Spartan Women Open Phil Knight Invitational against No. 4/5 Iowa State

Thursday, November 24

Portland, Ore.

7:30 PM ET

Michigan State University

#5/4 Iowa State University

Spartan Women Open Phil Knight Invitational against No. 4/5 Iowa State

11/22/2022 7:30:00 PM | Women's Basketball

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MSU will play two games in Portland

Portland, Oregon - Michigan State women's basketball will celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday at the Phil Knight Invitational in Portland, Oregon. The Spartans will open with No. 5/4 Iowa State on Thursday, Nov. 24 at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPNU. MSU will then close out the invitational against either North Carolina or Oregon on Sunday, Nov. 27. Pam Ward and Christy Thomaskutty will be on the call for ESPNU.

• MSU's 6-0 start is their best start since the 2020-21 MSU team started 9-0 before a loss in game 10.

• The Spartans return to the Pacific Northwest after competing in the PK80 Invitational in 2017. Michigan State fell to No. 1 UConn in Eugene on Nov. 17, 96-62 at Matthew Knight Arena. This season, all the women's games will be played in Portland.

• Michigan State has a quartet players averaging in double figures in scoring to start the season in Matilda Ekh (11.2 ppg), Kamaria McDaniel (10.7 ppg), Moira Joiner (10.3 ppg) and Gabby Elliott (10.2 ppg).

• The Spartans improved to 6-0 and has won all five games by at least 30 points, as well as three wins by 40+ points. This week, MSU is third in the nation and first in the Big Ten (+45.0).

SCOUTING IOWA STATE
The No. 5/4 Cyclones have opened the season 4-0 this season, including a dominating 99-76 win against Columbia on Nov. 20. ISU also has added home victories against Cleveland State and Southern. Iowa State closest game this year was an 88-85 road win against in-state rival Northern Iowa.

This season, the Cyclones are averaging 88.3 points per game, while allowing only 67.5 ppg. Iowa State is ninth in the nation and first in the Big 12 in 3-pointers made per game with 10.8. ISU is also 18th in the country in rebound margin (15.5).

Once again, Iowa State is led by Ashley Joens who is sixth in the country and first in the Big 12 with three double-doubles in four games. She is also seventh in the nation in scoring, averaging 25.5 points per game. Stephanie Soares is second in scoring with 15.3 ppg, while adding 7.4 rebounds per game.

Iowa State had coach Bill Fennelly is in his 35th season of coaching and his 28th at the helm of the Cyclones. At ISU, he holds an impressive 572-291 record.

SERIES HISTORY VS. CYCLONES
The series between the Spartans and the Cyclones is knotted at 3-3. Iowa State has won the last two outings, including a nailbiter in the 2021 NCAA Tournament. In San Antonio on March 22, 2021, the Spartans were led by All-American Nia Clouden who scored 16 points in the tight battle. Taiyier Parks cleaned up on the glass with 11 boards. No surprise, Ashley Joens was one of four Cyclones in double figures with 33 points. Lexi Donarksi also scored 10 points.

Prior to the 2021 game, the two teams had not met since 2009 in Berkley, Calif., also in the NCAA Tournament. That was another tight battle with ISU coming out on top 69-68. Michigan State is undefeated against Iowa State in East Lansing with a 3-0 record, while the Cyclones are 1-0 in Ames.

DID YOU KNOW?
With 55 points through the first six games of the season, sophomore forward Isaline Alexander has already pass last season's point total, when she scored 38 points in 17 games.

LOOKING BACK PK80
Michigan State women's basketball suffered its first loss of the season, falling to No. 1 Connecticut, 96-62, in the first game of the women's portion of the PK80 Invitational on Nov. 25, 2017 at the Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, Oregon.

Redshirt-senior guard Branndais Agee became the 26th player in Michigan State women's basketball history to reach 1,000 points. The last player to do so was All-American Tori Jankoska in 2015. Agee ended the game with 10 points, while freshman forward Sidney Cooks led the Spartans with 11 points and eight rebounds.

LOOKING AHEAD TO NORTH CAROLINA
No. 8/10 North Carolina leads the series against Michigan State, 3-1. The two teams have not met since 2014 when UNC defeated MSU 62-53 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in Chapel Hill. Current Co-Director of Breslin Center Athletic Performance Annalise Pickrel was a senior on that team. Michigan State's last win came on Dec. 3, 2009 in East Lansing in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, 72-66.

The Tar Heels started the season 4-0 with wins over Jackson State, TCU, South Carolina State and James Madison. Five UNC players average in double figures led by Alyssa Utsby who is scoring 15.5 points to go along with 8.3 rebounds per game.

LOOKING AHEAD TO OREGON
No. 18/18 Oregon is on top of the all-time series with Michigan State, 2-1, but the Spartans won the last meeting in East Lansing, Dec. 5, 2018, 88-82. Michigan State took down Sabrina Ionescu and the Ducks behind a career-high 27 points from senior Jenna Allen. Oregon won the other two meetings in Eugene.

The Ducks started the season with a 4-0 record this season, including a 66-54 win over Southern Utah on Nov. 21. Five Oregon players average in double figures through the first four games led by Grace VanSlooten, averaging 13.3 ppg.

LEAVING THE GREAT LAKES STATE
After six games in Michigan, the Spartans will leave the Great Lakes state for the first time this season. Michigan State started the season with five-straight home games, before heading to Mount Pleasant to take on Central Michigan on Nov. 19.

MO THREES
Senior guard Moira Joiner has had a resurgence since returning from concussion symptoms that shortened her 2021-22 season. In six games this season, she has averaged 10.3 points per game. Against Central Michigan on Nov. 19, she scored a season-high 17 points. She also tied her career high with five made 3-pointers. She also made five treys against Rutgers on Jan. 20, 2020 and Northwestern on Jan. 23, 2020, which were back-to-back games. Joiner as reached double figures in four of MSU's six games this year.

BY THE NUMBERS VS. CENTRAL MICHIGAN
• Four Spartans netted double-figures, led by 17 points from sophomore forward Isaline Alexander, junior guard Gabby Elliott and senior guard Moira Joiner. Graduate Kamaria McDaniel also added 10 points. Saturday was the fifth game with four or more in double-figures, moving to 5-0 when three or more net 10+ points.

• The Spartans have had at least one single-digit quarter in every game this season. Against the Chippewas, MSU held CMU to only eight points in the third period. In the quarter, the Spartans forced seven turnovers and held the Chips to 4-for-12 from the field.

STAYING OFF THE SCOREBOARD
Against FAMU on Nov. 17, 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.

The Spartans have had at least one single-digit quarter in every game this season. Against the Chippewas on Nov. 19, MSU held CMU to only eight points in the third period. In the quarter, the Spartans forced seven turnovers and held the Chips to 4-for-12 from the field.

BALANCED ATTACK
Without All-American Nia Clouden to dominate the box score this season, the Spartans are looking for a more balanced attack. In six games this season, Michigan State has spread out the 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. Three players led MSU in scoring against Central Michigan with sophomore forward Isaline Alexander, junior guard Gabby Elliott and senior guard Moira Joiner all scored 17 points. Four Spartans are averaging in double figures this season: Ekh (11.2 ppg), Kamaria McDaniel (10.7 ppg), Joiner (10.3 ppg) and Elliott (10.2 ppg).

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 (+45.0) and second in scoring offense (91.0 ppg). MSU is also third in rebound margin (+16.3) and second in assists (21.8 apg).

Sophomore guard Matilda Ekh is first in the Big Ten in 3-point field goals made with 18. Sophomore guard DeeDee Hagemann stands fifth in the Big Ten in assist/turnover ration (4.0).

AROUND THE NATION
Early this season, Michigan State is third in the nation and second in the Big Ten in assists, averaging 21.8, just behind Michigan (23.5). MSU is also third in the nation and first in the Big Ten in scoring margin (+45.0) and scoring margin (91.0 ppg).

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
After taking on Iowa State, Michigan State will conclude its three-game road trip. The Spartans will face either No. 8/10 North Carolina or No. 18/18 Oregon on Sunday, Nov. 27. Michigan State will return home to host Georgia Tech on Thursday, Dec. 1 in the ACC/B1G Challenge at 8 p.m.

EVERYONE GETS POINTS
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).

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.

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.

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).

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. As a junior, she scored 1,000 points, as well as leading the Corsairs to a Class 3A Illinois State Championship. 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.

CLOSING OUT THE GAMES
The Spartans have been extremely effective closing out games over the last couple years, winning 244 of its last 257 games (.949) when leading with five minutes left, including 194 of their last 209. In Coach Merchant's tenure, Michigan State is 278-21 (.930) when holding a lead with five minutes left. This season, MSU is 6-0 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 176 of their last 206 games (.854) when scoring at least 70 points, and the Spartans are 196-41 (.827) under head coach Suzy Merchant when hanging at least 70 points on the scoreboard. This season, MSU is 6-0 this season when scoring 70 points.