Sunday, February 27
East Lansing, Mich.
2:30 PM
Michigan State University
vs
No. 17/17 Ohio State
Spartan Women's Basketball Celebrates Senior Day Against No. 17/17 OSU Sunday
2/26/2022 1:30:00 PM | Women's Basketball
This is the second meeting of the season between the two teams.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State women's basketball celebrates Senior Day, facing No. 17/17 Ohio State on Sunday, Feb. 27 at 2:30 p.m. at the Breslin Center. The game will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network with Sloane Martin and Christy Winters Scott on the call.
• After the game, MSU will say goodbye to its four seniors: Tamara Farquhar, Alisia Smith, Laurel Jacqmain and Nia Clouden. The Spartans enter the second meeting with the Buckeyes with a 14-13 record, standing 8-8 in league games. Ohio State comes to town with a 21-5 record and are 13-4 in B1G contests. Big Ten seeding is on the line in the final day of the regular season.
• Senior guard Nia Clouden moved up to No. 2 on MSU's career scoring list with her seventh point in Thursday's game against No. 6/5 Michigan, coming on a 3-pointer at the 7:01 mark of the second quarter. Clouden passed Aerial Powers (2013-16) for No. 2 on the Spartans' career scoring list. Clouden finished with 22 points, giving her 1,833 for her career. Tori Jankoska (2013-17) is the program scoring record holder with 2,212 points.
• The Spartans have been battling injuries all season with junior Julia Ayrault and senior Tory Ozment missing the whole season with injuries. Currently, freshman Isaline Alexander has been out with a knee injury, while DeeDee Hagemann just returning to the lineup after being place in concussion protocol.
• This is the second meeting of the season between Michigan State and Ohio State. In a high-scoring affair, the Buckeyes captured the 89-83 win on Jan. 12. In that battle, Matilda Ekh recorded a season-high 27 points.
SCOUTING OHIO STATE
A lot is on the line for Ohio State in the final game of the regular season. OSU secured a top-four seed in the Big Ten Tournament, including the double-bye with a 78-55 win against Penn State on Thursday. The Buckeyes are 21-5 overall and 13-4 in the Big Ten.
Ohio State, Maryland and Iowa are all tied for second with 13-4 records, behind Michigan whic holds a 13-3 mark. Depending on the results of Sunday's game, OSU could still claim the No. 1 seed in the B1G Tournament. As a team, Ohio State is second in scoring offense, scoring 80.7 ppg, while allowing 66.5 ppg. The Buckeyes are second in the league in field goal percentage, shooting .467 for the season.
Jacy Sheldon is sixth in the Big Ten in scoring, averaging 19.7 points per game. Taylor Mikesell stands seventh with 19.2 ppg. Mikesell. leads the league in 3-pointers per game (3.7), 3-point percentage (.478) and 3-pointers made (97). On the defensive side of the ball, Riki Harris is eighth in the league in steals with 1.7 spg.
SERIES HISTORY VS. THE OHIO STATE
Ohio State leads the overall series with Michigan State, 57-29, including four of the last five meetings. OSU leads in games at the Breslin Center, 21-14. In Columbus, the Buckeyes are on top, 25-11, while leading on netural ground, 11-4. MSU's last win in East Lansing was a 68-65 win on Jan. 16, 2020.
Last time out despite a career-high 27 points from freshman guard/forward Matilda Ekh, Michigan State was edged by Ohio State, 89-83, Wednesday on Jan. 12 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. Ohio State was led by 33 points from Jacy Sheldon and 25 points from Taylor Mikesell.
BACK IN THE LINEUP
Freshman guard DeeDee Hagemann returned to the Spartan starting lineup on Feb. 21 after missing one game in concussion protocol. She scored 12 points, along with a career-high eight rebounds and added five assists against Penn State. She was back in double figures against No. 6/5 Michigan with 13 points on Feb. 24. Since her return, she is averaging 12.5 ppg.
Hagemann dished out a team-high three assists Thursday, giving her 134 assists this season, moving up to No. 3 on MSU's assists by a freshman record list, passing Brittney Thomas (2007-08) with 133 for the No. 3 spot. Next up is Vnemina Reese (1999-2000) with 143 helpers, while Taryn McCutcheon (2016-17) holds the freshman assists record with 169.
THANK YOU SENIORS
Michigan State will say goodbye to four seniors following the game against Ohio State. Tamara Farquhar, Alisia Smith, Laurel Jacqmain and Nia Clouden will be honored postgame. Farquhar (Purdue), Smith (Penn State) and Jacqmain (Saginaw Valley State) are all transfers to MSU. Clouden is the only four-year senior for the Spartans. All four are Academic All-Big Ten honorees. Clouden will leave MSU in the top 10 in points and assists, as well as games started.
DOWN TO THE WIRE
The seeds for the Big Ten Tournament will come down to the last game of the season. Michigan State (8-8 )can still earn a No. 7 seed or a No. 8 seed. Nebraska (10-7) and Northwestern (8-7) stand directly in front of the Spartans in the standings. The Cornhuskers and the Wildcats will face each other on Sunday.
ONE-TWO PUNCH
Graduate forward Tamara Farquhar and senior forward Alisia Smith tied for the team rebounding lead with seven boards apiece against Michigan on Feb. 24. It was Farquhar's team-leading 15th game this season that she has led or shared the lead on the glass, while it was Smith's fifth game leading or sharing the lead for most rebounds. Farquhar pulled down five or more boards for the fifth time in the last six games as part of the 19th total time this season in 27 games played.
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. On Jan. 17, the Spartans announced that they would be without junior guard Moira Joiner for the rest of the season. Currently, the Spartans have been without freshman forward Isaline Alexander has missed the last two games with a left knee injury.
NEVER NOT NIA
Few things are guaranteed in life, but you can usually count on senior guard Nia Clouden being in the MSU starting lineup. She has started all 114 games in which she has played at Michigan State. She has not missed a start since becoming a Spartan. Clouden is now No. 9 in the MSU career standings in games started with 114. She has now tied Spartan All-American Tori Jankoska (2013-17) with 114 career starts. Lindsey Bowen (2002-06) and Liz Shimek (2002-06) hold the record for games started with 131. With the 40 minutes Monday, Clouden has now played 3,681 minutes in her career, holding at No. 7 on MSU's career minutes played list, as well as No. 9 on the minutes per game list with 32.3 mpg.
MAMMA MIA
Freshman guard/forward Matilda Ekh's two points against Michigan gives her 321 this season. She has passed not only Sidney Cooks (2017-18) for No. 10 on the freshman scoring list with 305 points, but also current MSU Director of Operations and Technology Julie Pagel Dombroski (2000-01) for No. 9 with 313 points. Next up is Kris Emerson (1983-84) with 363 points at No. 8. Former Spartan graduate assistant coach Kalisha Keane (2007-08) holds the record with 460 freshman points.
Ekh also has 62 3-pointers for the season, becoming just the third Spartan freshman to make 60 or more 3-pointers, joining the freshman record holder Linsday Bowen (2002-03) with 77 and Tori Jankoska (2013-14) with 64, as Ekh needs just two more to tie Jankoska.
SINGLE-SEASON RECORDS
This season, Nia Clouden has already scored 552 points, which is fourth all-time in the MSU single-season record books. Her 149 free throws is tied for third with Tori Jankoska in 2016-17. Averaging 35.9 minutes per game, Clouden is seventh. Matilda Ekh has a .416 3-point field goal percentage, which currently puts her second, while Clouden's .413 places her third.
MERCHANT MANIACS
Suzy Merchant has coached three of the most prolific scorers in MSU history. Three of the top leaders in career scoring have come during Merchant's tenure. Tori Jankoska (2013-17) is the Spartans' all-time leading scorer with 2,212 points. Nia Clouden is currently second in career scoring with 1,833 points, passing Aerial Powers (2013-16) scored 1,817 points in three seasons at MSU.
WATCHING THE WATCH LISTS
Nia Clouden was added to the Dawn Staley Late Season Watch List. The Dawn Staley Award is given annually to a player who exemplifies the skills that she possessed throughout her career; ball handling, scoring, her ability to distribute the basketball and her will to win. Clouden is one of three Big Ten players named to the watch list along with Penn State's Makenna Marisa and Iowa's Caitlin Clark. The Owings Mills, Maryland native is ninth in the NCAA in scoring, averaging 21.0 points per game, which is also third in the Big Ten.
SPARTAN FUN FACTS
ANATOMY OF RECORD BREAKER
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 Hillmon (2020-21).
LOOKING ACROSS THE LEAGUE
Senior guard Nia Clouden is fifth in the B1G in scoring with 20.4 points per game behind Iowa's Caitlin Clark (27.1 ppg), Penn State's Makenna Marisa (22.3 ppg), Michigan's Naz Hillmon (21.2 ppg) and Iowa's Monika Czinano (20.8 ppg). Clouden also holds the eighth spot in the league in assists with 4.2 helpers per contest, while freshman guard DeeDee Hagemann is third with 5.6 apg. Hagemann is also eighth in the league in assist/turnover ration (1.9). Clouden is also first in the league in free-throw percentage (.882). Freshman guard/forward Matilda Ekh (.416) and Clouden (.413) stand fifth and eighth, respectively in 3-point field goal percentage. In league contests, Hagemann is fourth in assists, averaging 6.2 apg, while Clouden is seventh in scoring with 19.0 ppg.
As a team, the Spartans are sixth in the Big Ten in field goal percentage (.442) and fourth in 3-point field goal percentages (.363). Michigan State is third in assists, averaging 17.2 apg.
AROUND THE NATION
Despite having a season-low six assists against Michigan on Feb. 24, the Spartans are still Michigan State is 17th in the nation and third in the Big Ten with 465 total assists and are 15th in assists per game, averaging 17.2 apg. MSU is also 16th in the nation in 3-point field goal percentage (.363). Senior guard Nia Clouden is fifth in the nation in free throws made (149) and 18th in the NCAA in free throw percentage (.882). Clouden still stands 15th in the country in scoring with 20.4 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 310-170 record at Michigan State. Karen Langeland is the all-time leader with a 376-290 record at MSU. Merchant is also three wins away from tying Langeland for the most Big Ten wins by a MSU coach with 156. Merchant is currently 153-99 in Big Ten games. She also reached 500 career wins against Valparaiso on Tuesday, Nov. 16. Overall, she holds a 511-290 record overall.
20 DIMES FOR WINS
The Spartans stand 9-2 this season when dishing out 20 or more assists after recording 21 helpers against Penn State on Feb. 21. Earlier this season, MSU had a three-game streak with 20+ assists after 22 vs. Penn State (1/27), 20 vs. Northwestern (1/16/22) and 22 vs. Minnesota (1/23/22). The three-game streak was the Spartans' longest since opening the season with four-consecutive 20-helper outings. MSU's only loss with 20 assists came against No. 17/14 Maryland (2/3/22).
LAST TIME OUT
With 22 points, senior guard Nia Clouden moved up to No. 2 in Michigan State career scoring in the Spartans 62-51 loss to No. 6/5 Michigan on Thursday night at the Crisler Center.
With the loss, Michigan State falls to 14-13 overall and 8-8 in Big Ten action. Michigan improves to 22-4 overall and 13-3 in league contests. Thursday's loss splits the season series between the Spartans and Wolverines, after MSU's 63-57 win over UM on Feb. 10 in East Lansing.
EKH EARNS ANOTHER B1G HONOR
On Feb. 21, guard/forward Matilda Ekh captured her third Big Ten Freshman of the Week honor after leading the Spartans to a win against Wisconsin on Feb. 16., scoring 25 points. She also garnered the honor on Jan. 24 and Dec. 13. With four 20=point games, Ekh now has the most for the most 20+ points games by a Spartan freshman since Nia Clouden had three 20-point outings in 2018-19. Fellow freshman guard DeeDee Hagemann also earned B1G Freshman of the Week honors on Nov. 15.
CLOSING OUT THE GAMES
The Spartans have been extremely effective closing out games over the last couple years, winning 236 of its last 248 games (.952) when leading with five minutes left, including 186 of their last 200. In Coach Merchant's tenure, Michigan State is 270-20 (.931) when holding a lead with five minutes left. This season, MSU is 13-1 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 168 of their last 197 games (.853) when scoring at least 70 points, and the Spartans are 188-37 (.836) under head coach Suzy Merchant when hanging at least 70 points on the scoreboard. This season, MSU is now 11-4 this season when scoring 70 points. The Spartans scored over 70 points in losses to Penn State on Feb. 21, 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's 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. 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 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.
• After the game, MSU will say goodbye to its four seniors: Tamara Farquhar, Alisia Smith, Laurel Jacqmain and Nia Clouden. The Spartans enter the second meeting with the Buckeyes with a 14-13 record, standing 8-8 in league games. Ohio State comes to town with a 21-5 record and are 13-4 in B1G contests. Big Ten seeding is on the line in the final day of the regular season.
• Senior guard Nia Clouden moved up to No. 2 on MSU's career scoring list with her seventh point in Thursday's game against No. 6/5 Michigan, coming on a 3-pointer at the 7:01 mark of the second quarter. Clouden passed Aerial Powers (2013-16) for No. 2 on the Spartans' career scoring list. Clouden finished with 22 points, giving her 1,833 for her career. Tori Jankoska (2013-17) is the program scoring record holder with 2,212 points.
• The Spartans have been battling injuries all season with junior Julia Ayrault and senior Tory Ozment missing the whole season with injuries. Currently, freshman Isaline Alexander has been out with a knee injury, while DeeDee Hagemann just returning to the lineup after being place in concussion protocol.
• This is the second meeting of the season between Michigan State and Ohio State. In a high-scoring affair, the Buckeyes captured the 89-83 win on Jan. 12. In that battle, Matilda Ekh recorded a season-high 27 points.
SCOUTING OHIO STATE
A lot is on the line for Ohio State in the final game of the regular season. OSU secured a top-four seed in the Big Ten Tournament, including the double-bye with a 78-55 win against Penn State on Thursday. The Buckeyes are 21-5 overall and 13-4 in the Big Ten.
Ohio State, Maryland and Iowa are all tied for second with 13-4 records, behind Michigan whic holds a 13-3 mark. Depending on the results of Sunday's game, OSU could still claim the No. 1 seed in the B1G Tournament. As a team, Ohio State is second in scoring offense, scoring 80.7 ppg, while allowing 66.5 ppg. The Buckeyes are second in the league in field goal percentage, shooting .467 for the season.
Jacy Sheldon is sixth in the Big Ten in scoring, averaging 19.7 points per game. Taylor Mikesell stands seventh with 19.2 ppg. Mikesell. leads the league in 3-pointers per game (3.7), 3-point percentage (.478) and 3-pointers made (97). On the defensive side of the ball, Riki Harris is eighth in the league in steals with 1.7 spg.
SERIES HISTORY VS. THE OHIO STATE
Ohio State leads the overall series with Michigan State, 57-29, including four of the last five meetings. OSU leads in games at the Breslin Center, 21-14. In Columbus, the Buckeyes are on top, 25-11, while leading on netural ground, 11-4. MSU's last win in East Lansing was a 68-65 win on Jan. 16, 2020.
Last time out despite a career-high 27 points from freshman guard/forward Matilda Ekh, Michigan State was edged by Ohio State, 89-83, Wednesday on Jan. 12 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. Ohio State was led by 33 points from Jacy Sheldon and 25 points from Taylor Mikesell.
BACK IN THE LINEUP
Freshman guard DeeDee Hagemann returned to the Spartan starting lineup on Feb. 21 after missing one game in concussion protocol. She scored 12 points, along with a career-high eight rebounds and added five assists against Penn State. She was back in double figures against No. 6/5 Michigan with 13 points on Feb. 24. Since her return, she is averaging 12.5 ppg.
Hagemann dished out a team-high three assists Thursday, giving her 134 assists this season, moving up to No. 3 on MSU's assists by a freshman record list, passing Brittney Thomas (2007-08) with 133 for the No. 3 spot. Next up is Vnemina Reese (1999-2000) with 143 helpers, while Taryn McCutcheon (2016-17) holds the freshman assists record with 169.
THANK YOU SENIORS
Michigan State will say goodbye to four seniors following the game against Ohio State. Tamara Farquhar, Alisia Smith, Laurel Jacqmain and Nia Clouden will be honored postgame. Farquhar (Purdue), Smith (Penn State) and Jacqmain (Saginaw Valley State) are all transfers to MSU. Clouden is the only four-year senior for the Spartans. All four are Academic All-Big Ten honorees. Clouden will leave MSU in the top 10 in points and assists, as well as games started.
DOWN TO THE WIRE
The seeds for the Big Ten Tournament will come down to the last game of the season. Michigan State (8-8 )can still earn a No. 7 seed or a No. 8 seed. Nebraska (10-7) and Northwestern (8-7) stand directly in front of the Spartans in the standings. The Cornhuskers and the Wildcats will face each other on Sunday.
ONE-TWO PUNCH
Graduate forward Tamara Farquhar and senior forward Alisia Smith tied for the team rebounding lead with seven boards apiece against Michigan on Feb. 24. It was Farquhar's team-leading 15th game this season that she has led or shared the lead on the glass, while it was Smith's fifth game leading or sharing the lead for most rebounds. Farquhar pulled down five or more boards for the fifth time in the last six games as part of the 19th total time this season in 27 games played.
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. On Jan. 17, the Spartans announced that they would be without junior guard Moira Joiner for the rest of the season. Currently, the Spartans have been without freshman forward Isaline Alexander has missed the last two games with a left knee injury.
NEVER NOT NIA
Few things are guaranteed in life, but you can usually count on senior guard Nia Clouden being in the MSU starting lineup. She has started all 114 games in which she has played at Michigan State. She has not missed a start since becoming a Spartan. Clouden is now No. 9 in the MSU career standings in games started with 114. She has now tied Spartan All-American Tori Jankoska (2013-17) with 114 career starts. Lindsey Bowen (2002-06) and Liz Shimek (2002-06) hold the record for games started with 131. With the 40 minutes Monday, Clouden has now played 3,681 minutes in her career, holding at No. 7 on MSU's career minutes played list, as well as No. 9 on the minutes per game list with 32.3 mpg.
MAMMA MIA
Freshman guard/forward Matilda Ekh's two points against Michigan gives her 321 this season. She has passed not only Sidney Cooks (2017-18) for No. 10 on the freshman scoring list with 305 points, but also current MSU Director of Operations and Technology Julie Pagel Dombroski (2000-01) for No. 9 with 313 points. Next up is Kris Emerson (1983-84) with 363 points at No. 8. Former Spartan graduate assistant coach Kalisha Keane (2007-08) holds the record with 460 freshman points.
Ekh also has 62 3-pointers for the season, becoming just the third Spartan freshman to make 60 or more 3-pointers, joining the freshman record holder Linsday Bowen (2002-03) with 77 and Tori Jankoska (2013-14) with 64, as Ekh needs just two more to tie Jankoska.
SINGLE-SEASON RECORDS
This season, Nia Clouden has already scored 552 points, which is fourth all-time in the MSU single-season record books. Her 149 free throws is tied for third with Tori Jankoska in 2016-17. Averaging 35.9 minutes per game, Clouden is seventh. Matilda Ekh has a .416 3-point field goal percentage, which currently puts her second, while Clouden's .413 places her third.
MERCHANT MANIACS
Suzy Merchant has coached three of the most prolific scorers in MSU history. Three of the top leaders in career scoring have come during Merchant's tenure. Tori Jankoska (2013-17) is the Spartans' all-time leading scorer with 2,212 points. Nia Clouden is currently second in career scoring with 1,833 points, passing Aerial Powers (2013-16) scored 1,817 points in three seasons at MSU.
WATCHING THE WATCH LISTS
Nia Clouden was added to the Dawn Staley Late Season Watch List. The Dawn Staley Award is given annually to a player who exemplifies the skills that she possessed throughout her career; ball handling, scoring, her ability to distribute the basketball and her will to win. Clouden is one of three Big Ten players named to the watch list along with Penn State's Makenna Marisa and Iowa's Caitlin Clark. The Owings Mills, Maryland native is ninth in the NCAA in scoring, averaging 21.0 points per game, which is also third in the Big Ten.
SPARTAN FUN FACTS
- Five Spartans have played all 27 games this season in Nia Clouden, Matilda Ekh, Taiyier Parks, Alisia Smith and Tamara Farquhar. With Clouden, Ekh and Smith starting all 27 games.
- Graduate forward Tamara Farquhar is now 12th in the Big Ten in rebounds in league contests, averaging 6.9 rpg.
- Senior forward Alisia Smith registered her 15th total game with five or more rebounds this season.
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 third-most scored by a DI women's basketball player this season, just behind Kansas State's Ayoka Lee who set the Division I scoring record with 61 points on Jan. 23 and Delaware's Jasmine Dickey who scored 52 on Feb. 4.
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 Hillmon (2020-21).
LOOKING ACROSS THE LEAGUE
Senior guard Nia Clouden is fifth in the B1G in scoring with 20.4 points per game behind Iowa's Caitlin Clark (27.1 ppg), Penn State's Makenna Marisa (22.3 ppg), Michigan's Naz Hillmon (21.2 ppg) and Iowa's Monika Czinano (20.8 ppg). Clouden also holds the eighth spot in the league in assists with 4.2 helpers per contest, while freshman guard DeeDee Hagemann is third with 5.6 apg. Hagemann is also eighth in the league in assist/turnover ration (1.9). Clouden is also first in the league in free-throw percentage (.882). Freshman guard/forward Matilda Ekh (.416) and Clouden (.413) stand fifth and eighth, respectively in 3-point field goal percentage. In league contests, Hagemann is fourth in assists, averaging 6.2 apg, while Clouden is seventh in scoring with 19.0 ppg.
As a team, the Spartans are sixth in the Big Ten in field goal percentage (.442) and fourth in 3-point field goal percentages (.363). Michigan State is third in assists, averaging 17.2 apg.
AROUND THE NATION
Despite having a season-low six assists against Michigan on Feb. 24, the Spartans are still Michigan State is 17th in the nation and third in the Big Ten with 465 total assists and are 15th in assists per game, averaging 17.2 apg. MSU is also 16th in the nation in 3-point field goal percentage (.363). Senior guard Nia Clouden is fifth in the nation in free throws made (149) and 18th in the NCAA in free throw percentage (.882). Clouden still stands 15th in the country in scoring with 20.4 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 310-170 record at Michigan State. Karen Langeland is the all-time leader with a 376-290 record at MSU. Merchant is also three wins away from tying Langeland for the most Big Ten wins by a MSU coach with 156. Merchant is currently 153-99 in Big Ten games. She also reached 500 career wins against Valparaiso on Tuesday, Nov. 16. Overall, she holds a 511-290 record overall.
20 DIMES FOR WINS
The Spartans stand 9-2 this season when dishing out 20 or more assists after recording 21 helpers against Penn State on Feb. 21. Earlier this season, MSU had a three-game streak with 20+ assists after 22 vs. Penn State (1/27), 20 vs. Northwestern (1/16/22) and 22 vs. Minnesota (1/23/22). The three-game streak was the Spartans' longest since opening the season with four-consecutive 20-helper outings. MSU's only loss with 20 assists came against No. 17/14 Maryland (2/3/22).
LAST TIME OUT
With 22 points, senior guard Nia Clouden moved up to No. 2 in Michigan State career scoring in the Spartans 62-51 loss to No. 6/5 Michigan on Thursday night at the Crisler Center.
With the loss, Michigan State falls to 14-13 overall and 8-8 in Big Ten action. Michigan improves to 22-4 overall and 13-3 in league contests. Thursday's loss splits the season series between the Spartans and Wolverines, after MSU's 63-57 win over UM on Feb. 10 in East Lansing.
EKH EARNS ANOTHER B1G HONOR
On Feb. 21, guard/forward Matilda Ekh captured her third Big Ten Freshman of the Week honor after leading the Spartans to a win against Wisconsin on Feb. 16., scoring 25 points. She also garnered the honor on Jan. 24 and Dec. 13. With four 20=point games, Ekh now has the most for the most 20+ points games by a Spartan freshman since Nia Clouden had three 20-point outings in 2018-19. Fellow freshman guard DeeDee Hagemann also earned B1G Freshman of the Week honors on Nov. 15.
CLOSING OUT THE GAMES
The Spartans have been extremely effective closing out games over the last couple years, winning 236 of its last 248 games (.952) when leading with five minutes left, including 186 of their last 200. In Coach Merchant's tenure, Michigan State is 270-20 (.931) when holding a lead with five minutes left. This season, MSU is 13-1 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 168 of their last 197 games (.853) when scoring at least 70 points, and the Spartans are 188-37 (.836) under head coach Suzy Merchant when hanging at least 70 points on the scoreboard. This season, MSU is now 11-4 this season when scoring 70 points. The Spartans scored over 70 points in losses to Penn State on Feb. 21, 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's 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. 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 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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/ Women's BasketballRobyn Fralick | Women's Basketball Selection Show Press Conference | March 16, 2025
Sunday, March 16
Robyn Fralick | Women's Basketball Press Conference | Mar. 04 2025
Tuesday, March 04
Michigan State Women's Basketball vs Minnosta | Cinematic Highlight
Sunday, March 02
Coach Fralick Post Game Comments | MINN | Mar. 1 2025
Saturday, March 01