Sunday, January 16
East Lansing, Mich.
2 PM
Michigan State University
vs
Northwestern
MSU Women's Basketball Hosts Northwestern Sunday
1/15/2022 10:38:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Effective January 1, 2022, Michigan State athletics will require spectators at all indoor athletic events to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of the event. Michigan State's indoor mask mandate remains in effect for all home athletic events. Please visit the FAQ page for more information.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Looking to snap a two-game losing streak, Michigan State women's basketball returns home to take on Northwestern on Sunday, Jan. 16 at 2 p.m. at the Breslin Center. This will be the first meeting of the season between the Spartans and the Wildcats, as the first meeting scheduled for Jan. 3 was postponed due to COVID-19 issues within the Wildcat program.
• The Spartans hold an 8-8 overall record and stand 2-3 in Big Ten action after a 89-83 loss to Ohio State on Jan. 12. Northwestern comes to town with an 11-4 record and are 3-1 in league contests. The Wildcats are winners of seven of their last eight games.
• After Michigan State dominated the series for years, Northwestern has held control for the last few seasons. The Wildcats have won seven of the last 10 games, including a 63-60 win in East Lansing last year. Prior to 2014, MSU had won 20-straight games from 2003-2014.
• With 21 points Wednesday against Ohio State, senior guard Nia Clouden now has 1,624 career points, continuing to close in on the No. 6 spot of 1,649 points held by Allyssa DeHaan, who was in attendance in MSU's last home game (vs. Purdue, 1/9/22) for Spartan Women's Basketball Alumni Day.
• Freshman guard/forward Matilda Ekh now has 177 points this season, needing just 89 more points to crack MSU's single-season scoring by a freshman Top 15 list, as the No. 15 spot is currently at 266 points by Bella Engen (1994-95).
SCOUTING NORTHWESTERN
Northwestern comes to the Breslin Center with an 11-4 overall record and a 3-1 mark in Big Ten games. The Wildcats have won seven of their last eight games with their only loss coming against Ohio State, 74-61, on Jan. 9. Northwestern also has Big Ten wins against Rutgers, Iowa and Wisconsin.
Northwestern continues to be led by the multi-faceted Veronica Burton, who is the only Wildcat to average in double figures. She is averaging 18.0 points per game. Burton is among the B1G leaders in several categories. She is ninth in scoring (18.0 ppg), second in assists (6.1 apg), first in steals (4.1 spg) and 11th in blocks (1.1 bpg). Courtney Shaw is third in the league in rebounding with 9.5 rpg.
The Wildcats are averaging 68.1 points per game, while allowing only 59.9 ppg. NU is first in the league in blocks with 6.0 bpg, and first in steals with 10.5 spg.
SERIES HISTORY VS. THE WILDCATS
Overall, Michigan State leads the overall series with Northwestern, 44-29. In East Lansing, the Spartans hold a 25-9 record against the Wildcats in the friendly confines of the Breslin Center. In Evanston, NU holds the series lead 20-17, while MSU is 2-0 record on neutral territory
After Michigan State dominated the series for years, Northwestern has held control for the last few seasons. The Wildcats have won seven of the last 10 games, including a 63-60 win in East Lansing last year. Prior to 2014, MSU had won 20-straight games from 2003-2014.
Last season despite trailing by as many as 21 points in the first half, the Michigan State women's basketball team's comeback fell just short, falling to No. 22/20 Northwestern, 63-60, on Feb. 21, 2021 at the Breslin Center.
Trailing by three points with eight seconds remaining, the Spartans had the ball in the hands of Nia Clouden. The guard was unable to drain the 3-pointer to tie the game, as Northwestern clung on for the victory.
MAMMA MIA
Freshman Matilda Ekh now has 177 points this season, needing just 89 more points to crack MSU's single-season scoring by a freshman Top 15 list, as the No. 15 spot is currently at 266 points by Bella Engen (1994-95). With four 3-pointers Wednesday against Ohio State, Ekh now has 29 on the season, needing just 10 more to crack the Top 5 list for treys by a Spartan freshman, as teammate Moira Joiner (2020-21) is at No. 5 with 39 triples.
Ekh will have a special guest in the stands against Northwestern with her mother, Anna-Karin Klang, visiting from Sweden.
FREE POINTS
The Spartans have shown great improvement from the charity stripe this season. During the 2020-21 season, MSU shot 67.2 from the free throw line. So far this year, the Spartans stand second in the Big Ten, shooting 76.8 percent from the charity stripe. MSU is led by senior guard Nia Clouden who is second in the league in free throw percentage, shooting 88.8 percent.
SPARTAN FUN FACTS
POWERFUL PARKS
Against Purdue on Jan. 9, junior forward Taiyier Parks posted a career-high tying 16 points, matching 16 points at Oakland (11/26/21). The 16 points was Parks' sixth double-figure scoring outing this season and 16th of her career. She posted her 16 points on a career-high tying six field goals, marking the seventh time in her career. The 16 points by Parks marked the first time this season that she has led MSU in scoring, as well as the fourth time in her career.
LOGGING IN THE MINUTES
With injuries and COVID-19 protocols, the Spartans have had several players logging in the minutes. Freshmen Matilda Ekh and DeeDee Hagemann are averaging 32.1 and 29.7 minutes per game, respectively. Senior guard Nia Clouden is sixth in the league in minutes played with 34.2 mpg. In league contests, Clouden is averaging 36.8 mpg, while Ekh is playing 34.5 mpg.
FANTASTIC FRESHMAN
Freshman guard/forward Matilda Ekh netted a career-high 27 points, becoming the second Spartan player to score 25+ points in a game this season, joining senior guard Nia Clouden's 50-point and 32-point outings. Earlier this season, Ekh became the first Spartan freshman to tally 20 points in a game since Clouden during the 2018-19 season with Ekh's previous career-high of 20 points vs. Illinois (12/9/21), and Ekh's 27 points topped the Spartans' most recent 20-point high score outing by a freshman topping Clouden's 23 points as a freshman also vs. Ohio State (2/21/19), and also matching the most by a freshman, equaling Clouden's mark of 27 points vs. Iowa (12/30/18).
CHANGES AT THE BRESLIN CENTER
Effective January 1, 2022, Michigan State athletics will require spectators at indoor athletic events to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of the event. The policy applies to men's and women's basketball, hockey, wrestling and gymnastics home events. card or a digital image along with a photo ID matching the name on the card. Michigan State University students, faculty and staff can show their University ID as proof of compliance with the university's vaccine mandate
ANATOMY OF RECORD BREAKER
REACHING THE TOP 10
Senior guard Nia Clouden's 21 points against Ohio State gives her 1,624 for her career. She is just the sixth person with 1,600 career points, closing in on the No. 6 spot of 1,649 points held by Allyssa DeHaan. Clouden is still No. 8 in all-time Spartan assists with 390, passing Eileen Shea (382) and Kim Archer (381). She is 11 assists away from tying Brittney Thomas (2007-11).
Clouden joins Tori Jankoska as the only MSU players to finish their careers in the top 10 in scoring and assists.
DOING MORE WITH LESS
Losing senior Tory Ozment and junior Julia Ayrault to season-ending injuries at the beginning, MSU was already playing with a short bench. Against Nebraska on Dec. 30, the bench got even shorter. The Spartans played without freshman DeeDee Hagemann and senior Laurel Jacqmain because of COVID-19 protocols and junior Moira Joiner was out with concussion symptoms. Against the Huskers, MSU had nine players available and played eight.
BIG TIME B1G HONOR
Senior guard Nia Clouden was named Big Ten Player of the Week on Dec. 27. The Owings Mills, Maryland native had a record setting-week at the West Palm Beach Invitational. Clouden scored 50 points in the Spartans' double overtime loss to Florida Gulf Coast on Dec. 20. The 50 points is also the most points scored in the NCAA this season. She became just third Big Ten player ever to score 50 points, joining Minnesota's Rachel Banham (2015-16) and Michigan's Naz Hillman (2020-21).
LOOKING ACROSS THE LEAGUE
Senior guard Nia Clouden stands second in the B1G in scoring with 21.4 points per game. Clouden also holds the 10th spot in the league in assists with 4.1 helpers per contest, while freshman guard DeeDee Hagemann is fifth with 5.3 apg. She is also eighth in the league in assist/turnover ration (1.9). Clouden is also second in the league in free-throw percentage (.888).
As a team, the Spartans are second in the Big Ten in free throw percentage (.768) and fifth in field goal percentages (.454). Michigan State is third in assists, averaging 17.5 apg.
AROUND THE NATION
The Spartans are distributing the ball really well through the first 16 games. Michigan State is 10th in the nation and second in the Big Ten with 280 total assists and are 19th in assists per game, averaging 17.5 apg. MSU is also 27th in the nation in free throw percentage (.768). Senior guard Nia Clouden has been stellar in getting to the line. She is first in the nation in free throws made (111) and 28th in the NCAA in free throw percentage (.888). Clouden is also ninth in the country in scoring with 21.4 ppg.
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 304-194 record at Michigan State. Karen Langeland is the all-time leader with a 376-290 record at MSU. Merchant is also 10 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 505-284 record overall.
UP NEXT
Michigan State will face No. 6/5 Indiana on the road on Wednesday, Jan. 19 at 7 p.m., before hosting Minnesota on Sunday, Jan. 23 at 2 p.m. The game against the Gophers is the only other home game this month for MSU.
20 DIMES FOR WINS
MSU is also 6-0 this season when dishing out 20 or more assists. Against Illinois, Michigan State dished out 20 assists for the first time since the game at Oakland (11/26) when MSU had 27. 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
Going 15-for-17 from the free throw line against Florida Gulf Coast on Dec. 20, Nia Clouden tied the MSU record for single-game free throws made. All-American Aerial Powers also went 15-for-17 against Rutgers on Feb. 18, 2016. As a team, Michigan State is second in the Big Ten in free throw percentage (.780). Clouden matched that record going 15-for-17 from the charity stripe against Nebraska on Dec. 30.
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.
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. Senior guard Laurel Jacqmain set a new career high with 11 points, highlighted by back-to-back-to-back treys in the fourth quarter.
LAST TIME OUT
Despite a career-high 27 points from freshman guard/forward Matilda Ekh, Michigan State women's basketball was edged by Ohio State, 89-83, Wednesday night at OSU's Schottenstein Center.
With 27 points, Ekh was one of four Spartans in double figures Wednesday night. She went 4-for-9 from long range and a perfect 5-for-5 from the charity stripe. Senior guard Nia Clouden scored 21 points, while adding five rebounds and two assists. Graduate forward Tamara Farquhar was once again near a double-double with 13 points and eight rebounds, while junior forward Taiyier Parks added 11 points and matched Farquhar for the team-lead on the glass with eight boards.
EKH EARNS B1G HONOR
On Dec. 13, guard/forward Matilda Ekh captured her first Big Ten Freshman of the Week honor after leading the Spartans in scoring in a win against Illinois. She marked a new career high with 20 points in Michigan State's 75-60 win over the Illini on Dec. 9. Ekh has now scored in double figures seven times this season, second only to senior guard Nia Clouden. Fellow freshman guard DeeDee Hagemann also earned B1G Freshman of the Week honors on Nov. 15.
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 230 of its last 243 games (.947) when leading with five minutes left, including 180 of their last 195. In Coach Merchant's tenure, Michigan State is 265-20 (.930) when holding a lead with five minutes left. This season, MSU is 7-1 when leading with five minutes remaining.
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 165 of their last 193 games (.855) when scoring at least 70 points, and the Spartans are 185-36 (.837) under head coach Suzy Merchant when hanging at least 70 points on the scoreboard. This season, MSU is now 8-3 this season when scoring 70 points. The Spartans scored 71 points in losses to Notre Dame on Dec. 2 and Florida Gulf Coast on Dec. 20. MSU also fell to Ohio State, 89-83 on Jan. 12
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.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Looking to snap a two-game losing streak, Michigan State women's basketball returns home to take on Northwestern on Sunday, Jan. 16 at 2 p.m. at the Breslin Center. This will be the first meeting of the season between the Spartans and the Wildcats, as the first meeting scheduled for Jan. 3 was postponed due to COVID-19 issues within the Wildcat program.
• The Spartans hold an 8-8 overall record and stand 2-3 in Big Ten action after a 89-83 loss to Ohio State on Jan. 12. Northwestern comes to town with an 11-4 record and are 3-1 in league contests. The Wildcats are winners of seven of their last eight games.
• After Michigan State dominated the series for years, Northwestern has held control for the last few seasons. The Wildcats have won seven of the last 10 games, including a 63-60 win in East Lansing last year. Prior to 2014, MSU had won 20-straight games from 2003-2014.
• With 21 points Wednesday against Ohio State, senior guard Nia Clouden now has 1,624 career points, continuing to close in on the No. 6 spot of 1,649 points held by Allyssa DeHaan, who was in attendance in MSU's last home game (vs. Purdue, 1/9/22) for Spartan Women's Basketball Alumni Day.
• Freshman guard/forward Matilda Ekh now has 177 points this season, needing just 89 more points to crack MSU's single-season scoring by a freshman Top 15 list, as the No. 15 spot is currently at 266 points by Bella Engen (1994-95).
SCOUTING NORTHWESTERN
Northwestern comes to the Breslin Center with an 11-4 overall record and a 3-1 mark in Big Ten games. The Wildcats have won seven of their last eight games with their only loss coming against Ohio State, 74-61, on Jan. 9. Northwestern also has Big Ten wins against Rutgers, Iowa and Wisconsin.
Northwestern continues to be led by the multi-faceted Veronica Burton, who is the only Wildcat to average in double figures. She is averaging 18.0 points per game. Burton is among the B1G leaders in several categories. She is ninth in scoring (18.0 ppg), second in assists (6.1 apg), first in steals (4.1 spg) and 11th in blocks (1.1 bpg). Courtney Shaw is third in the league in rebounding with 9.5 rpg.
The Wildcats are averaging 68.1 points per game, while allowing only 59.9 ppg. NU is first in the league in blocks with 6.0 bpg, and first in steals with 10.5 spg.
SERIES HISTORY VS. THE WILDCATS
Overall, Michigan State leads the overall series with Northwestern, 44-29. In East Lansing, the Spartans hold a 25-9 record against the Wildcats in the friendly confines of the Breslin Center. In Evanston, NU holds the series lead 20-17, while MSU is 2-0 record on neutral territory
After Michigan State dominated the series for years, Northwestern has held control for the last few seasons. The Wildcats have won seven of the last 10 games, including a 63-60 win in East Lansing last year. Prior to 2014, MSU had won 20-straight games from 2003-2014.
Last season despite trailing by as many as 21 points in the first half, the Michigan State women's basketball team's comeback fell just short, falling to No. 22/20 Northwestern, 63-60, on Feb. 21, 2021 at the Breslin Center.
Trailing by three points with eight seconds remaining, the Spartans had the ball in the hands of Nia Clouden. The guard was unable to drain the 3-pointer to tie the game, as Northwestern clung on for the victory.
MAMMA MIA
Freshman Matilda Ekh now has 177 points this season, needing just 89 more points to crack MSU's single-season scoring by a freshman Top 15 list, as the No. 15 spot is currently at 266 points by Bella Engen (1994-95). With four 3-pointers Wednesday against Ohio State, Ekh now has 29 on the season, needing just 10 more to crack the Top 5 list for treys by a Spartan freshman, as teammate Moira Joiner (2020-21) is at No. 5 with 39 triples.
Ekh will have a special guest in the stands against Northwestern with her mother, Anna-Karin Klang, visiting from Sweden.
FREE POINTS
The Spartans have shown great improvement from the charity stripe this season. During the 2020-21 season, MSU shot 67.2 from the free throw line. So far this year, the Spartans stand second in the Big Ten, shooting 76.8 percent from the charity stripe. MSU is led by senior guard Nia Clouden who is second in the league in free throw percentage, shooting 88.8 percent.
SPARTAN FUN FACTS
- In league games, MSU has two players averaging in double figures. Nia Clouden (19.0 ppg) and Matilda Ekh (14.0 ppg). Taiyier Parks has also been solid in B1G games, averaging 9.6 ppg.
- Hagemann now has 74 assists this season, needing just three helpers to crack MSU's single-season assists by a freshman Top 10 list, as Aerial Powers (2013-14) currently has the No. 10 spot with 77 assists.
- The MSU freshman have been strong in the scoring column this season with Matilda Ekh scoring in double figures 10 times, while DeeDee Hagemann has reached double figures six times.
POWERFUL PARKS
Against Purdue on Jan. 9, junior forward Taiyier Parks posted a career-high tying 16 points, matching 16 points at Oakland (11/26/21). The 16 points was Parks' sixth double-figure scoring outing this season and 16th of her career. She posted her 16 points on a career-high tying six field goals, marking the seventh time in her career. The 16 points by Parks marked the first time this season that she has led MSU in scoring, as well as the fourth time in her career.
LOGGING IN THE MINUTES
With injuries and COVID-19 protocols, the Spartans have had several players logging in the minutes. Freshmen Matilda Ekh and DeeDee Hagemann are averaging 32.1 and 29.7 minutes per game, respectively. Senior guard Nia Clouden is sixth in the league in minutes played with 34.2 mpg. In league contests, Clouden is averaging 36.8 mpg, while Ekh is playing 34.5 mpg.
FANTASTIC FRESHMAN
Freshman guard/forward Matilda Ekh netted a career-high 27 points, becoming the second Spartan player to score 25+ points in a game this season, joining senior guard Nia Clouden's 50-point and 32-point outings. Earlier this season, Ekh became the first Spartan freshman to tally 20 points in a game since Clouden during the 2018-19 season with Ekh's previous career-high of 20 points vs. Illinois (12/9/21), and Ekh's 27 points topped the Spartans' most recent 20-point high score outing by a freshman topping Clouden's 23 points as a freshman also vs. Ohio State (2/21/19), and also matching the most by a freshman, equaling Clouden's mark of 27 points vs. Iowa (12/30/18).
CHANGES AT THE BRESLIN CENTER
Effective January 1, 2022, Michigan State athletics will require spectators at indoor athletic events to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of the event. The policy applies to men's and women's basketball, hockey, wrestling and gymnastics home events. card or a digital image along with a photo ID matching the name on the card. Michigan State University students, faculty and staff can show their University ID as proof of compliance with the university's vaccine mandate
ANATOMY OF RECORD BREAKER
- Several records fell against FGCU for Nia Clouden. She set the record for made field goals with 17. She also tied Aerial Powers school record with 15 made free throws.
- With 50 points against Florida Gulf Coast on Dec. 20, Nia Clouden broke Tori Jankoska's record of 42 points, which was set against Ohio State on 1/19/17.
- The 50 points is also the most scored by a DI women's basketball player this season, ahead of Delaware's Jasmine Dickey, who scored 48 against Eastern Michigan on Nov. 26.
REACHING THE TOP 10
Senior guard Nia Clouden's 21 points against Ohio State gives her 1,624 for her career. She is just the sixth person with 1,600 career points, closing in on the No. 6 spot of 1,649 points held by Allyssa DeHaan. Clouden is still No. 8 in all-time Spartan assists with 390, passing Eileen Shea (382) and Kim Archer (381). She is 11 assists away from tying Brittney Thomas (2007-11).
Clouden joins Tori Jankoska as the only MSU players to finish their careers in the top 10 in scoring and assists.
DOING MORE WITH LESS
Losing senior Tory Ozment and junior Julia Ayrault to season-ending injuries at the beginning, MSU was already playing with a short bench. Against Nebraska on Dec. 30, the bench got even shorter. The Spartans played without freshman DeeDee Hagemann and senior Laurel Jacqmain because of COVID-19 protocols and junior Moira Joiner was out with concussion symptoms. Against the Huskers, MSU had nine players available and played eight.
BIG TIME B1G HONOR
Senior guard Nia Clouden was named Big Ten Player of the Week on Dec. 27. The Owings Mills, Maryland native had a record setting-week at the West Palm Beach Invitational. Clouden scored 50 points in the Spartans' double overtime loss to Florida Gulf Coast on Dec. 20. The 50 points is also the most points scored in the NCAA this season. She became just third Big Ten player ever to score 50 points, joining Minnesota's Rachel Banham (2015-16) and Michigan's Naz Hillman (2020-21).
LOOKING ACROSS THE LEAGUE
Senior guard Nia Clouden stands second in the B1G in scoring with 21.4 points per game. Clouden also holds the 10th spot in the league in assists with 4.1 helpers per contest, while freshman guard DeeDee Hagemann is fifth with 5.3 apg. She is also eighth in the league in assist/turnover ration (1.9). Clouden is also second in the league in free-throw percentage (.888).
As a team, the Spartans are second in the Big Ten in free throw percentage (.768) and fifth in field goal percentages (.454). Michigan State is third in assists, averaging 17.5 apg.
AROUND THE NATION
The Spartans are distributing the ball really well through the first 16 games. Michigan State is 10th in the nation and second in the Big Ten with 280 total assists and are 19th in assists per game, averaging 17.5 apg. MSU is also 27th in the nation in free throw percentage (.768). Senior guard Nia Clouden has been stellar in getting to the line. She is first in the nation in free throws made (111) and 28th in the NCAA in free throw percentage (.888). Clouden is also ninth in the country in scoring with 21.4 ppg.
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 304-194 record at Michigan State. Karen Langeland is the all-time leader with a 376-290 record at MSU. Merchant is also 10 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 505-284 record overall.
UP NEXT
Michigan State will face No. 6/5 Indiana on the road on Wednesday, Jan. 19 at 7 p.m., before hosting Minnesota on Sunday, Jan. 23 at 2 p.m. The game against the Gophers is the only other home game this month for MSU.
20 DIMES FOR WINS
MSU is also 6-0 this season when dishing out 20 or more assists. Against Illinois, Michigan State dished out 20 assists for the first time since the game at Oakland (11/26) when MSU had 27. 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
Going 15-for-17 from the free throw line against Florida Gulf Coast on Dec. 20, Nia Clouden tied the MSU record for single-game free throws made. All-American Aerial Powers also went 15-for-17 against Rutgers on Feb. 18, 2016. As a team, Michigan State is second in the Big Ten in free throw percentage (.780). Clouden matched that record going 15-for-17 from the charity stripe against Nebraska on Dec. 30.
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.
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. Senior guard Laurel Jacqmain set a new career high with 11 points, highlighted by back-to-back-to-back treys in the fourth quarter.
LAST TIME OUT
Despite a career-high 27 points from freshman guard/forward Matilda Ekh, Michigan State women's basketball was edged by Ohio State, 89-83, Wednesday night at OSU's Schottenstein Center.
With 27 points, Ekh was one of four Spartans in double figures Wednesday night. She went 4-for-9 from long range and a perfect 5-for-5 from the charity stripe. Senior guard Nia Clouden scored 21 points, while adding five rebounds and two assists. Graduate forward Tamara Farquhar was once again near a double-double with 13 points and eight rebounds, while junior forward Taiyier Parks added 11 points and matched Farquhar for the team-lead on the glass with eight boards.
EKH EARNS B1G HONOR
On Dec. 13, guard/forward Matilda Ekh captured her first Big Ten Freshman of the Week honor after leading the Spartans in scoring in a win against Illinois. She marked a new career high with 20 points in Michigan State's 75-60 win over the Illini on Dec. 9. Ekh has now scored in double figures seven times this season, second only to senior guard Nia Clouden. Fellow freshman guard DeeDee Hagemann also earned B1G Freshman of the Week honors on Nov. 15.
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 230 of its last 243 games (.947) when leading with five minutes left, including 180 of their last 195. In Coach Merchant's tenure, Michigan State is 265-20 (.930) when holding a lead with five minutes left. This season, MSU is 7-1 when leading with five minutes remaining.
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 165 of their last 193 games (.855) when scoring at least 70 points, and the Spartans are 185-36 (.837) under head coach Suzy Merchant when hanging at least 70 points on the scoreboard. This season, MSU is now 8-3 this season when scoring 70 points. The Spartans scored 71 points in losses to Notre Dame on Dec. 2 and Florida Gulf Coast on Dec. 20. MSU also fell to Ohio State, 89-83 on Jan. 12
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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