeated the Eagles, 93-48, in East Lansing in 2019. Then-freshman forward Julia Ayrault had her first collegiate double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
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.
SEASON OPENERS
All-time, the Spartans are 34-15 in season openers, but 26-2 when the opener is in East Lansing. Coach Merchant is 11-3 in season openers at MSU, and has won 17 of her last 20, including her time at Eastern Michigan.
In last season's opener against St. Francis, the Spartans captured a 77-44 win. Kendall Bostic and Nia Clouden led all scorers with 15 points apiece. Clouden also recorded her fourth career double-double by adding a game-high 10 assists. Taiyier Parks chipped in with 11 points, while Tory Ozment scored 10.
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.
LAST TIME OUT
Five Spartans reached double figures as the Michigan State women's basketball team debuted action for the 2021-22 season with a 95-49 exhibition win over Northwood on Oct. 31 during the Halloween-themed Spartan Spooktacular.
Prior to the game there was games and trick-or-treating on the concourse, as well as a halftime costume contest.
Michigan State ended the game with five in double figures led by 20 points and four assists from junior guard Alyza Winston. Freshman guard/forward Mathilda Ekh had a solid Spartan debut with 15 points, while both junior guard Moira Joiner and freshman guard DeeDee Hagemann scored 12. Senior guard Nia Clouden scored points with five assists. Michigan State passed the ball well with 30 assists on 37 made baskets.
CLOUDEN NAMED TO LIEBERMAN WATCH LIST
Michigan State women's basketball senior guard Nia Clouden was named to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and WBCA Preseason Watch List for the Nancy Lieberman Award.
Now in its 23rd year, the award recognizes the top point guard in NCAA Division I women's college basketball. To be considered for this prestigious award, candidates exhibit the floor leadership, playmaking and ball-handling skills of Class of 1996 Hall-of-Famer Nancy Lieberman.
Clouden, a native of Owings Mills, Maryland, was fifth in the Big Ten in scoring last season, averaging 18.7 points per game. A first-team All-Big Ten selection a year ago, Clouden also averaged 3.9 assists per game last season. She shot a career-best 46.4 percent from the field, along with 32.4 percent from beyond the arc and 78.0 percent from the charity stripe.
Last season, Clouden was one of only six players in the Big Ten with multiple 30-point games, recording three. She scored a career-high 34 points at Michigan on Feb. 16.
BRINGING BACK THE NUMBERS
The Spartans return 84% of their scoring from last season, including its top seven scorers. Despite season-ending injuries to senior Tory Ozment and Julia Ayrault, MSU still brings back much of its firepower. Combined senior guard Nia Clouden and junior guard Alyza Winston averaged 29.3 points and 5.9 assists per game. Senior forward Alisia Smith averaged a team-leading 6.2 rebounds per game, while adding 8.7 ppg.
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 223 of its last 236 games (.945) when leading with five minutes left, including 173 of their last 188. In Coach Merchant's tenure, Michigan State is 258-19 (.931) when holding a lead with five minutes left. Last season, MSU was 14-0 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 146 of their last 165 games (.885) when scoring at least 70 points, and the Spartans are 164-28 (.853) under head coach Suzy Merchant when hanging at least 70 points on the scoreboard. The Spartans are now 9-1 this season when reaching the 70-point mark with its only loss coming against Penn State on Jan. 9.
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