Thursday, December 9
East Lansing, Mich.
7 PM
Michigan State University
75
vs
60
Illinois
Strong Second Half Seals MSU Win Over Illinois in Big Ten Home Opener
12/9/2021 10:28:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Freshman Matilda Ekh scores a career-high 20 points in the win.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Behind a career-high 20 points by freshman Matilda Ekh, Michigan State women's basketball captured its home Big Ten opener against Illinois, 75-60, Thursday night at the Breslin Center.
The Spartans out-scored the Fighting Illini, 49-26, in the second half to overcome an eight-point half-time deficit.
With the win, Michigan State improves to 7-4 overall and evens out its Big Ten record to 1-1. Illinois slips to 4-5 overall and 0-1 in league play.
For the first time this season freshman guard/forward Matilda Ekh led the team in scoring with a career-high 20 points, draining a career-best 6-for-9 from the beyond the arc. Despite a slow start, senior guard Nia Clouden ended with 17 points, including going 8-for-8 from the charity stripe. Senior forward Alisia Smith and junior forward Taiyier Parks both reached double digits with 13 and 10 points, respectively.
Earning her first start of her Spartan career, freshman guard DeeDee Hagemann led MSU with eight assists and three steals.
Illinois had three in double figures, including 13 points from East Lansing native Aaliyah Nye.
After a fast start, the Spartan offense cooled down, as Illinois used a 7-0 run to jump out to an 11-7 lead. After the media timeout, MSU responded with an 8-0 run of its won to re-take the lead 17-13. The Illini were able to keep Clouden in check in the first period, scoring only two points in the first 10 minutes. The first quarter ended with the Illini leading, 21-18.
The Spartans scored six of the first eight points of the second period, as both offenses struggled. Illinois ended the half on an 11-0 run to take a 34-26 lead into the locker room. Michigan State was held to only eight points in the period, which was its lowest of the season.
After missing her first seven shots, Clouden got on the board to cut the Illinois lead to 39-38 at the 5:34 mark of the third quarter. MSU re-took the lead behind a 9-0 run, 40-39. The third quarter was a back-and-forth affair with five lead changes. Behind solid quarters from both Ekh and Clouden, MSU out-scored Illinois 26-17 in the third quarter. The duo combined for 18 of MSU's 26 points in the period, as the Spartans took a 52-51 advantage into the final period.
Michigan State pulled away for good in the fourth period, taking its first double digit lead 65-55 after a Smith layup with 5:25 remaining. Michigan State took as big a lead as 16 points after leading by only four points early in the period. The Spartan defense was also solid in the fourth period, holding the Illini to only nine points and causing four turnovers.
After shooting only 33.3 percent in the first half, MSU rebound to shoot 68.8 percent in the second half.
After a break for finals, the Spartans return to action at the West Palm Beach Invitational. Michigan State will take on Florida Gulf Coast on Dec. 20 and West Virginia on Dec. 21.
Post-Game Notes: vs. Illinois
• Michigan State won its home Big Ten opener for the fourth-straight season, and Illinois is the third different opponent that the Spartans have beaten in that four-game win streak (Iowa in 2018-19; Nebraska in 2019-20; Iowa in 2020-21).
• MSU rallied from a 31-26 halftime deficit, marking their second win this season after trailing at intermission, also rallying in the Marshall game (11/30) ... MSU has trailed at the break in its last four games, and is now 2-2 this season when having the lower score at halftime.
• Michigan State dished out 20 assists for the first time since the game at Oakland (11/26) and Thursday marked the fifth time overall this season that the Spartans had 20+ assists, improving to 5-0 when dishing out 20 or more helpers.
• MSU drained 10 3-pointers Thursday, marking the second time in the last three games as part of the second-straight home game that the Spartans had double-digit treys, as part of the third overall game this season ... the 10 triples ties the second-most made this season, matching the 10 from last home game, vs. Notre Dame (12/2), and behind the season-high 17 3-pointers in the Morehead State game (11/9) ... MSU's 47.6 percent from behind the arc marked the fifth time in the 11 games that the Spartans shot 40.0 or better from distance, with four of the five coming at home.
• Illinois had a 35-28 rebounding advantage, marking the third time this season that MSU was out-rebounded, but the first time that the Spartans won when doing so, now 1-2 when the opposition has more rebounds.
• The Spartans also improved to 7-1 this season when scoring 70 or more points, as part of winning 164 of their last 190 games when posting at least 70 points on the scoreboard ... MSU is 184-33 under Coach Merchant when scoring 70+ points.
• MSU had a 65-55 lead with five minutes left, as Michigan State has won 230 of its last 242 games, including 180 of the last 194 games, as part of improving to 265-20 under head coach Suzy Merchant when holding a lead with five minutes left.
• Four Spartans posted double-figures, as MSU improved to 7-1 this season when four or more players score in double-digits, including 5-1 when four are in double-figures.
• Michigan State's starting lineup in Thursday's game of Nia Clouden, DeeDee Hagemann, Moira Joiner, Alisia Smith and Matilda Ekh was the first game this season with that starting five and the Spartans' third different starting five.
• Freshman guard/forward Matilda Ekh drained a career-best six 3-pointers on the way to a career-high 20 points, leading all scorers in Thursday's game ... the six treys topped her previous high of four vs. Notre Dame (12/2) ... the six 3-pointers by Ekh was the most by an individual Spartan this season ... it is also tied for the No. 7 spot on MSU's single-game 3-pointers, the most since Alyza Winston vs. Iowa (12/12/20) and marking the 12th time in school history one Spartan drained six triples
• Ekh's six triples also is tied for the second-most in a game in the Big Ten this season, and she is one of five players to make six 3-pointers, behind the season-high of seven by Nicole Cardano-Hillary of Indiana ... Ekh is only the second player overall to make the six or more treys in a B1G game, joining Brooke Moore of Purdue, vs. Maryland at Purdue (12/8), as the other six times were in non-conference games.
• Ekh topped her previous high of 17 points done twice (at Oakland, 11/26; vs. Notre Dame, 12/2) ... Thursday was Ekh's seventh double-figure scoring in the 11 games ... Ekh also netted a career-high six 3-pointers,
• Senior guard Nia Clouden netted 17 points, as she has posted double-digits in all 11 games this season as part of 15-straight games dating back to last season as part of in 43 of last 46 games and part of 82 of 98 career games played.
• Clouden's 17 points gives her 1,492 career points, leaving her one point shy of the No. 10 spot on the MSU career points list, held by Kristen Rasmussen (1996-2000) with 1,493 points.
• Clouden dished out four assists, giving her 380 career helpers, also just one assist shy of the No. 9 spot on the Spartans' career assists list, held by Kim Archer (1983-88) with 381 assists.
• Clouden also went 8-for-8 at the free throw line, marking her third game with a perfect 100 percent at the charity stripe, with five or more in all three outings.
• Senior forward Alisia Smith tallied 13 points, marking her third double-digit scoring outing this season and ninth time in her Spartan career ... MSU is 3-0 when Smith scores in double-figures ... Smith also pulled down five rebounds, marking her fifth game this season with five or more boards.
• Junior forward Taiyier Parks posted 10 points off the bench, logging her third double-figure outing this season, as MSU improved to 3-0 when Parks posts double-digits.
• Freshman guard DeeDee Hagemann dished out eight assists Thursday, marking her second-highest of the season behind 10 helpers at Oakland (11/26) ... Thursday was also her fifth game with five or more helpers.
The Spartans out-scored the Fighting Illini, 49-26, in the second half to overcome an eight-point half-time deficit.
With the win, Michigan State improves to 7-4 overall and evens out its Big Ten record to 1-1. Illinois slips to 4-5 overall and 0-1 in league play.
For the first time this season freshman guard/forward Matilda Ekh led the team in scoring with a career-high 20 points, draining a career-best 6-for-9 from the beyond the arc. Despite a slow start, senior guard Nia Clouden ended with 17 points, including going 8-for-8 from the charity stripe. Senior forward Alisia Smith and junior forward Taiyier Parks both reached double digits with 13 and 10 points, respectively.
Earning her first start of her Spartan career, freshman guard DeeDee Hagemann led MSU with eight assists and three steals.
Illinois had three in double figures, including 13 points from East Lansing native Aaliyah Nye.
After a fast start, the Spartan offense cooled down, as Illinois used a 7-0 run to jump out to an 11-7 lead. After the media timeout, MSU responded with an 8-0 run of its won to re-take the lead 17-13. The Illini were able to keep Clouden in check in the first period, scoring only two points in the first 10 minutes. The first quarter ended with the Illini leading, 21-18.
The Spartans scored six of the first eight points of the second period, as both offenses struggled. Illinois ended the half on an 11-0 run to take a 34-26 lead into the locker room. Michigan State was held to only eight points in the period, which was its lowest of the season.
After missing her first seven shots, Clouden got on the board to cut the Illinois lead to 39-38 at the 5:34 mark of the third quarter. MSU re-took the lead behind a 9-0 run, 40-39. The third quarter was a back-and-forth affair with five lead changes. Behind solid quarters from both Ekh and Clouden, MSU out-scored Illinois 26-17 in the third quarter. The duo combined for 18 of MSU's 26 points in the period, as the Spartans took a 52-51 advantage into the final period.
Michigan State pulled away for good in the fourth period, taking its first double digit lead 65-55 after a Smith layup with 5:25 remaining. Michigan State took as big a lead as 16 points after leading by only four points early in the period. The Spartan defense was also solid in the fourth period, holding the Illini to only nine points and causing four turnovers.
After shooting only 33.3 percent in the first half, MSU rebound to shoot 68.8 percent in the second half.
After a break for finals, the Spartans return to action at the West Palm Beach Invitational. Michigan State will take on Florida Gulf Coast on Dec. 20 and West Virginia on Dec. 21.
Post-Game Notes: vs. Illinois
• Michigan State won its home Big Ten opener for the fourth-straight season, and Illinois is the third different opponent that the Spartans have beaten in that four-game win streak (Iowa in 2018-19; Nebraska in 2019-20; Iowa in 2020-21).
• MSU rallied from a 31-26 halftime deficit, marking their second win this season after trailing at intermission, also rallying in the Marshall game (11/30) ... MSU has trailed at the break in its last four games, and is now 2-2 this season when having the lower score at halftime.
• Michigan State dished out 20 assists for the first time since the game at Oakland (11/26) and Thursday marked the fifth time overall this season that the Spartans had 20+ assists, improving to 5-0 when dishing out 20 or more helpers.
• MSU drained 10 3-pointers Thursday, marking the second time in the last three games as part of the second-straight home game that the Spartans had double-digit treys, as part of the third overall game this season ... the 10 triples ties the second-most made this season, matching the 10 from last home game, vs. Notre Dame (12/2), and behind the season-high 17 3-pointers in the Morehead State game (11/9) ... MSU's 47.6 percent from behind the arc marked the fifth time in the 11 games that the Spartans shot 40.0 or better from distance, with four of the five coming at home.
• Illinois had a 35-28 rebounding advantage, marking the third time this season that MSU was out-rebounded, but the first time that the Spartans won when doing so, now 1-2 when the opposition has more rebounds.
• The Spartans also improved to 7-1 this season when scoring 70 or more points, as part of winning 164 of their last 190 games when posting at least 70 points on the scoreboard ... MSU is 184-33 under Coach Merchant when scoring 70+ points.
• MSU had a 65-55 lead with five minutes left, as Michigan State has won 230 of its last 242 games, including 180 of the last 194 games, as part of improving to 265-20 under head coach Suzy Merchant when holding a lead with five minutes left.
• Four Spartans posted double-figures, as MSU improved to 7-1 this season when four or more players score in double-digits, including 5-1 when four are in double-figures.
• Michigan State's starting lineup in Thursday's game of Nia Clouden, DeeDee Hagemann, Moira Joiner, Alisia Smith and Matilda Ekh was the first game this season with that starting five and the Spartans' third different starting five.
• Freshman guard/forward Matilda Ekh drained a career-best six 3-pointers on the way to a career-high 20 points, leading all scorers in Thursday's game ... the six treys topped her previous high of four vs. Notre Dame (12/2) ... the six 3-pointers by Ekh was the most by an individual Spartan this season ... it is also tied for the No. 7 spot on MSU's single-game 3-pointers, the most since Alyza Winston vs. Iowa (12/12/20) and marking the 12th time in school history one Spartan drained six triples
• Ekh's six triples also is tied for the second-most in a game in the Big Ten this season, and she is one of five players to make six 3-pointers, behind the season-high of seven by Nicole Cardano-Hillary of Indiana ... Ekh is only the second player overall to make the six or more treys in a B1G game, joining Brooke Moore of Purdue, vs. Maryland at Purdue (12/8), as the other six times were in non-conference games.
• Ekh topped her previous high of 17 points done twice (at Oakland, 11/26; vs. Notre Dame, 12/2) ... Thursday was Ekh's seventh double-figure scoring in the 11 games ... Ekh also netted a career-high six 3-pointers,
• Senior guard Nia Clouden netted 17 points, as she has posted double-digits in all 11 games this season as part of 15-straight games dating back to last season as part of in 43 of last 46 games and part of 82 of 98 career games played.
• Clouden's 17 points gives her 1,492 career points, leaving her one point shy of the No. 10 spot on the MSU career points list, held by Kristen Rasmussen (1996-2000) with 1,493 points.
• Clouden dished out four assists, giving her 380 career helpers, also just one assist shy of the No. 9 spot on the Spartans' career assists list, held by Kim Archer (1983-88) with 381 assists.
• Clouden also went 8-for-8 at the free throw line, marking her third game with a perfect 100 percent at the charity stripe, with five or more in all three outings.
• Senior forward Alisia Smith tallied 13 points, marking her third double-digit scoring outing this season and ninth time in her Spartan career ... MSU is 3-0 when Smith scores in double-figures ... Smith also pulled down five rebounds, marking her fifth game this season with five or more boards.
• Junior forward Taiyier Parks posted 10 points off the bench, logging her third double-figure outing this season, as MSU improved to 3-0 when Parks posts double-digits.
• Freshman guard DeeDee Hagemann dished out eight assists Thursday, marking her second-highest of the season behind 10 helpers at Oakland (11/26) ... Thursday was also her fifth game with five or more helpers.
Players Mentioned
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