Sunday, February 21
East Lansing, Mich.
11:30 AM
Michigan State University
12-6,7-6Big Ten
76
vs
73
Purdue
6-13,3-12Big Ten
1
2
3
4
F
Purdue
11
26
18
18
73
Michigan St.
22
13
17
24
76
Team Stats
Purdue
MSU
FG%
.441
.484
3FG%
.364
.400
FT%
.722
.667
RB
29
39
TO
16
19
STL
8
8
Game Leaders
Pts
18
FGM
8
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
16
FGM
6
3FGM
4
FTM
0
Pts
11
FGM
3
3FGM
3
FTM
2
Pts
7
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG/F
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
Ozment Buzzer Beater Lifts Spartans Past Purdue
2/21/2021 4:39:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Junior guard drains 3-pointer for 76-73 come-from-behind victory for MSU.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Junior guard Tory Ozment's 3-pointer with time expiring completed a Michigan State women's basketball comeback, defeating Purdue 76-73, Sunday afternoon at the Breslin Center.
Trailing by nine points with 3:18 left in the fourth quarter at 71-62, the Spartan defense turned up the heat to spearhead the MSU comeback. Michigan State fought for three steals in less than a minute to tie the score at 71-71 with 1:23 remaining. Junior guard Nia Clouden's jumper in the paint later tied the score at 73-73 to set up Ozment's dramatic finish.
With the win, Michigan State improves to 12-6 overall and 7-6 in Big Ten play. Purdue stands 6-13 with a 3-12 league record.
Senior forward Alisia Smith earned her first double-double in an MSU uniform with a team-leading 18 points and 10 rebounds. On the defensive end, she added two steals and two blocks, with both steals coming in a minute span during the Spartans' frenzied comeback. Sophomore guard Alyza Winston added 16 points with a career-high five assists. Clouden also provided six of MSU's 21 assists on the day.
Purdue's Kayan Traylor led all scorers with 31 points to go with five assists.
With six early points by Smith, the Spartans jumped out to an early 9-3 first-quarter lead. MSU used a 6-0 run as part of a greater 11-1 spurt to make it an 11-3 game, before back-to-back treys by the Boilermakers tightened the game. Winston paced the Spartans in the first period with five points and four assists.
In the second quarter, the Boilermakers came out strong, cutting the Spartan lead to 30-26 with 4:35 left in the period. Michigan State went over three minutes without a field goal as the game remained tight. Sophomore forward Julia Ayrault broke the cold spell with a jumper with under three minutes remaining, but a Rokia Doumbia three made it a one point game, 35-34. The Boilermakers took the lead at 37-35 with their four trey of the half.
Purdue kept Michigan State's leading scorer, Clouden off the scoreboard in the first half, leading 37-35, entering the locker room.
Two-straight baskets by Clouden put MSU back on top at 42-39 in the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, the Boilermakers went on an 8-0 run to take 69-60 lead with 4:09, looking like they had sealed the win. MSU was then able to convert its defense into offense to change the momentum of the game. Purdue also went the final 3:18 without a field goal as the Spartans rallied sparked by their defense.Â
Michigan State remains at the Breslin Center to take on Rutgers on Wednesday, Feb. 24 at 3 p.m. The game will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network.
Michigan State Women's Basketball vs. Michigan
• Junior guard/forward Tori Ozment's game-winning 3-pointer was her first and only 3-pointer of the game, as she finished with seven points.
• Senior forward Alisia Smith posted the first double-double of her short MSU career with 18 points and 10 rebounds ... the 18 points was one shy of her Spartan career of 19 points at Wisconsin (1/24/21) ... Sunday was Smith's 12th game for the Green & White after transferring from Penn State in the offseason ... overall, it was Smith's seventh career double-double after six at Penn State (one in 2019-20, five in 2018-19).
• Smith's 18 points was her sixth double-figure scoring output, while the 10 rebounds was her second double-figure outing on the glass ... of Smith's six double-digit point games, five of come in the last eight games, all eight of which she has started ... Smith has now tallied 93 points and 51 rebounds over those eight starts, averaging 11.6 points and 6.4 rebounds.
• The Spartan senior forward added two blocks and two steals, as both of Smith's steals came in a span of less than in a minute during the final three minutes of the fourth quarter, sparking ensuing fast-break layups for the SpartansÂ
• Sophomore guard Alyza Winston netted 16 points, including a team-high 13 points in the first half ... Winston drained three 3-pointers in the first half, finishing 4-of-6 behind the arc for the game ... the 16 points Sunday was Winston's third-straight double-figure game as part of her 10th double-digit outing this season and 11th of her career.Â
• The four 3-pointers tied Winston's second-highest of the season behind her career-high six treys vs. Iowa (12/12/20) and matching four triples from the previous game at Minnesota (12/9/20), as her top three 3-point shooting outings have come in Big Ten games.
• Winston also dished out a career-high five assists, topping her previous career-high of four helpers, done twice, last vs. Nebraska (1/10/21).
• Sophomore guard Moira Joiner netted her second-most points of the season with 11 on Sunday, her first double-figure outing in the last seven games, last going for double-digits at Wisconsin (1/24/21) ... the 11 points was Joiner's fourth double-figure scoring outing of the season and 10th of her career.
• Junior guard Nia Clouden was limited to a season-low six points, a game after her career-high 34 points last time out vs. Michigan (2/16/21) ... Clouden's six points was her first time being held under double-digits this season, as she had tallied not only 10+ points, but 12 or more points in the previous 17 games this season ... Sunday's six points also snapped a streak of scoring in double-figures at 27 in a row, dating back to Jan. 23, 2020 vs. Northwestern, when Clouden was held scoreless ... the junior guard has now scored double-figures in 44 of her last 48 games plays, now doing so in all but four games over the last two seasons, and in 67 of 81 career games played ... Sunday was also just the fourth time in the 18 games this season that Clouden did not lead MSU in scoring.
• While not able to score around her average Sunday, Clouden did dish out a game-high six assists, marking the eighth game this season with five or more helpers and more than her average of 3.9 assists per game coming into Sunday's game.
• Clouden also snared six rebounds, marking her third-straight game and fourth in the last five contests with five or more boards, as part of five on the season.
• Clouden now has 1,178 points, remaining at the No. 21 spot on MSU's career scoring list ... Clouden needs just three points to crack the Top 20, as Rene Haynes (2003-07) holds the No. 20 spot with 1,181 points.
• Sunday's Spartan starting five of junior guard Nia Clouden, junior guard Janai Crooms, sophomore guard/forward Julia Ayrault, sophomore guard Moira Joiner and junior forward Alisia Smith was the fifth-straight game with that starting five after unveiling these starters on Feb. 4 vs. Illinois ... it is the fifth different starting lineup for the Spartans.
• Clouden continues to be the only Spartan to have started all 18 games this season ... Clouden started for the 81st time in her career in playing in her 81st career game.
• Ayrault started the 14th game of her career, all coming this season, and played in her 45th career game on Tuesday.Â
• Michigan State's starting five Tuesday night was the fourth game in a row with the same starting five of junior guard Nia Clouden, junior guard Janai Crooms, sophomore guard/forward Julia Ayrault, sophomore guard Moira Joiner and junior forward Alisia Smith ... it was the fourth game this season with that starting five, as part of the fifth different starting lineup for the Spartans.
• Clouden continues to be the only Spartan to have started all 17 games this season ... Clouden started for the 80th time in her career in playing in her 80th career game.
• Ayrault started the 15th game of her career, all coming this season, and played in her 46th career game on Sunday.
• Smith and Crooms made their eighth-straight starts of their Spartan careers, as they both transferred to MSU from Penn State and Ohio State, respectively, in the offseason ... Crooms played in her 16th game, while Smith played in her 12th game for the Green & White.
• Joiner started for the fourth game in a row, after not having started since game three, 12/2/20 at Minnesota, prior to the Illinois game (2/4/20), and had started the first three games of the season ... Sunday's contest was the eighth start of the season for Joiner and her 33rd career start, while playing in her 47th career game.
• Michigan State had an 18-13 bench scoring edge Sunday ... it was the 16th contest this season that the Spartan bench out-scored their oppositions ... MSU improves to 11-5 this season when having a bench-scoring advantage.
• The Spartans trailed, 37-35, at halftime on Sunday, marking the first time this season that the Green & White rallied from a halftime deficit in the six games trailing at the break.
• Sunday's 76 points by the Spartans was their 14th ballgame topping the 70-point mark this season ... MSU improves to 12-2 on the year when scoring 70 or more ... the Green & White have now won 158 of their last 179 games (.883) when scoring at least 70 points, and the Spartans are 176-30 (.854) under head coach Suzy Merchant when hanging at least 70 points on the scoreboard.
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Trailing by nine points with 3:18 left in the fourth quarter at 71-62, the Spartan defense turned up the heat to spearhead the MSU comeback. Michigan State fought for three steals in less than a minute to tie the score at 71-71 with 1:23 remaining. Junior guard Nia Clouden's jumper in the paint later tied the score at 73-73 to set up Ozment's dramatic finish.
With the win, Michigan State improves to 12-6 overall and 7-6 in Big Ten play. Purdue stands 6-13 with a 3-12 league record.
Senior forward Alisia Smith earned her first double-double in an MSU uniform with a team-leading 18 points and 10 rebounds. On the defensive end, she added two steals and two blocks, with both steals coming in a minute span during the Spartans' frenzied comeback. Sophomore guard Alyza Winston added 16 points with a career-high five assists. Clouden also provided six of MSU's 21 assists on the day.
Purdue's Kayan Traylor led all scorers with 31 points to go with five assists.
With six early points by Smith, the Spartans jumped out to an early 9-3 first-quarter lead. MSU used a 6-0 run as part of a greater 11-1 spurt to make it an 11-3 game, before back-to-back treys by the Boilermakers tightened the game. Winston paced the Spartans in the first period with five points and four assists.
In the second quarter, the Boilermakers came out strong, cutting the Spartan lead to 30-26 with 4:35 left in the period. Michigan State went over three minutes without a field goal as the game remained tight. Sophomore forward Julia Ayrault broke the cold spell with a jumper with under three minutes remaining, but a Rokia Doumbia three made it a one point game, 35-34. The Boilermakers took the lead at 37-35 with their four trey of the half.
Purdue kept Michigan State's leading scorer, Clouden off the scoreboard in the first half, leading 37-35, entering the locker room.
Two-straight baskets by Clouden put MSU back on top at 42-39 in the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, the Boilermakers went on an 8-0 run to take 69-60 lead with 4:09, looking like they had sealed the win. MSU was then able to convert its defense into offense to change the momentum of the game. Purdue also went the final 3:18 without a field goal as the Spartans rallied sparked by their defense.Â
Michigan State remains at the Breslin Center to take on Rutgers on Wednesday, Feb. 24 at 3 p.m. The game will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network.
Michigan State Women's Basketball vs. Michigan
• Junior guard/forward Tori Ozment's game-winning 3-pointer was her first and only 3-pointer of the game, as she finished with seven points.
• Senior forward Alisia Smith posted the first double-double of her short MSU career with 18 points and 10 rebounds ... the 18 points was one shy of her Spartan career of 19 points at Wisconsin (1/24/21) ... Sunday was Smith's 12th game for the Green & White after transferring from Penn State in the offseason ... overall, it was Smith's seventh career double-double after six at Penn State (one in 2019-20, five in 2018-19).
• Smith's 18 points was her sixth double-figure scoring output, while the 10 rebounds was her second double-figure outing on the glass ... of Smith's six double-digit point games, five of come in the last eight games, all eight of which she has started ... Smith has now tallied 93 points and 51 rebounds over those eight starts, averaging 11.6 points and 6.4 rebounds.
• The Spartan senior forward added two blocks and two steals, as both of Smith's steals came in a span of less than in a minute during the final three minutes of the fourth quarter, sparking ensuing fast-break layups for the SpartansÂ
• Sophomore guard Alyza Winston netted 16 points, including a team-high 13 points in the first half ... Winston drained three 3-pointers in the first half, finishing 4-of-6 behind the arc for the game ... the 16 points Sunday was Winston's third-straight double-figure game as part of her 10th double-digit outing this season and 11th of her career.Â
• The four 3-pointers tied Winston's second-highest of the season behind her career-high six treys vs. Iowa (12/12/20) and matching four triples from the previous game at Minnesota (12/9/20), as her top three 3-point shooting outings have come in Big Ten games.
• Winston also dished out a career-high five assists, topping her previous career-high of four helpers, done twice, last vs. Nebraska (1/10/21).
• Sophomore guard Moira Joiner netted her second-most points of the season with 11 on Sunday, her first double-figure outing in the last seven games, last going for double-digits at Wisconsin (1/24/21) ... the 11 points was Joiner's fourth double-figure scoring outing of the season and 10th of her career.
• Junior guard Nia Clouden was limited to a season-low six points, a game after her career-high 34 points last time out vs. Michigan (2/16/21) ... Clouden's six points was her first time being held under double-digits this season, as she had tallied not only 10+ points, but 12 or more points in the previous 17 games this season ... Sunday's six points also snapped a streak of scoring in double-figures at 27 in a row, dating back to Jan. 23, 2020 vs. Northwestern, when Clouden was held scoreless ... the junior guard has now scored double-figures in 44 of her last 48 games plays, now doing so in all but four games over the last two seasons, and in 67 of 81 career games played ... Sunday was also just the fourth time in the 18 games this season that Clouden did not lead MSU in scoring.
• While not able to score around her average Sunday, Clouden did dish out a game-high six assists, marking the eighth game this season with five or more helpers and more than her average of 3.9 assists per game coming into Sunday's game.
• Clouden also snared six rebounds, marking her third-straight game and fourth in the last five contests with five or more boards, as part of five on the season.
• Clouden now has 1,178 points, remaining at the No. 21 spot on MSU's career scoring list ... Clouden needs just three points to crack the Top 20, as Rene Haynes (2003-07) holds the No. 20 spot with 1,181 points.
• Sunday's Spartan starting five of junior guard Nia Clouden, junior guard Janai Crooms, sophomore guard/forward Julia Ayrault, sophomore guard Moira Joiner and junior forward Alisia Smith was the fifth-straight game with that starting five after unveiling these starters on Feb. 4 vs. Illinois ... it is the fifth different starting lineup for the Spartans.
• Clouden continues to be the only Spartan to have started all 18 games this season ... Clouden started for the 81st time in her career in playing in her 81st career game.
• Ayrault started the 14th game of her career, all coming this season, and played in her 45th career game on Tuesday.Â
• Michigan State's starting five Tuesday night was the fourth game in a row with the same starting five of junior guard Nia Clouden, junior guard Janai Crooms, sophomore guard/forward Julia Ayrault, sophomore guard Moira Joiner and junior forward Alisia Smith ... it was the fourth game this season with that starting five, as part of the fifth different starting lineup for the Spartans.
• Clouden continues to be the only Spartan to have started all 17 games this season ... Clouden started for the 80th time in her career in playing in her 80th career game.
• Ayrault started the 15th game of her career, all coming this season, and played in her 46th career game on Sunday.
• Smith and Crooms made their eighth-straight starts of their Spartan careers, as they both transferred to MSU from Penn State and Ohio State, respectively, in the offseason ... Crooms played in her 16th game, while Smith played in her 12th game for the Green & White.
• Joiner started for the fourth game in a row, after not having started since game three, 12/2/20 at Minnesota, prior to the Illinois game (2/4/20), and had started the first three games of the season ... Sunday's contest was the eighth start of the season for Joiner and her 33rd career start, while playing in her 47th career game.
• Michigan State had an 18-13 bench scoring edge Sunday ... it was the 16th contest this season that the Spartan bench out-scored their oppositions ... MSU improves to 11-5 this season when having a bench-scoring advantage.
• The Spartans trailed, 37-35, at halftime on Sunday, marking the first time this season that the Green & White rallied from a halftime deficit in the six games trailing at the break.
• Sunday's 76 points by the Spartans was their 14th ballgame topping the 70-point mark this season ... MSU improves to 12-2 on the year when scoring 70 or more ... the Green & White have now won 158 of their last 179 games (.883) when scoring at least 70 points, and the Spartans are 176-30 (.854) under head coach Suzy Merchant when hanging at least 70 points on the scoreboard.
Â
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