Tuesday, February 16
Ann Arbor, Mich.
4:30 p.m.
Michigan State University
at
Michigan
MSU Women's Basketball Ends Road Trip at No. 11 Michigan
2/15/2021 3:54:00 PM | Women's Basketball
This game is a re-scheduled meeting from earlier this season.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State women's basketball remains on the road to take on No. 11/12 Michigan on Tuesday, Feb. 16 at 4:30 p.m. The game will be televised on the Big Ten Network with Lisa Byington and Christy Winters Scott on the call. This is the third attempt for the Spartans and the Wolverines to meet in Ann Arbor with games on Jan. 18 and Jan. 28 postponed due to COVID-19 concerns.
• The Spartans hold an overall record of 11-5 overall and 6-5 in Big Ten action. Last time out, Michigan State had four in double figures in a 78-65 win over Penn State. The Wolverines are 11-1 overall and 6-1 in leagues contests. This is the first meeting of two possible meetings between MSU and U-M.
• Nia Clouden remains No. 23 on MSU's career scoring list, as 17 points vs. Penn State gives her 1,138 points, passing Bella Engen (1994-98) with 1,099 points, former teammate Jenna Allen (2015-19) with 1,098 points and Becky Cummings (1997-2001) with 1,108 points. Next up is No. 22 Julie Polakowski (1982-86) with 1,143 points.
• After 16 games, the Spartans are currently ninth in the nation and third in the Big Ten in assists per game (18.8 apg) and 11th in the NCAA and third in the B1G assists to turnover ratio (1.33).
• The Spartan sophomore class has stepped up this season. MSU sophomores are three of the Spartans' top five scorers. Alyza Winston is second, averaging 10.3 ppg, while Julia Ayrault (9.5 ppg) and Taiyier Parks (8.0 ppg), stand fourth and fifth, respectively.
SCOUTING MICHIGAN
No. 11/12 Michigan returned to action after a two-week U-M Athletic Department shutdown, by playing at Purdue last Thursday, Feb. 11, and posted a 62-49 win. Prior to that, Michigan's last game was Jan. 21 at No. 17 Ohio State, falling 81-77. The win over Purdue improved the Wolverines' record to 11-1 overall and 6-1 in B1G action, currently in second in the league standings by winning percentage (.857), behind Maryland at 10-1 (.909).
In the win at Purdue, Michigan led from start-to-finish, with junior forward Naz Hillmon and junior guard/forward Leigha Brown combining for 41 points, while Hillmon recording her ninth double-double of the season with 21 points and 10 rebounds.
Michigan is fourth in the B1G in scoring offense (79.8 ppg), while ranking third in the league in scoring defense (59.2 ppg), to rank second in the conference and ninth in the country in scoring margin (+20.6). The Wolverines also lead the league and rank 36th in the nation in field goal percentage defense, stymieing the opposition to just .362 per game. U-M's offense is fourth in the conference and 14th in the country in field goal percentage (.474).
Hillmon is second in the B1G and tied for third in the NCAA in scoring at 25.7 points per game, as well as leading the league and ranking ninth in the nation in rebounding (12.1 rpg). Hillmon is also second in both the conference and the country in field goal percentage (.643). Brown adds 19.8 ppg, while Johnson tallies 11.5 ppg and 6.4 rpg. Junior guard Amy Dilk leads U-M and ranks eighth in the B1G with 4.5 assists per game and also tops the team with 1.0 steals per game.
SERIES HISTORY VS. WOLVERINES
Michigan State leads the overall series 72-21, including a 28-13 record in Ann Arbor. The Spartans are 35-8 against Michigan in East Lansing. The series has gotten much tighter in recent history. Last season, the Wolverines captured both games in the series. In the last six games the series is tied 3-3. Under Coach Merchant, the Spartans hold a 22-7 record against Michigan.
LAST TIME VS. MICHIGAN
Michigan State women's basketball erased an 18-point second-half deficit but were unable to hold on, falling to Michigan 65-57 in the annual Pink Game on Feb. 23, 2020. A season-high 11,462 fans were on hand at the Breslin Center.
Michigan State had two players in double figures led by 18 from sophomore guard Nia Clouden, who also added four assists and two steals. Senior guard Taryn McCutcheon added 14 points with three assists and one steal. Sophomore guard/forward Tory Ozment had a solid game scoring nine points, with three rebounds and two assists.
REACHING MORE MILESTONES
Michigan State head coach Suzy Merchant is approaching even more milestones. She is nearing her 500th career win and her 300th win as head coach at MSU. In her 25-year career, Merchant holds an overall record of 493-273, making her just seven wins away from the 500 win mark. She is also 292-153 during her 14 seasons at the helm of the Spartans, standing eight wins away from the 300-win plateau.
On Feb. 16, 2016, Merchant captured her 400th career win in historic fashion. In a dramatic 114-106 win over Minnesota at the Breslin Center, All-American Aerial Powers scored a career-high 40 points, as the Gophers Rachel Banham scored 52.
On Feb. 24, 2016, Merchant won her 2ooth game at Michigan State in a win over Illinois.
GETTING OVER 70
The magic number to victory this season is reaching 70 points. The Spartans are 10-1 this season when reaching 70-point plateau. Michigan State has lost five of its last seven games and during that stretch MSU has only reached 70 points three times.
HIGH ROLLERS
Against Penn State on Feb. 13, four Spartans scored in double-figures, marking the sixth time this season of having four players with 10+ points, as MSU improved to 5-1 with four players in double-figures. A total of 12 Spartans played Saturday with nine scoring.
BEST OF THE BEST
Junior guard Nia Clouden joins a select group of company as one of only three players in the Big Ten that are in the top 12 in points, assists and steals per game. Clouden is sixth in scoring (19.1 ppg), 12th in assists (4.1 apg) and 10th in steals (1.9 spg). Rutgers' Arella Guirantes is third in scoring (22.0 ppg), tied for fifth in assists (5.4) and third in steals (2.5 spg.). Northwestern's Veronica Burton rounds out the list. She is 11th in scoring (17.1 ppg), sixth in assists (4.8 apg) and first in steals (4.1 spg.)
CROOMS PUTTING UP THE NUMBERS
Junior guard Janai Crooms has continued to put up impressive numbers. Against Penn State on Feb. 13, Crooms dished out a game-high and new MSU career-high seven assists, topping her previous mark of six helpers that she had accomplished twice before, last doing so at Wisconsin (1/24/21). She added an MSU-high five steals against Northwestern on Feb. 7 with her career high six steals coming at Ohio State coming against Rutgers in 2019. Crooms also made the sixth consecutive start of her Spartan career, as she transferred to MSU from Ohio State in the offseason.
KEEPING YOUR BALANCE
While Nia Clouden leads the team in scoring and assists, the rest of the Spartan squad is rather balanced. MSU has seven players averaging over 5.0 ppg. Averaging 18.8 assists per game, Michigan State is getting helpers from all over the place. There are five players averaging over. 2.0 apg. Nia Clouden (4.1) and Tory Ozment (3.9) are providing over. 3.5 assists per game. Janai Crooms averages 3.1 apg, while Moira Joiner and Julia Ayrault are averaging 2.1 and 2.0 apg, respectively.
I'M A SURVIVOR
Redshirt-senior guard/forward Mardrekia Cook played in her 99th career game against, just one away from her 100th game. Cook has endured injuries every season at MSU, including tearing her Achilles' tendon last season and tearing her ACL during her sophomore year.
JOINING THE CLUB
Against Maryland on Jan. 7, Nia Clouden scored her 1,000th career point with a jumper from the left wing with 9:43 left in the third quarter for her 14th point in the game. Clouden became the 29th player in MSU women's basketball history to reach the 1,000 career points plateau. She now has 1,138 points in her Spartan career, climbing up to No. 23 on the MSU career scoring list. She became the seventh player in the last seven years to reach the 1,000-point mark.
Years Player Points
2020-21 Nia Clouden 1,138
2019-20 Taryn McCutcheon 1,119
2018-19 Jenna Allen 1,098
2017-18 Branndais Agee 1,250
2015-16 Tori Jankoska 2,212
2014-15 Aerial Powers 1,817
2014-15 Becca Mills 1,157
PARTY LIKE ITS 1985
Junior guard Nia Clouden is looking to become the first Spartan since Kris Emerson in the 1985-86 season to lead the team in scoring, assists and steals per game. She is currently averaging 19.1 points, 4.1 assists and 1.9 steals per game. Emerson led with 16.9 points, 3.0 assists and 1.9 steals per game during the 1985-86 season.
AROUND THE LEAGUE
Around the Big Ten, Nia Clouden ranks sixth in scoring (19.1 ppg), as well as standing 12th in assists (4.1 spg). She is also 10th in steals with 1.9 spg. Junior guard Tory Ozment is fourth in assist/turnover ratio (2.70). Sophomore Julia Ayrault is seventh in blocks (1.2), while fellow sophomore Alyza Winston is tied for 10th in 3-pointers made (1.9/game). As a team, the Spartans are third in assists (18.8 apg), third in steals (9.3 spg) and sixth in blocks (3.8 bpg). In league games, Ozment is first in the Big Ten in assists/turnover ratio (3.73).
THE STARTING 5
Nia Clouden is the only Spartan to have started all 16 games this season, making her 79th career start in playing in her 79th career game. After unveiling a new starting lineup last time out vs. Illinois (Feb. 4), the Spartans went with the same lineup against Northwestern on Feb. 7 with Clouden, junior guard Janai Crooms, sophomore guard/forward Julia Ayrault, sophomore guard Moira Joiner and junior forward Alisia Smith. Saturday was the third game this season with that starting five and is the fifth different starting lineup for the Spartans.
LENDING A HELPING HAND
With a team-leading five assists against Illinois on Feb. 4, Nia Clouden has now dished out five or more helpers in eight games. She added two assists against Penn State for 296 for her career, needing just four more for the 300-assist plateau. The 296 assists keeps Clouden at No. 17 on MSU's career assists list, passing Maxann Reese (1996-2000) with 291 helpers. Next up is Clouden's former graduate assistant, Kalisha Keene (2007-11), with 300 assists.
MASK UP, MICHIGAN
Things will look very different in the Breslin Center to start the season. Currently, there will be no fans in the stands. Crowd noise will be piped and the music will be going to get the players hyped up. From the comfort of home, fans can look for familiar faces in the cardboard cutouts in the stands. All postgame media will be done via Zoom this year.
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 157 of their last 177 games (.887) when scoring at least 70 points, and the Spartans are 174-29 (.857) under head coach Suzy Merchant when hanging at least 70 points on the scoreboard. The Spartans are now 11-1 this season when reaching the 70-point mark with the only loss coming against Maryland on Jan. 7.
CLOSING OUT THE GAMES
The Spartans have been extremely effective closing out games over the last couple years, winning 220 of its last 233 games (.944) when leading with five minutes left, including 170 of their last 185. In Coach Merchant's tenure, Michigan State is 255-19 (.931) when holding a lead with five minutes left. This season, MSU is 11-0 when leading with five minutes remaining.
CLOUDEN EARNS PRESEASON HONORS
Michigan State junior guard Nia Clouden has been named Preseason All-Big Ten by both the coaches and media. During the 2019-20 campaign, Clouden finished the season first on the team in scoring, averaging 14.5 points per game, which was also eighth in the Big Ten. Last season, Clouden captured second-team All-Big Big Ten honors after being named to the honorable mention squad as a freshman.
• The Spartans hold an overall record of 11-5 overall and 6-5 in Big Ten action. Last time out, Michigan State had four in double figures in a 78-65 win over Penn State. The Wolverines are 11-1 overall and 6-1 in leagues contests. This is the first meeting of two possible meetings between MSU and U-M.
• Nia Clouden remains No. 23 on MSU's career scoring list, as 17 points vs. Penn State gives her 1,138 points, passing Bella Engen (1994-98) with 1,099 points, former teammate Jenna Allen (2015-19) with 1,098 points and Becky Cummings (1997-2001) with 1,108 points. Next up is No. 22 Julie Polakowski (1982-86) with 1,143 points.
• After 16 games, the Spartans are currently ninth in the nation and third in the Big Ten in assists per game (18.8 apg) and 11th in the NCAA and third in the B1G assists to turnover ratio (1.33).
• The Spartan sophomore class has stepped up this season. MSU sophomores are three of the Spartans' top five scorers. Alyza Winston is second, averaging 10.3 ppg, while Julia Ayrault (9.5 ppg) and Taiyier Parks (8.0 ppg), stand fourth and fifth, respectively.
SCOUTING MICHIGAN
No. 11/12 Michigan returned to action after a two-week U-M Athletic Department shutdown, by playing at Purdue last Thursday, Feb. 11, and posted a 62-49 win. Prior to that, Michigan's last game was Jan. 21 at No. 17 Ohio State, falling 81-77. The win over Purdue improved the Wolverines' record to 11-1 overall and 6-1 in B1G action, currently in second in the league standings by winning percentage (.857), behind Maryland at 10-1 (.909).
In the win at Purdue, Michigan led from start-to-finish, with junior forward Naz Hillmon and junior guard/forward Leigha Brown combining for 41 points, while Hillmon recording her ninth double-double of the season with 21 points and 10 rebounds.
Michigan is fourth in the B1G in scoring offense (79.8 ppg), while ranking third in the league in scoring defense (59.2 ppg), to rank second in the conference and ninth in the country in scoring margin (+20.6). The Wolverines also lead the league and rank 36th in the nation in field goal percentage defense, stymieing the opposition to just .362 per game. U-M's offense is fourth in the conference and 14th in the country in field goal percentage (.474).
Hillmon is second in the B1G and tied for third in the NCAA in scoring at 25.7 points per game, as well as leading the league and ranking ninth in the nation in rebounding (12.1 rpg). Hillmon is also second in both the conference and the country in field goal percentage (.643). Brown adds 19.8 ppg, while Johnson tallies 11.5 ppg and 6.4 rpg. Junior guard Amy Dilk leads U-M and ranks eighth in the B1G with 4.5 assists per game and also tops the team with 1.0 steals per game.
SERIES HISTORY VS. WOLVERINES
Michigan State leads the overall series 72-21, including a 28-13 record in Ann Arbor. The Spartans are 35-8 against Michigan in East Lansing. The series has gotten much tighter in recent history. Last season, the Wolverines captured both games in the series. In the last six games the series is tied 3-3. Under Coach Merchant, the Spartans hold a 22-7 record against Michigan.
LAST TIME VS. MICHIGAN
Michigan State women's basketball erased an 18-point second-half deficit but were unable to hold on, falling to Michigan 65-57 in the annual Pink Game on Feb. 23, 2020. A season-high 11,462 fans were on hand at the Breslin Center.
Michigan State had two players in double figures led by 18 from sophomore guard Nia Clouden, who also added four assists and two steals. Senior guard Taryn McCutcheon added 14 points with three assists and one steal. Sophomore guard/forward Tory Ozment had a solid game scoring nine points, with three rebounds and two assists.
REACHING MORE MILESTONES
Michigan State head coach Suzy Merchant is approaching even more milestones. She is nearing her 500th career win and her 300th win as head coach at MSU. In her 25-year career, Merchant holds an overall record of 493-273, making her just seven wins away from the 500 win mark. She is also 292-153 during her 14 seasons at the helm of the Spartans, standing eight wins away from the 300-win plateau.
On Feb. 16, 2016, Merchant captured her 400th career win in historic fashion. In a dramatic 114-106 win over Minnesota at the Breslin Center, All-American Aerial Powers scored a career-high 40 points, as the Gophers Rachel Banham scored 52.
On Feb. 24, 2016, Merchant won her 2ooth game at Michigan State in a win over Illinois.
GETTING OVER 70
The magic number to victory this season is reaching 70 points. The Spartans are 10-1 this season when reaching 70-point plateau. Michigan State has lost five of its last seven games and during that stretch MSU has only reached 70 points three times.
HIGH ROLLERS
Against Penn State on Feb. 13, four Spartans scored in double-figures, marking the sixth time this season of having four players with 10+ points, as MSU improved to 5-1 with four players in double-figures. A total of 12 Spartans played Saturday with nine scoring.
BEST OF THE BEST
Junior guard Nia Clouden joins a select group of company as one of only three players in the Big Ten that are in the top 12 in points, assists and steals per game. Clouden is sixth in scoring (19.1 ppg), 12th in assists (4.1 apg) and 10th in steals (1.9 spg). Rutgers' Arella Guirantes is third in scoring (22.0 ppg), tied for fifth in assists (5.4) and third in steals (2.5 spg.). Northwestern's Veronica Burton rounds out the list. She is 11th in scoring (17.1 ppg), sixth in assists (4.8 apg) and first in steals (4.1 spg.)
CROOMS PUTTING UP THE NUMBERS
Junior guard Janai Crooms has continued to put up impressive numbers. Against Penn State on Feb. 13, Crooms dished out a game-high and new MSU career-high seven assists, topping her previous mark of six helpers that she had accomplished twice before, last doing so at Wisconsin (1/24/21). She added an MSU-high five steals against Northwestern on Feb. 7 with her career high six steals coming at Ohio State coming against Rutgers in 2019. Crooms also made the sixth consecutive start of her Spartan career, as she transferred to MSU from Ohio State in the offseason.
KEEPING YOUR BALANCE
While Nia Clouden leads the team in scoring and assists, the rest of the Spartan squad is rather balanced. MSU has seven players averaging over 5.0 ppg. Averaging 18.8 assists per game, Michigan State is getting helpers from all over the place. There are five players averaging over. 2.0 apg. Nia Clouden (4.1) and Tory Ozment (3.9) are providing over. 3.5 assists per game. Janai Crooms averages 3.1 apg, while Moira Joiner and Julia Ayrault are averaging 2.1 and 2.0 apg, respectively.
I'M A SURVIVOR
Redshirt-senior guard/forward Mardrekia Cook played in her 99th career game against, just one away from her 100th game. Cook has endured injuries every season at MSU, including tearing her Achilles' tendon last season and tearing her ACL during her sophomore year.
JOINING THE CLUB
Against Maryland on Jan. 7, Nia Clouden scored her 1,000th career point with a jumper from the left wing with 9:43 left in the third quarter for her 14th point in the game. Clouden became the 29th player in MSU women's basketball history to reach the 1,000 career points plateau. She now has 1,138 points in her Spartan career, climbing up to No. 23 on the MSU career scoring list. She became the seventh player in the last seven years to reach the 1,000-point mark.
Years Player Points
2020-21 Nia Clouden 1,138
2019-20 Taryn McCutcheon 1,119
2018-19 Jenna Allen 1,098
2017-18 Branndais Agee 1,250
2015-16 Tori Jankoska 2,212
2014-15 Aerial Powers 1,817
2014-15 Becca Mills 1,157
PARTY LIKE ITS 1985
Junior guard Nia Clouden is looking to become the first Spartan since Kris Emerson in the 1985-86 season to lead the team in scoring, assists and steals per game. She is currently averaging 19.1 points, 4.1 assists and 1.9 steals per game. Emerson led with 16.9 points, 3.0 assists and 1.9 steals per game during the 1985-86 season.
AROUND THE LEAGUE
Around the Big Ten, Nia Clouden ranks sixth in scoring (19.1 ppg), as well as standing 12th in assists (4.1 spg). She is also 10th in steals with 1.9 spg. Junior guard Tory Ozment is fourth in assist/turnover ratio (2.70). Sophomore Julia Ayrault is seventh in blocks (1.2), while fellow sophomore Alyza Winston is tied for 10th in 3-pointers made (1.9/game). As a team, the Spartans are third in assists (18.8 apg), third in steals (9.3 spg) and sixth in blocks (3.8 bpg). In league games, Ozment is first in the Big Ten in assists/turnover ratio (3.73).
THE STARTING 5
Nia Clouden is the only Spartan to have started all 16 games this season, making her 79th career start in playing in her 79th career game. After unveiling a new starting lineup last time out vs. Illinois (Feb. 4), the Spartans went with the same lineup against Northwestern on Feb. 7 with Clouden, junior guard Janai Crooms, sophomore guard/forward Julia Ayrault, sophomore guard Moira Joiner and junior forward Alisia Smith. Saturday was the third game this season with that starting five and is the fifth different starting lineup for the Spartans.
LENDING A HELPING HAND
With a team-leading five assists against Illinois on Feb. 4, Nia Clouden has now dished out five or more helpers in eight games. She added two assists against Penn State for 296 for her career, needing just four more for the 300-assist plateau. The 296 assists keeps Clouden at No. 17 on MSU's career assists list, passing Maxann Reese (1996-2000) with 291 helpers. Next up is Clouden's former graduate assistant, Kalisha Keene (2007-11), with 300 assists.
MASK UP, MICHIGAN
Things will look very different in the Breslin Center to start the season. Currently, there will be no fans in the stands. Crowd noise will be piped and the music will be going to get the players hyped up. From the comfort of home, fans can look for familiar faces in the cardboard cutouts in the stands. All postgame media will be done via Zoom this year.
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 157 of their last 177 games (.887) when scoring at least 70 points, and the Spartans are 174-29 (.857) under head coach Suzy Merchant when hanging at least 70 points on the scoreboard. The Spartans are now 11-1 this season when reaching the 70-point mark with the only loss coming against Maryland on Jan. 7.
CLOSING OUT THE GAMES
The Spartans have been extremely effective closing out games over the last couple years, winning 220 of its last 233 games (.944) when leading with five minutes left, including 170 of their last 185. In Coach Merchant's tenure, Michigan State is 255-19 (.931) when holding a lead with five minutes left. This season, MSU is 11-0 when leading with five minutes remaining.
CLOUDEN EARNS PRESEASON HONORS
Michigan State junior guard Nia Clouden has been named Preseason All-Big Ten by both the coaches and media. During the 2019-20 campaign, Clouden finished the season first on the team in scoring, averaging 14.5 points per game, which was also eighth in the Big Ten. Last season, Clouden captured second-team All-Big Big Ten honors after being named to the honorable mention squad as a freshman.
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