Saturday, November 19
Mount Pleasant, Mich.
1 PM
Michigan State University
at
Central Michigan
MSU Women's Basketball Hits the Road to Face CMU Saturday
11/18/2022 6:14:00 PM | Women's Basketball
This is the Spartans first road game of the season.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State women's basketball hits the road for the first time this season after opening the season with five-straight home games. Â The Spartans will now head to Central Michigan to take on the Chippewas on Saturday, Nov. 19 at 1 p.m.
• MSU's 5-0 start is its third time in the last five seasons to open 5-0, joining the 2016-17 and 2020-21 Spartan squads, while the 2021-22 Spartans also started 4-0, but then suffered a loss in the fifth game. The 2020-21 MSU team started 9-0.
• Michigan State head coach Suzy Merchant is a 1991 Central Michigan alum, and this is the first time that she has led the Spartans back to Mount Pleasant. This is only the third time that Coach Merchant has faced her alma mater, going 2-0 in the previous two meetings, including an 88-87 NCAA Tournament win in 2019, and a 79-70 win in East Lansing on Dec. 18, 2020.
• Michigan State has two players averaging in double figures in scoring to start the season in sophomore guard/forward Matilda Ekh (12.2 ppg) and graduate guard Kamaria McDaniel (10.8 ppg).Â
• The Spartans pulled down 57 rebounds, marking their second game this season with 50+ boards, joining 53 vs. Purdue Fort Wayne (Nov. 10).
SCOUTING CENTRAL MICHIGAN
The Chippewas are 0-3 on the young season, already with a loss to an in-state foe, losing 71-60 at Oakland on Nov. 12, which came on the heels of a 71-64 loss to Valparaiso in CMU's home and season-opener on Nov. 7. Most recently, Central Michigan lost at Indiana State, 84-71, on Nov. 16.
CMU is averaging 65.0 points per game, while allowing 75.3 ppg, for a -10.3 scoring margin. The Chippewas are shooting 39.1 percent from the field, 26.1 percent from 3-point range and 67.3 percent at the free throw line. CMU has a +3.3 rebounding advantage, averaging 38.3 rpg, while the opposition has 35.0 rpg.Â
Two Chippewa players average in double-figures with a third just shy of double-digits, with freshman forward Sydney Harris leading the way with 14.7 points per game, ranking second on the team with seven 3-pointers (7-of-33, .212). Graduate-senior forward Jahari Smith tallies 11.7 ppg and pulled down 6.0 rebounds per game, ranking second on the squad. Freshman guard Bridget Utberg adds 9.7 ppg, and tops the team with nine treys (9-of-23, .391). Graduate-senior guard Anika Weeks pulls down a team-leading 6.5 rebounds per game, while graduate-senior forward Jnaya Walker dished out a team-best 2.7 assists per contest, and freshman guard Taylor Anderson swipes 2.3 assists per game.
CMU head coach Heather Oesterle is in her fourth season as head coach after a long tenure as a CMU assistant, including coaching with current Spartan assistant coach Kristin Haynie while both were assistant coaches Central Michigan, and both are natives of Mason, Michigan. Oesterle has a 45-44 record as a head coach.
SERIES HISTORY VS. CHIPPEWAS
Michigan State holds the overall series lead against Central Michigan, 29-8, including 11-4 at Mount Pleasant, as the Spartans are making their first trip there since 1999. MSU has won eight in a row in the series overall, dating back to 1996, and have won the last two match-ups there, as CMU's last win in the series and the Chippewas last win in Mount Pleasant was Nov. 29, 1993, in a tight, 60-59, contest.Â
The last time that MSU and CMU met was Dec. 18, 2020 in East Lansing, with the Spartans winning, 79-70, as Michigan State used a 10-0 fourth-quarter run to pull away from a tenacious Central Michigan team for the Victory for MSU. Current Spartans to contribute in the win were Taiyier Parks with 11 points, Julia Ayrualt with eight points, Tory Ozment with six points, while Moira Joiner was held scoreless but did dish out three assists.
DID YOU KNOW?
Saturday's battle at Central Michigan also re-unites MSU assistant coach Kristin Haynie against her former team. Haynie was an assistant coach for the Chippewas from 2014-17.Â
MERCHANT RETURNS TO ALMA MATER
MSU head coach Suzy Merchant is a 1991 Central Michigan alum, and this is the first time that she has led the Spartans back to Mount Pleasant, as it's MSU's first trip to Mount Pleasant since 1999. This is only the third time that Coach Merchant  has faced her alma mater, going 2-0 in the previous two meetings, including an 88-87 NCAA Tournament win in 2019, and a 79-70 win in East Lansing on Dec. 18, 2020.
Merchant was a four-year starter and four-year captain at CMU (1987-91), Merchant finished her Chippewa career setting a new career assists record, dishing out 463 helpers, during her CMU career and held the Chippewa's career assists record from 1991 until 2019, and is currently No. 3 on the career helpers list behind Presley Hudson (2015-19) with 643 and Micaela Kelly (2017-21) with 513. Merchant currently also still holds several other marks in the CMU record book, including two spots on the single-season assists list, sitting at No. 3 with 156 in 1990-91 and No. 7 with 143 in 1989-90.Â
BY THE NUMBERS VS. FAMU
• Three Spartans netted double-figures, led by sophomore guard/forward Matilda Ekh with 16 points, while graduate guard Kamaria McDaniel added 14 points and sophomore guard DeeDee Hagemann tallied 10 points. Thursday was the fourth game with three or more in double-figures, moving to 4-0 when three or more net 10+ points.
• A native of Vasteras, Sweden, Ekh and fellow Spartan Swede, Stephanie Visscher from Lulea, Sweden, had their high school teammates from Sweden at Thursday's game.
STAYING OFF THE SCOREBOARD
Against FAMU, the Spartans also held the Rattlers to single-digits in the second and third quarters, with six points in the second stanza and seven in the third. Thursday's six-point second quarter would have tied the fewest by the Spartans, holding Indiana to six points on 12/28/17, if not for last time out stymieing Oakland (11/15/22) to just four points, while the seven-point third quarter is also the second-lowest in the third stanza this season, as last time out, Michigan State limited Oakland to just five points in the third quarter.
LOCKING DOWN THE DEFENSE
A total of seven different Spartans set or tied a season-high, including three players scoring their first points of the season, including two tallying the first points of their collegiate careers against Florida A&M on Nov. 15. Freshman guard Abbey Kimball tallied the first five seven points of her Spartan career, getting into the scoring column with a pair of free throws, and finishing with a field goal and 5-for-5 at the charity stipe. Freshman guard Maddy Skorupski made the first field goal of her MSU career to finish the night with two points. Senior guard Jayla James netted not only her first five points of the season, but also a new career-high, topping her previous top mark of four points last season at Wisconsin (1/24/21).
BALANCED ATTACK
Without Nia Clouden to dominate the box score this season, the Spartans are looking for a more balanced attack. In five games this season, four different player have led the team in scoring. Senior forward Taiyier Parks led in scoring with a career-high 18 against Purdue Fort Wayne. Sophomore guard Matilda Ekh was atop the score sheet with 20 against Western Michigan and 16 against Florida A&M. Junior guard Gabby Elliott and senior guard Moira Joiner lead in scoring in the season opener against Delaware State with 13 points each. Elliott also led the team in scoring against Oakland with 12 points.
TOPPING THE CHARTS
Michigan State is among the Big Ten's leaders early on this season. The Spartans are currently first in the B1G in scoring margin (+48.0) and second in scoring defense (44.4 ppg). MSU is also second in rebounds (48.8 rpg) and second in assists (23.0 apg).
Sophomore guard Matilda Ekh is seventh in the Big Ten in 3-point field percentage (.444). Sophomore guard DeeDee Hagemann stands sixth in the Big Ten in assist/turnover ration (4.0).
NO SOPHOMORE SLUMP
Despite a slow start to the season, sophomores Matilda Ekh and DeeDee Hagemann have started heating up. Against Western Michigan on Nov. 13, Hagemann set a new career high with 19 points, including going 5-for-6 from beyond the arc.
Matilda Ekh had the Spartans' first 20-point game of the season with 20 points. She was hot from long distance, shooting 6-for-8 from behind the 3-point line. She also added a team-high 16 points against Florida A&M on Nov. 17.
Not to be undone, sophomore forward Isaline Alexander has been exceptional through five games, averaging 7.6 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. She leads the team in rebounding this season.
AROUND THE NATION
Early this season, Michigan State is third in the nation and second in the Big Ten in assists, averaging 23.0, just behind Michigan (26.0). MSU us also 10th in the country in scoring defense, allowing only  44.4 ppg.  Â
SEASON OPENERS
All-time, the Spartans are 35-15 in season openers, but 28-2 when the opener is in East Lansing. Coach Merchant is 13-3 in season openers at MSU, and has won 19 of her last 22, including her time at Eastern Michigan. Last season, the Spartans earned a dominating 86-37 win over Delaware State on Nov. 7.
UP NEXT
The Spartans will now hit the road for three-straight games. Michigan State will first take on Central Michigan on Saturday, Nov. 19 at 1 p.m. MSU will then travel to Portland, Oregon for the Phil Knight Invitational. MSU starts the tournament against No. 7/8 Iowa State on Nov. 24 at 7:30 p.m. (ET). Michigan State will then face either No. 13/13 North Carolina or No. 21/19 Oregon on Sunday, Nov. 27.
COMING BACK BETTER THAN EVER
Senior guard Moira Joiner has looked sharp in her first five games since returning from concussion symptoms that shut down her 2021-22 season. In five games, she is fourth in scoring, averaging 9.0 points per game. In the season opener against Delaware State tallied 13 points off the bench in her first action since Jan. 12, 2022 vs. Ohio State, after missing the remainder of the 2021-22 season due to injury. Joiner's 11 points against Western Michigan was her 17th career double-figure scoring game. Joiner also netted three 3-pointers against DSU, matching her season-high from last year. .
GUESS WHO'S BACK
Despite losing All-American Nia Clouden, the Spartans bring back a lot of fire power. MSU returns two starters in sophomore guard Matilda Ekh and sophomore guard DeeDee Hagemann. Ekh was third on the team in scoring, averaging 11.8 points per game. She was also eighth in the B1G in 3-pointers made with 2.3. Hagemann was sixth on the team in scoring, averaging 7.7 ppg and was fourth in the conference in assists (5.3 apg).
TITLE IX CELEBRATION
Throughout the season, Michigan State will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of Title IX. MSU Athletics kicked off its year-round celebration on June 23, 2022. While the work in advancing women's athletics is not complete, the Spartans will celebrate the advancements that have been made in the last 50 years. Â
LEGENDARY SPARTAN
Former Michigan State women's basketball guard Nia Clouden was drafted 12th in the first round by the Connecticut Sun at the 2022 WNBA Draft. Clouden was the 12th Big Ten student-athlete drafted by the Sun franchise (which began as the Orlando Miracle from 1999-2002). Clouden, an Owings Mills, Maryland native, became the eighth Spartan to be selected in the WNBA draft. Tori Jankoska was the ninth overall pick in the 2017 draft by the Chicago Sky, while Aerial Powers was the fifth overall pick in 2016 going to the Dallas Wings.Â
Maxann Reese and Kristen Rasmussen were the first Spartans selected in the WNBA, drafted in 2000. Reese was taken in the third round, while Rasmussen was selected in the fourth. In 2003, Syreeta Broomfield was drafted in the third round. In 2005, Kristin Haynie was the ninth overall pick by Sacramento, while Liz Shimek was taken in the second round by Phoenix in 2006.
LOOKING AT THE SCHEDULE
The Spartans will once again play a very difficult schedule. Nine of the MUS's 2022-23 regular-season opponents competed in the NCAA Tournament last season, including MSU's ACC/Big Ten Challenge opponent Georgia Tech. All three teams at the Phil Knight Invitational competed in the NCAA Tournament with MSU facing Iowa State in the first game. The Spartans will then face either Oregon or North Carolina in the next game. From the Big Ten portion of the schedule, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Nebraska and Ohio State reached the NCAA Tournament.
SPARTANS: THE NEW CLASS
Michigan State women's basketball head coach Suzy Merchant announced the signing of two National Letters of Intent on Thursday, including Jordan Wood (Chicago, Illinois/Carmel Catholic High School) and Bree Robinson (Mississauga, Ontario/ Webb School).Â
Wood is a 6-4 forward, who is a native of Chicago, Illinois. She attends Carmel Catholic High School and is coached by Ben Berg. Wood is currently ranked No. 62 in the ESPNW HoopGurlz Recruiting Rankings. Â As a junior, she scored 1,000 points, as well as leading the Corsairs to a Class 3A Illinois State Championship. Â Last season, she averaged 14.4 points and 6.6 rebounds per game, while also leading the team in assists (3.2 apg). She is a three-time All-East Suburban Catholic Conference and All-Area honoree, as well as capturing First-Team All-State accolades. Wood played AAU for Midwest Elite, competing on the EYBL Nike National circuit for coach Ralph Gesuado.
Robinson is a 5-8 guard, who is a native of Mississauga, Ontario, plays for head coach Matthew Shewmake at the Webb School (Tenn.). She helped lead the Webb school to a Tennessee State Championship, earning First-Team All-District 3 honors in the process. She also has a vast amount of international experience playing for Team Canada. She was the captain for Team Canada, playing in the U16 FIBA Americas in 2021, capturing a silver medal. She was also named Canletes 2022 All Canadian Player of the Year. She played for AAU Become One, competing on the GUAA Under Armour circuit for coach Handel Kipp.Â
CLOSING OUT THE GAMES
The Spartans have been extremely effective closing out games over the last couple years, winning 243 of its last 256 games (.949) when leading with five minutes left, including 193 of their last 208. In Coach Merchant's tenure, Michigan State is 277-21 (.930) when holding a lead with five minutes left. This season, MSU is 5-0 when leading with five minutes remaining.Â
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 175 of their last 205 games (.854) when scoring at least 70 points, and the Spartans are 195-41 (.826) under head coach Suzy Merchant when hanging at least 70 points on the scoreboard. This season, MSU is 5-0 this season when scoring 70 points.
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• MSU's 5-0 start is its third time in the last five seasons to open 5-0, joining the 2016-17 and 2020-21 Spartan squads, while the 2021-22 Spartans also started 4-0, but then suffered a loss in the fifth game. The 2020-21 MSU team started 9-0.
• Michigan State head coach Suzy Merchant is a 1991 Central Michigan alum, and this is the first time that she has led the Spartans back to Mount Pleasant. This is only the third time that Coach Merchant has faced her alma mater, going 2-0 in the previous two meetings, including an 88-87 NCAA Tournament win in 2019, and a 79-70 win in East Lansing on Dec. 18, 2020.
• Michigan State has two players averaging in double figures in scoring to start the season in sophomore guard/forward Matilda Ekh (12.2 ppg) and graduate guard Kamaria McDaniel (10.8 ppg).Â
• The Spartans pulled down 57 rebounds, marking their second game this season with 50+ boards, joining 53 vs. Purdue Fort Wayne (Nov. 10).
SCOUTING CENTRAL MICHIGAN
The Chippewas are 0-3 on the young season, already with a loss to an in-state foe, losing 71-60 at Oakland on Nov. 12, which came on the heels of a 71-64 loss to Valparaiso in CMU's home and season-opener on Nov. 7. Most recently, Central Michigan lost at Indiana State, 84-71, on Nov. 16.
CMU is averaging 65.0 points per game, while allowing 75.3 ppg, for a -10.3 scoring margin. The Chippewas are shooting 39.1 percent from the field, 26.1 percent from 3-point range and 67.3 percent at the free throw line. CMU has a +3.3 rebounding advantage, averaging 38.3 rpg, while the opposition has 35.0 rpg.Â
Two Chippewa players average in double-figures with a third just shy of double-digits, with freshman forward Sydney Harris leading the way with 14.7 points per game, ranking second on the team with seven 3-pointers (7-of-33, .212). Graduate-senior forward Jahari Smith tallies 11.7 ppg and pulled down 6.0 rebounds per game, ranking second on the squad. Freshman guard Bridget Utberg adds 9.7 ppg, and tops the team with nine treys (9-of-23, .391). Graduate-senior guard Anika Weeks pulls down a team-leading 6.5 rebounds per game, while graduate-senior forward Jnaya Walker dished out a team-best 2.7 assists per contest, and freshman guard Taylor Anderson swipes 2.3 assists per game.
CMU head coach Heather Oesterle is in her fourth season as head coach after a long tenure as a CMU assistant, including coaching with current Spartan assistant coach Kristin Haynie while both were assistant coaches Central Michigan, and both are natives of Mason, Michigan. Oesterle has a 45-44 record as a head coach.
SERIES HISTORY VS. CHIPPEWAS
Michigan State holds the overall series lead against Central Michigan, 29-8, including 11-4 at Mount Pleasant, as the Spartans are making their first trip there since 1999. MSU has won eight in a row in the series overall, dating back to 1996, and have won the last two match-ups there, as CMU's last win in the series and the Chippewas last win in Mount Pleasant was Nov. 29, 1993, in a tight, 60-59, contest.Â
The last time that MSU and CMU met was Dec. 18, 2020 in East Lansing, with the Spartans winning, 79-70, as Michigan State used a 10-0 fourth-quarter run to pull away from a tenacious Central Michigan team for the Victory for MSU. Current Spartans to contribute in the win were Taiyier Parks with 11 points, Julia Ayrualt with eight points, Tory Ozment with six points, while Moira Joiner was held scoreless but did dish out three assists.
DID YOU KNOW?
Saturday's battle at Central Michigan also re-unites MSU assistant coach Kristin Haynie against her former team. Haynie was an assistant coach for the Chippewas from 2014-17.Â
MERCHANT RETURNS TO ALMA MATER
MSU head coach Suzy Merchant is a 1991 Central Michigan alum, and this is the first time that she has led the Spartans back to Mount Pleasant, as it's MSU's first trip to Mount Pleasant since 1999. This is only the third time that Coach Merchant  has faced her alma mater, going 2-0 in the previous two meetings, including an 88-87 NCAA Tournament win in 2019, and a 79-70 win in East Lansing on Dec. 18, 2020.
Merchant was a four-year starter and four-year captain at CMU (1987-91), Merchant finished her Chippewa career setting a new career assists record, dishing out 463 helpers, during her CMU career and held the Chippewa's career assists record from 1991 until 2019, and is currently No. 3 on the career helpers list behind Presley Hudson (2015-19) with 643 and Micaela Kelly (2017-21) with 513. Merchant currently also still holds several other marks in the CMU record book, including two spots on the single-season assists list, sitting at No. 3 with 156 in 1990-91 and No. 7 with 143 in 1989-90.Â
BY THE NUMBERS VS. FAMU
• Three Spartans netted double-figures, led by sophomore guard/forward Matilda Ekh with 16 points, while graduate guard Kamaria McDaniel added 14 points and sophomore guard DeeDee Hagemann tallied 10 points. Thursday was the fourth game with three or more in double-figures, moving to 4-0 when three or more net 10+ points.
• A native of Vasteras, Sweden, Ekh and fellow Spartan Swede, Stephanie Visscher from Lulea, Sweden, had their high school teammates from Sweden at Thursday's game.
STAYING OFF THE SCOREBOARD
Against FAMU, the Spartans also held the Rattlers to single-digits in the second and third quarters, with six points in the second stanza and seven in the third. Thursday's six-point second quarter would have tied the fewest by the Spartans, holding Indiana to six points on 12/28/17, if not for last time out stymieing Oakland (11/15/22) to just four points, while the seven-point third quarter is also the second-lowest in the third stanza this season, as last time out, Michigan State limited Oakland to just five points in the third quarter.
LOCKING DOWN THE DEFENSE
A total of seven different Spartans set or tied a season-high, including three players scoring their first points of the season, including two tallying the first points of their collegiate careers against Florida A&M on Nov. 15. Freshman guard Abbey Kimball tallied the first five seven points of her Spartan career, getting into the scoring column with a pair of free throws, and finishing with a field goal and 5-for-5 at the charity stipe. Freshman guard Maddy Skorupski made the first field goal of her MSU career to finish the night with two points. Senior guard Jayla James netted not only her first five points of the season, but also a new career-high, topping her previous top mark of four points last season at Wisconsin (1/24/21).
BALANCED ATTACK
Without Nia Clouden to dominate the box score this season, the Spartans are looking for a more balanced attack. In five games this season, four different player have led the team in scoring. Senior forward Taiyier Parks led in scoring with a career-high 18 against Purdue Fort Wayne. Sophomore guard Matilda Ekh was atop the score sheet with 20 against Western Michigan and 16 against Florida A&M. Junior guard Gabby Elliott and senior guard Moira Joiner lead in scoring in the season opener against Delaware State with 13 points each. Elliott also led the team in scoring against Oakland with 12 points.
TOPPING THE CHARTS
Michigan State is among the Big Ten's leaders early on this season. The Spartans are currently first in the B1G in scoring margin (+48.0) and second in scoring defense (44.4 ppg). MSU is also second in rebounds (48.8 rpg) and second in assists (23.0 apg).
Sophomore guard Matilda Ekh is seventh in the Big Ten in 3-point field percentage (.444). Sophomore guard DeeDee Hagemann stands sixth in the Big Ten in assist/turnover ration (4.0).
NO SOPHOMORE SLUMP
Despite a slow start to the season, sophomores Matilda Ekh and DeeDee Hagemann have started heating up. Against Western Michigan on Nov. 13, Hagemann set a new career high with 19 points, including going 5-for-6 from beyond the arc.
Matilda Ekh had the Spartans' first 20-point game of the season with 20 points. She was hot from long distance, shooting 6-for-8 from behind the 3-point line. She also added a team-high 16 points against Florida A&M on Nov. 17.
Not to be undone, sophomore forward Isaline Alexander has been exceptional through five games, averaging 7.6 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. She leads the team in rebounding this season.
AROUND THE NATION
Early this season, Michigan State is third in the nation and second in the Big Ten in assists, averaging 23.0, just behind Michigan (26.0). MSU us also 10th in the country in scoring defense, allowing only  44.4 ppg.  Â
SEASON OPENERS
All-time, the Spartans are 35-15 in season openers, but 28-2 when the opener is in East Lansing. Coach Merchant is 13-3 in season openers at MSU, and has won 19 of her last 22, including her time at Eastern Michigan. Last season, the Spartans earned a dominating 86-37 win over Delaware State on Nov. 7.
UP NEXT
The Spartans will now hit the road for three-straight games. Michigan State will first take on Central Michigan on Saturday, Nov. 19 at 1 p.m. MSU will then travel to Portland, Oregon for the Phil Knight Invitational. MSU starts the tournament against No. 7/8 Iowa State on Nov. 24 at 7:30 p.m. (ET). Michigan State will then face either No. 13/13 North Carolina or No. 21/19 Oregon on Sunday, Nov. 27.
COMING BACK BETTER THAN EVER
Senior guard Moira Joiner has looked sharp in her first five games since returning from concussion symptoms that shut down her 2021-22 season. In five games, she is fourth in scoring, averaging 9.0 points per game. In the season opener against Delaware State tallied 13 points off the bench in her first action since Jan. 12, 2022 vs. Ohio State, after missing the remainder of the 2021-22 season due to injury. Joiner's 11 points against Western Michigan was her 17th career double-figure scoring game. Joiner also netted three 3-pointers against DSU, matching her season-high from last year. .
GUESS WHO'S BACK
Despite losing All-American Nia Clouden, the Spartans bring back a lot of fire power. MSU returns two starters in sophomore guard Matilda Ekh and sophomore guard DeeDee Hagemann. Ekh was third on the team in scoring, averaging 11.8 points per game. She was also eighth in the B1G in 3-pointers made with 2.3. Hagemann was sixth on the team in scoring, averaging 7.7 ppg and was fourth in the conference in assists (5.3 apg).
TITLE IX CELEBRATION
Throughout the season, Michigan State will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of Title IX. MSU Athletics kicked off its year-round celebration on June 23, 2022. While the work in advancing women's athletics is not complete, the Spartans will celebrate the advancements that have been made in the last 50 years. Â
LEGENDARY SPARTAN
Former Michigan State women's basketball guard Nia Clouden was drafted 12th in the first round by the Connecticut Sun at the 2022 WNBA Draft. Clouden was the 12th Big Ten student-athlete drafted by the Sun franchise (which began as the Orlando Miracle from 1999-2002). Clouden, an Owings Mills, Maryland native, became the eighth Spartan to be selected in the WNBA draft. Tori Jankoska was the ninth overall pick in the 2017 draft by the Chicago Sky, while Aerial Powers was the fifth overall pick in 2016 going to the Dallas Wings.Â
Maxann Reese and Kristen Rasmussen were the first Spartans selected in the WNBA, drafted in 2000. Reese was taken in the third round, while Rasmussen was selected in the fourth. In 2003, Syreeta Broomfield was drafted in the third round. In 2005, Kristin Haynie was the ninth overall pick by Sacramento, while Liz Shimek was taken in the second round by Phoenix in 2006.
LOOKING AT THE SCHEDULE
The Spartans will once again play a very difficult schedule. Nine of the MUS's 2022-23 regular-season opponents competed in the NCAA Tournament last season, including MSU's ACC/Big Ten Challenge opponent Georgia Tech. All three teams at the Phil Knight Invitational competed in the NCAA Tournament with MSU facing Iowa State in the first game. The Spartans will then face either Oregon or North Carolina in the next game. From the Big Ten portion of the schedule, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Nebraska and Ohio State reached the NCAA Tournament.
SPARTANS: THE NEW CLASS
Michigan State women's basketball head coach Suzy Merchant announced the signing of two National Letters of Intent on Thursday, including Jordan Wood (Chicago, Illinois/Carmel Catholic High School) and Bree Robinson (Mississauga, Ontario/ Webb School).Â
Wood is a 6-4 forward, who is a native of Chicago, Illinois. She attends Carmel Catholic High School and is coached by Ben Berg. Wood is currently ranked No. 62 in the ESPNW HoopGurlz Recruiting Rankings. Â As a junior, she scored 1,000 points, as well as leading the Corsairs to a Class 3A Illinois State Championship. Â Last season, she averaged 14.4 points and 6.6 rebounds per game, while also leading the team in assists (3.2 apg). She is a three-time All-East Suburban Catholic Conference and All-Area honoree, as well as capturing First-Team All-State accolades. Wood played AAU for Midwest Elite, competing on the EYBL Nike National circuit for coach Ralph Gesuado.
Robinson is a 5-8 guard, who is a native of Mississauga, Ontario, plays for head coach Matthew Shewmake at the Webb School (Tenn.). She helped lead the Webb school to a Tennessee State Championship, earning First-Team All-District 3 honors in the process. She also has a vast amount of international experience playing for Team Canada. She was the captain for Team Canada, playing in the U16 FIBA Americas in 2021, capturing a silver medal. She was also named Canletes 2022 All Canadian Player of the Year. She played for AAU Become One, competing on the GUAA Under Armour circuit for coach Handel Kipp.Â
CLOSING OUT THE GAMES
The Spartans have been extremely effective closing out games over the last couple years, winning 243 of its last 256 games (.949) when leading with five minutes left, including 193 of their last 208. In Coach Merchant's tenure, Michigan State is 277-21 (.930) when holding a lead with five minutes left. This season, MSU is 5-0 when leading with five minutes remaining.Â
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 175 of their last 205 games (.854) when scoring at least 70 points, and the Spartans are 195-41 (.826) under head coach Suzy Merchant when hanging at least 70 points on the scoreboard. This season, MSU is 5-0 this season when scoring 70 points.
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Players Mentioned
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