Thursday, December 2
East Lansing, Mich.
6 PM
Michigan State University
vs
No. 24/25 Notre Dame
MSU Hosts No. 24/25 Notre Dame in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge
12/1/2021 5:03:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Spartans are 6-7 in Challenge History.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Spartans will be playing in the 14th annual Big Ten/ACC Challenge when they face No. 24/25 Notre Dame on Thursday, Dec. 2 at the Breslin Center. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m., and the game will be televised on the Big Ten Network with Mike Hall and Meghan McKeown on the call. The Spartans open the first game of the month with a 6-2 record.
• In the most recent Big Ten/ACC Challenge in 2019 (the 2020 event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic), the Big Ten earned its first-ever win with a 9-5 record. Michigan State holds a 6-7 record all-time in the Challenge, earning its last win at home against Virginia in 2018.
• Michigan State is first in the nation in assists with 163 through the first eight games. The Spartans are also third in the nation and first in the Big Ten in assists per game with 20.4 apg. Senior guard Nia Clouden is 25th in the country and fourth in the B1G in scoring with 25.4 ppg.
• Freshman guard DeeDee Hagemann tallied a career-high 15 points, topping her previous mark of 11 points done two previous times, last at Fordham (11/19) and was her fourth double-digit scoring outing ... Hagemann also dished out three assists Sunday, marking her seventh time in the eight games this season with three or more helpers.
• Nia Clouden has now scored at least 20 points in the last five games. She is the first Spartan to have achieved this feat since All-American Tori Jankoska had seven-straight 20-point games from Feb. 12, 2017 to March 2, 2017.
SCOUTING NOTRE DAME
Notre Dame enters the polls this week, standing No. 24 in the AP poll and No. 25 in the coaches poll. Last week, the Fighting Irish went 1-1 at the Daytona Beach Invitational with a loss to No. 21 Georgia, 71-67 in overtime and a win against No. 16/19 Oregon State, 64-62. The 6-1 Irish have faced two common opponents with MSU a 94-35 win over Bryant and a 71-56 victory over Fordham.
Notre Dame is averaging 79.9 points per game, while allowing only 57.0 ppg. The Irish solid on the boards, averaging 45.3 rpg.
The Fighting Irish have four players averaging in double figures, led by Maddy Westbeld, who scores 15.4 points per game. Maya Dodson (12.3 ppg), Dara Mabrey (11.9 ppg) and Olivia Miles (11.6) also score in double figures. Dodson is a graduate transfer from Stanford, while Mabrey transferred from Virginia Tech. Her sisters, Michaela and Marina also played at Notre Dame.
SERIES HISTORY VS. FIGHTING IRISH
Notre Dame leads the all-time series with an 11-10 record, but Michigan State won the last game in the series. On Nov. 14, 2019, MSU stopped then-No. 19 Notre Dame 72-69 in South Bend. The Spartans used a then-career high 28 points from Nia Clouden to earn the win. Tory Ozment also added eight points in the victory.
Prior the win in 2019, the Irish had won the previous seven meetings, including a 91-63 win in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on March 25, 2019 in South Bend. The teams last faced each other in East Lansing in 2016 with Notre Dame coming away with a 79-61 victory. This is the first time that the two teams have met in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.
ACC/BIG TEN CHALLENGE HISTORY
This season, Michigan State will play in the 14th annual Big Ten/ACC Challenge. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic there was no Challenge during the 2020-21 season. Michigan State and Notre Dame have never met in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. During the 2019-20 season, MSU lost to No. 8 Florida State, 78-68, to hold a 6-7 record in the ACC/B1G Challenge. That was the third time that MSU and Florida State have met in the Challenge with FSU leading 2-1.
In 2014, Michigan State came-from-behind to capture a 79-73 overtime win against Georgia Tech on Dec. 4. In 2015, Louisville came out fast and despite a second-half comeback by MSU, the Cardinals captured the win, 85-78. In 2016, the Spartans traveled to No. 21 Syracuse, falling to the Orange in the Carrier Dome, 75-64. In 2017, Michigan State lost to Miami in Coral Gables, 67-57, behind a game-high 14 points from Taryn McCutcheon. The 2018 game was MSU's most dominating win with a 91-66 win over Virginia. Overall, it was the third-largest margin of victory in the challenge.
B1G/ACC Challenge History
2019 - Florida State 78, MSU 68
2018 - MSU 91, Virginia 66
2017 - Miami 67, MSU 57
2016 - Syracuse 75, MSU 64
2015 - Louisville 85, MSU 78
2014 - MSU 79, Georgia Tech 73 (OT)
2013 - Florida State 60, MSU 58
2012 - MSU 68, N.C. State 51
2011 - Miami 76, MSU 60
2010 - MSU 72, Florida State 64
2009 - MSU 72, North Carolina 66
2008 - Georgia Tech 57, MSU 50
2007 - MSU 68, Clemson 51
Bold = home games
SPARTAN FUN FACTS
FOUR OR MORE IN DOUBLE-FIGURES KEY TO SUCCESS
Against Oakland on Nov. 26, Michigan State improved to 5-0 this season when four or more players score in double-digits, including 3-0 when only four players post double-figures and 2-0 when five or more score. At Oakland on Nov. 28, five Spartans scored in double figures led by senior guard Nia Clouden, who scored 23 points. Matilda Ekh added a new career-high 17 points, while Taiyier Parks was close to a double-double with a career-high 16 points and eight boards. Junior guard Alyza Winston and senior forward Alisia Smith added 12 and 13 points, respectively. A season-high six Spartans scored in double-digits in MSU's 93-31 rout of Morehead State on Nov. 9.
Against Marshall on Nov. 30, the Spartans captured the win with only three players in double figures. It was the first time this season that two Spartans reached 20 points (Clouden 24, Smith 20).
MERCHANT MILESTONES
Spartan head coach Suzy Merchant reached the 300-win mark as head coach of the Spartans against Bryant on Nov. 19. She now holds a 302-189 record at Michigan State. Karen Langeland is the all-time leader with a 376-290 record at MSU. Merchant is also 12 wins away from tying Langeland for the most Big Ten wins by a MSU coach with 156. Merchant also reached 500 career wins against Valparaiso on Tuesday, Nov. 16. Overall, she holds a 503-279 record and stands 200-157 at Michigan State.
LOOKING ACROSS THE LEAGUE
Senior guard Nia Clouden stands fourth in the B1G in scoring with 19.5 points per game, while junior guard Alyza Winston is tied for 18th with 13.1 ppg. Clouden also holds the fourth spot in the league in assists with 5.5 helpers per contest, while freshman guard DeeDee Hagemann is seventh with 5.0 apg.
As a team, the Spartans are second in the Big Ten in free throw percentage (.813) and fourth scoring margin (+19.3). Michigan State is first in assists, averaging 20.4 apg.
SMITH COMING UP BIG
Senior forward Alisia Smith netted her MSU career-high with 20 points Sunday, topping her previous career-best of 19 at Wisconsin (1/24/21). The 20 points was her second-highest collegiate total, as she tallied 24 during the 2019-20 season at Penn State vs. NC Central (11/30/19). Smith was a perfect 6-of-6 at the free throw line, tying her MSU career-high for made free throws without a miss, matching a 6-of-6 outing at Michigan (2/16/21), and was also her second-best collegiate outing at the charity stripe behind a 10-of-10 performance at Princeton (11/18/18) while at Penn State.
SWEDISH SENSATION
Freshman Matilda Ekh has been stellar in the first eight games of the season. She is third on the team in scoring, averaging 10.4 points per game one of three plays scoring in double figures. She has scored in double figures in five games, including a season-high 17 at Oakland on Nov. 26. She also set a new season-high with eight rebounds against Marshall on Nov. 30.
CLIMBING THE CHARTS
With a season-high 24 points against Marshall on Nov. 30, senior guard Nia Clouden continues to rise up the charts. Clouden now has 1,437 career points, passing Eileen Shea (1987-91) for No. 11 on the all-time MSU scoring list. She is now 56 points from breaking the top 10 and passing Kristen Rasmussen (1996-2000), who scored 1,493 point during her MSU career. Clouden also now has 368 career assists. She is now just four assists away from passing Spartan All-American, Lindsey Bowen (1998-02) for the No. 10 spot.
Clouden is looking to join Bowen and Tori Jankoska as the only MSU players to finish their careers in the top 10 in scoring and assists.
WEATHER OUTSIDE IS FRIGHTFUL
December weather can be brutal, but the Spartans schedule is fearsome. Michigan State has six games schedule in the final month of 2021 and four of them are against teams currently ranked in the top 25 or receiving votes. MSU opens the month on Dec. 2 taking on (24/25) Notre Dame in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. The Spartans then open up Big Ten action on Dec. 5 at No. 9/12 Iowa. At the West Palm Invitational Dec. 20-21, MSU will take on RV/RV West Virginia and No. 22/22 Florida Gulf Coast.
20 DIMES FOR WINS
MSU is also 5-0 this season when dishing out 20 or more assists, as led by freshman guard DeeDee Hagemann's career-high 10 assists, the Spartans tied a career-high with 27 assists at Oakland on N on. 26. Michigan State also distributed 27 helpers in the win over Niagara (Nov. 14), while also dishing out 20+ assists vs. Morehead State (26), Valparaiso (20) and Bryant (24).
SOLID FROM THE STRIPE
The Spartans tied a school record going 10-for-10 from the charity stripe against the Beacons on Nov. 16. The last time MSU didn't miss from the free throw line with at least 10 attempts was against Central Michigan in the NCAA Tournament, going 11-for-11 on March, 23, 2019. The last time at the Breslin Center was when MSU went 19-for-19 against Michigan on Feb., 23, 2016.
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.
IT'S RAINING THREES
The Spartans set a new school record with 17 3-pointers against Morehead State on Nov. 9. 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 Winston's 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 on Nov. 15. 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
Using a strong fourth-quarter surge, the Michigan State women's basketball team pulled away from Marshall, 85-75, Sunday afternoon at the Breslin Center Sunday. For the first time since Dec. 12, 2020 against Iowa, Michigan State had two players reach the 20-point mark. Senior guard Nia Clouden earned her fifth-straight 20 point game with a team-high 24 points to go along with tying a season high with eight assists.
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.
KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR CLOUDEN
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.
CLOSING OUT THE GAMES
The Spartans have been extremely effective closing out games over the last couple years, winning 228 of its last 240 games (.950) when leading with five minutes left, including 178 of their last 192. In Coach Merchant's tenure, Michigan State is 263-19 (.933) when holding a lead with five minutes left. This season, MSU is 5-0 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 163 of their last 188 games (.867) when scoring at least 70 points, and the Spartans are 183-32 (.851) under head coach Suzy Merchant when hanging at least 70 points on the scoreboard. This season, MSU is now 6-0 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.
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.
• In the most recent Big Ten/ACC Challenge in 2019 (the 2020 event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic), the Big Ten earned its first-ever win with a 9-5 record. Michigan State holds a 6-7 record all-time in the Challenge, earning its last win at home against Virginia in 2018.
• Michigan State is first in the nation in assists with 163 through the first eight games. The Spartans are also third in the nation and first in the Big Ten in assists per game with 20.4 apg. Senior guard Nia Clouden is 25th in the country and fourth in the B1G in scoring with 25.4 ppg.
• Freshman guard DeeDee Hagemann tallied a career-high 15 points, topping her previous mark of 11 points done two previous times, last at Fordham (11/19) and was her fourth double-digit scoring outing ... Hagemann also dished out three assists Sunday, marking her seventh time in the eight games this season with three or more helpers.
• Nia Clouden has now scored at least 20 points in the last five games. She is the first Spartan to have achieved this feat since All-American Tori Jankoska had seven-straight 20-point games from Feb. 12, 2017 to March 2, 2017.
SCOUTING NOTRE DAME
Notre Dame enters the polls this week, standing No. 24 in the AP poll and No. 25 in the coaches poll. Last week, the Fighting Irish went 1-1 at the Daytona Beach Invitational with a loss to No. 21 Georgia, 71-67 in overtime and a win against No. 16/19 Oregon State, 64-62. The 6-1 Irish have faced two common opponents with MSU a 94-35 win over Bryant and a 71-56 victory over Fordham.
Notre Dame is averaging 79.9 points per game, while allowing only 57.0 ppg. The Irish solid on the boards, averaging 45.3 rpg.
The Fighting Irish have four players averaging in double figures, led by Maddy Westbeld, who scores 15.4 points per game. Maya Dodson (12.3 ppg), Dara Mabrey (11.9 ppg) and Olivia Miles (11.6) also score in double figures. Dodson is a graduate transfer from Stanford, while Mabrey transferred from Virginia Tech. Her sisters, Michaela and Marina also played at Notre Dame.
SERIES HISTORY VS. FIGHTING IRISH
Notre Dame leads the all-time series with an 11-10 record, but Michigan State won the last game in the series. On Nov. 14, 2019, MSU stopped then-No. 19 Notre Dame 72-69 in South Bend. The Spartans used a then-career high 28 points from Nia Clouden to earn the win. Tory Ozment also added eight points in the victory.
Prior the win in 2019, the Irish had won the previous seven meetings, including a 91-63 win in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on March 25, 2019 in South Bend. The teams last faced each other in East Lansing in 2016 with Notre Dame coming away with a 79-61 victory. This is the first time that the two teams have met in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.
ACC/BIG TEN CHALLENGE HISTORY
This season, Michigan State will play in the 14th annual Big Ten/ACC Challenge. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic there was no Challenge during the 2020-21 season. Michigan State and Notre Dame have never met in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. During the 2019-20 season, MSU lost to No. 8 Florida State, 78-68, to hold a 6-7 record in the ACC/B1G Challenge. That was the third time that MSU and Florida State have met in the Challenge with FSU leading 2-1.
In 2014, Michigan State came-from-behind to capture a 79-73 overtime win against Georgia Tech on Dec. 4. In 2015, Louisville came out fast and despite a second-half comeback by MSU, the Cardinals captured the win, 85-78. In 2016, the Spartans traveled to No. 21 Syracuse, falling to the Orange in the Carrier Dome, 75-64. In 2017, Michigan State lost to Miami in Coral Gables, 67-57, behind a game-high 14 points from Taryn McCutcheon. The 2018 game was MSU's most dominating win with a 91-66 win over Virginia. Overall, it was the third-largest margin of victory in the challenge.
B1G/ACC Challenge History
2019 - Florida State 78, MSU 68
2018 - MSU 91, Virginia 66
2017 - Miami 67, MSU 57
2016 - Syracuse 75, MSU 64
2015 - Louisville 85, MSU 78
2014 - MSU 79, Georgia Tech 73 (OT)
2013 - Florida State 60, MSU 58
2012 - MSU 68, N.C. State 51
2011 - Miami 76, MSU 60
2010 - MSU 72, Florida State 64
2009 - MSU 72, North Carolina 66
2008 - Georgia Tech 57, MSU 50
2007 - MSU 68, Clemson 51
Bold = home games
SPARTAN FUN FACTS
- Michigan State rallied from a 46-40 halftime deficit against Marshall, marking the first time this season that the Spartans not only trailed at halftime, but rallied from a halftime deficit.
- Nia Clouden now has had five-straight 20-point games. The last Spartan to reach that mark was All-American Tori Jankoska who had seven-straight during the 2016-17 season.
- Michigan State has only had two different starting lineups this season. Clouden, Matilda Ekh, Alyza Winston and Alisia Smith have started all eight games with Moira Joiner (3) and Tamara Farquhar (5) taking the final spot.
FOUR OR MORE IN DOUBLE-FIGURES KEY TO SUCCESS
Against Oakland on Nov. 26, Michigan State improved to 5-0 this season when four or more players score in double-digits, including 3-0 when only four players post double-figures and 2-0 when five or more score. At Oakland on Nov. 28, five Spartans scored in double figures led by senior guard Nia Clouden, who scored 23 points. Matilda Ekh added a new career-high 17 points, while Taiyier Parks was close to a double-double with a career-high 16 points and eight boards. Junior guard Alyza Winston and senior forward Alisia Smith added 12 and 13 points, respectively. A season-high six Spartans scored in double-digits in MSU's 93-31 rout of Morehead State on Nov. 9.
Against Marshall on Nov. 30, the Spartans captured the win with only three players in double figures. It was the first time this season that two Spartans reached 20 points (Clouden 24, Smith 20).
MERCHANT MILESTONES
Spartan head coach Suzy Merchant reached the 300-win mark as head coach of the Spartans against Bryant on Nov. 19. She now holds a 302-189 record at Michigan State. Karen Langeland is the all-time leader with a 376-290 record at MSU. Merchant is also 12 wins away from tying Langeland for the most Big Ten wins by a MSU coach with 156. Merchant also reached 500 career wins against Valparaiso on Tuesday, Nov. 16. Overall, she holds a 503-279 record and stands 200-157 at Michigan State.
LOOKING ACROSS THE LEAGUE
Senior guard Nia Clouden stands fourth in the B1G in scoring with 19.5 points per game, while junior guard Alyza Winston is tied for 18th with 13.1 ppg. Clouden also holds the fourth spot in the league in assists with 5.5 helpers per contest, while freshman guard DeeDee Hagemann is seventh with 5.0 apg.
As a team, the Spartans are second in the Big Ten in free throw percentage (.813) and fourth scoring margin (+19.3). Michigan State is first in assists, averaging 20.4 apg.
SMITH COMING UP BIG
Senior forward Alisia Smith netted her MSU career-high with 20 points Sunday, topping her previous career-best of 19 at Wisconsin (1/24/21). The 20 points was her second-highest collegiate total, as she tallied 24 during the 2019-20 season at Penn State vs. NC Central (11/30/19). Smith was a perfect 6-of-6 at the free throw line, tying her MSU career-high for made free throws without a miss, matching a 6-of-6 outing at Michigan (2/16/21), and was also her second-best collegiate outing at the charity stripe behind a 10-of-10 performance at Princeton (11/18/18) while at Penn State.
SWEDISH SENSATION
Freshman Matilda Ekh has been stellar in the first eight games of the season. She is third on the team in scoring, averaging 10.4 points per game one of three plays scoring in double figures. She has scored in double figures in five games, including a season-high 17 at Oakland on Nov. 26. She also set a new season-high with eight rebounds against Marshall on Nov. 30.
CLIMBING THE CHARTS
With a season-high 24 points against Marshall on Nov. 30, senior guard Nia Clouden continues to rise up the charts. Clouden now has 1,437 career points, passing Eileen Shea (1987-91) for No. 11 on the all-time MSU scoring list. She is now 56 points from breaking the top 10 and passing Kristen Rasmussen (1996-2000), who scored 1,493 point during her MSU career. Clouden also now has 368 career assists. She is now just four assists away from passing Spartan All-American, Lindsey Bowen (1998-02) for the No. 10 spot.
Clouden is looking to join Bowen and Tori Jankoska as the only MSU players to finish their careers in the top 10 in scoring and assists.
WEATHER OUTSIDE IS FRIGHTFUL
December weather can be brutal, but the Spartans schedule is fearsome. Michigan State has six games schedule in the final month of 2021 and four of them are against teams currently ranked in the top 25 or receiving votes. MSU opens the month on Dec. 2 taking on (24/25) Notre Dame in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. The Spartans then open up Big Ten action on Dec. 5 at No. 9/12 Iowa. At the West Palm Invitational Dec. 20-21, MSU will take on RV/RV West Virginia and No. 22/22 Florida Gulf Coast.
20 DIMES FOR WINS
MSU is also 5-0 this season when dishing out 20 or more assists, as led by freshman guard DeeDee Hagemann's career-high 10 assists, the Spartans tied a career-high with 27 assists at Oakland on N on. 26. Michigan State also distributed 27 helpers in the win over Niagara (Nov. 14), while also dishing out 20+ assists vs. Morehead State (26), Valparaiso (20) and Bryant (24).
SOLID FROM THE STRIPE
The Spartans tied a school record going 10-for-10 from the charity stripe against the Beacons on Nov. 16. The last time MSU didn't miss from the free throw line with at least 10 attempts was against Central Michigan in the NCAA Tournament, going 11-for-11 on March, 23, 2019. The last time at the Breslin Center was when MSU went 19-for-19 against Michigan on Feb., 23, 2016.
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.
IT'S RAINING THREES
The Spartans set a new school record with 17 3-pointers against Morehead State on Nov. 9. 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 Winston's 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 on Nov. 15. 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
Using a strong fourth-quarter surge, the Michigan State women's basketball team pulled away from Marshall, 85-75, Sunday afternoon at the Breslin Center Sunday. For the first time since Dec. 12, 2020 against Iowa, Michigan State had two players reach the 20-point mark. Senior guard Nia Clouden earned her fifth-straight 20 point game with a team-high 24 points to go along with tying a season high with eight assists.
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.
KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR CLOUDEN
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.
CLOSING OUT THE GAMES
The Spartans have been extremely effective closing out games over the last couple years, winning 228 of its last 240 games (.950) when leading with five minutes left, including 178 of their last 192. In Coach Merchant's tenure, Michigan State is 263-19 (.933) when holding a lead with five minutes left. This season, MSU is 5-0 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 163 of their last 188 games (.867) when scoring at least 70 points, and the Spartans are 183-32 (.851) under head coach Suzy Merchant when hanging at least 70 points on the scoreboard. This season, MSU is now 6-0 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.
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.
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