Sunday, February 6
Minneapolis, Minn.
3 PM ET
Michigan State University
at
Minnesota
Spartan Women's Basketball Travels to Minnesota Sunday
2/5/2022 1:42:00 PM | Women's Basketball
This is the second meeting of the season between the two teams.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State women's basketball returns to the road to take on Minnesota on Sunday, Feb. 6 at Williams Arena. Tipoff time is set for 3 p.m. ET. This is the second meeting between the two teams with the Spartans earning a 74-71 on Jan. 23 in East Lansing.
• After a 67-62 loss to No. 17/14 Maryland on Thursday, MSU falls to 12-9 overall and 6-4 in league contests. Minnesota stands 10-13 this season and 3-8 in Big Ten play. The Gophers fell to No. 5/6 Indiana on Thursday, 80-70.
• Senior guard Nia Clouden added to her accolades when she was named to the Dawn Staley Late Season Watch List on Saturday. 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. She is the first Spartan to be named to the Watch List since the award began in 2013.
• Freshman guard DeeDee Hagemann's seven helpers Thursday night gives her 104 for her freshman season, becoming just the eighth Spartan women's basketball player to register 100 assists as a freshman, needing just two more helpers to tie for the No. 7 spot on MSU's assists by a freshman list.
• With 22 points against Maryland on Feb. 3, senior guard Nia Clouden now has 1,733 points, just six shy from the No. 4 spot on MSU's career scoring list held by Linsday Bowen (2002-06) with 1,739 points. She also has 414 career assists, maintaining the No. 7 spot on MSU's career assists mark, continuing to close gap on No. 5 spot held by Deb Traxinger (1978-82) with 443 helpers.
SCOUTING MINNESOTA
Minnesota holds a 10-13 overall record this season and stands 3-8 in Big Ten action. Last time out, the Gophers fell to Indiana, 80-70 on Feb. 3 in Bloomington. Minnesota has Big Ten wins against Rutgers and two against Wisconsin.
Minnesota has three active players, averaging in double figures led by Sara Scalia, who is averaging 16.5 ppg. Jasmine Powell was scoring 12.4 ppg, before leaving the team. Deja Winters averages 11.4 ppg, while Kadi Sissoko scores 10.3 ppg. Scalia is 11th in the league in scoring eight in 3-point field goal percentage (.420). Winters stands sixth in 3-point field goal percentage (.421). Scalia is second in 3-pointers per game, making 3.2.
As a team, Minnesota is second in the Big 3-point field goal percentage, shooting 37.5 percent from long range. The Gophers are 10th in scoring, averaging 68.5 ppg. Minnesota is allowing 71.1 ppg.
SERIES HISTORY VS. THE GOLDEN GOPHERS
Michigan State leads the overall series with Minnesota 46-23. In Minneapolis, the Spartans have a slight edge, 17-15, while leading in East Lansing, 26-7. On neutral ground, MSU leads, 3-1. Michigan State has won seven of the last 10 meetings in the series, including the last three.
This is the second meeting between the Spartans and the Gophers this season. In the last meeting, Nia Clouden and Matilda Ekh helped lift the Spartans past Minnesota, 74-71, on Jan. 23 at the Breslin Center. Clouden scored 25 points to go along with five assists, while Matilda Ekh had her third 20+ game with 23 points and a career high six assists.
Michigan State head coach Suzy Merchant returned to the bench after missing the Northwestern game on Jan. 16 due to COVID-19 protocols.
MAMMA MIA
The 10 points against No. 17/14 Maryland gives freshman guard/forward Matilda Ekh 254 for her freshman campaign, needing just 12 more to tie for the No. 15 spot on MSU's freshman scoring list, held by Bella Engen (1994-95) with 266 points. With two 3-pointers, Ekh notched her 12th game overall with multiple 3-pointers. Ekh now has 48 triples for the season, passing Taryn McCutcheon (2016-17) at No. 3 on MSU's list for 3-pointers by a Spartan freshman, with 47 3-pointers. Next up at No. 2 is Tori Jankoska (2013-14) with 64 triples.
SENSATIONAL SMITTY
Senior forward Alisia Smith has been solid inside for the Spartans this season. The 18 points against Maryland was Smith's third double-digit scoring outing in a row as part of her eighth of the season and 13th of her Spartan career. The three-straight double-figure games is Smith's longest streak of not only the season, but her MSU career, and the longest since the first five games of the 2018-19 season at Penn State, the second of her three seasons as a Lady Lion.
EVEN MORE ON ALISIA
Alisia Smith's 18 points against Maryland was her most in a B1G game this season and second-highest overall of the season. It was her most in a B1G game this season for the second game in a row, after tallying 14 points last time out, at Rutgers (1/30/22). The 18 points was Smith's second-highest overall this season behind her MSU career-high of 20 points vs. Marshall (11/30/21), and tied for her third-highest overall of her Spartan career, along with last season's high of 19 points at Wisconsin (1/24/21) and matching 18 points vs. Purdue (2/21/21).
CLOUDEN ADDED TO DAWN STALEY WATCH LIST
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.
ROAD WARRIORS
The Spartans had a successful two-game road trip last week. In two wins over Rutgers and Penn State, Michigan State shot .477 percent (52-for-109) from the field and .455 percent from beyond the arc (15-for-33). Senior guard Nia Clouden led the team in scoring, averaging 16.5 points per game. Freshman guard/forward Matilda Ekh, junior forward Taiyier Parks and senior forward Alisia Smith all averaged 13.0 ppg during the road trip.
MOVING ON UP
With 22 points on Feb. 3, Nia Clouden now has 1,733 points, just six shy from the No. 4 spot on MSU's career scoring list held by Linsday Bowen (2002-06) with 1,739 points.
Clouden dished out four assists Thursday, notching her fifth game in a row with four or more helpers and was her 90th of the season and gives her 414 for her career, maintaining the No. 7 spot on MSU's career assists mark, continuing to close gap on No. 5 spot held by Deb Traxinger (1978-82) with 443 helpers.
BATTLE ON THE BOARDS
Michigan State had a dominating 45-18 rebounding advantage against Penn State on Jan. 27. MSU's +27 rebounding advantage was its highest of the season topping the previous season-high of +22 vs. Florida Gulf Coast (12/20/21). The 45 rebounds was the Spartans' fifth game with 40+ rebounds, including second in B1G play, and matching the 45 boards vs. Nebraska (12/30/21) for the most in the conference game this season. MSU had 14 offensive rebounds Thursday night, nearly matching PSU's total rebounds of 16.
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 third in the B1G in scoring with 21.0 points per game behind Iowa's Caitlin Clark (26.5 ppg) and Penn State's Makenna Marisa (22.2 ppg). Clouden also holds the eighth spot in the league in assists with 4.3 helpers per contest, while freshman guard DeeDee Hagemann is fifth with 5.5 apg. Hagemann is also 11th in the league in assist/turnover ration (1.7). Clouden is also second in the league in free-throw percentage (.891). In league contests, Hagemann is second in assists, averaging 6.3 apg, while Clouden is seventh in scoring with 19.4 ppg.
As a team, the Spartans are third in the Big Ten in free throw percentage (.757) and sixth in field goal percentages (.451). Michigan State is third in assists, averaging 17.9 apg.
AROUND THE NATION
The Spartans are distributing the ball really well through the first 21 games. Michigan State is 12th in the nation and second in the Big Ten with 378 total assists and are 12th in assists per game, averaging 18.0 apg. MSU is also 34th in the nation in field goal percentage (.449). Senior guard Nia Clouden has been stellar in getting to the line. She is second in the nation in free throws made (131) and 20th in the NCAA in free throw percentage (.891). Clouden is also ninth in the country in scoring with 21.0 ppg.
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.
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 308-196 record at Michigan State. Karen Langeland is the all-time leader with a 376-290 record at MSU. Merchant is also seven 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 509-286 record overall.
UP NEXT
MSU returns home for its annual Pink Game on Thursday, Feb. 10. The Spartans will take on in-state rival No. 6/5 Michigan for the first of two meetings at 6:30 p.m. on BTN.
20 DIMES FOR WINS
The Spartans improved to 9-1 this season when dishing out 20 or more assists with 22 helpers on Jan. 27 at Penn State. It also marked MSU's third game in a row with 20+ assists after 20 vs. Northwestern (1/16/22) and 22 vs. Minnesota (1/23/22). The three-game streak is 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).
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 third in the Big Ten in free throw percentage (.762). 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.
LAST TIME OUT
Despite senior guard Nia Clouden's 18 second-half points, Michigan State women's basketball had its four-game winning streak halted by No. 17/14 Maryland on the 36th annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day in East Lansing, Michigan on Thursday.
Michigan State had three players in double figures led by 22 points by Clouden who also added five rebounds and four assists. Senior forward Alisia Smith was two points shy of her Michigan State career high with 18 points to go along with eight rebounds, two blocks and two steals. Smith has scored in double figures in three-straight games. Freshman guard/forward Matilda Ekh added 10 points and was just shy of her career high with seven boards. The Spartans had 50 of their 67 points come Clouden, Smith and Ekh.
EKH EARNS ANOTHER B1G HONOR
On Jan. 24, guard/forward Matilda Ekh captured her second Freshman of the Week honor after leading the Spartans to a win against Minnesota on Jan. 23, scoring 23 points. Ekh also dished out a career-high six assists, topping her previous high of four, done twice in previous two games, at Ohio State (1/12/22) and vs. Northwestern (1/16/22). She also garnered the honor on Dec. 13. Ekh is now also tied 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.
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 234 of its last 246 games (.951) when leading with five minutes left, including 184 of their last 198. In Coach Merchant's tenure, Michigan State is 268-20 (.931) when holding a lead with five minutes left. This season, MSU is 11-1 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 167 of their last 195 games (.856) when scoring at least 70 points, and the Spartans are 187-36 (.839) under head coach Suzy Merchant when hanging at least 70 points on the scoreboard. This season, MSU is now 10-3 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'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. 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.
• After a 67-62 loss to No. 17/14 Maryland on Thursday, MSU falls to 12-9 overall and 6-4 in league contests. Minnesota stands 10-13 this season and 3-8 in Big Ten play. The Gophers fell to No. 5/6 Indiana on Thursday, 80-70.
• Senior guard Nia Clouden added to her accolades when she was named to the Dawn Staley Late Season Watch List on Saturday. 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. She is the first Spartan to be named to the Watch List since the award began in 2013.
• Freshman guard DeeDee Hagemann's seven helpers Thursday night gives her 104 for her freshman season, becoming just the eighth Spartan women's basketball player to register 100 assists as a freshman, needing just two more helpers to tie for the No. 7 spot on MSU's assists by a freshman list.
• With 22 points against Maryland on Feb. 3, senior guard Nia Clouden now has 1,733 points, just six shy from the No. 4 spot on MSU's career scoring list held by Linsday Bowen (2002-06) with 1,739 points. She also has 414 career assists, maintaining the No. 7 spot on MSU's career assists mark, continuing to close gap on No. 5 spot held by Deb Traxinger (1978-82) with 443 helpers.
SCOUTING MINNESOTA
Minnesota holds a 10-13 overall record this season and stands 3-8 in Big Ten action. Last time out, the Gophers fell to Indiana, 80-70 on Feb. 3 in Bloomington. Minnesota has Big Ten wins against Rutgers and two against Wisconsin.
Minnesota has three active players, averaging in double figures led by Sara Scalia, who is averaging 16.5 ppg. Jasmine Powell was scoring 12.4 ppg, before leaving the team. Deja Winters averages 11.4 ppg, while Kadi Sissoko scores 10.3 ppg. Scalia is 11th in the league in scoring eight in 3-point field goal percentage (.420). Winters stands sixth in 3-point field goal percentage (.421). Scalia is second in 3-pointers per game, making 3.2.
As a team, Minnesota is second in the Big 3-point field goal percentage, shooting 37.5 percent from long range. The Gophers are 10th in scoring, averaging 68.5 ppg. Minnesota is allowing 71.1 ppg.
SERIES HISTORY VS. THE GOLDEN GOPHERS
Michigan State leads the overall series with Minnesota 46-23. In Minneapolis, the Spartans have a slight edge, 17-15, while leading in East Lansing, 26-7. On neutral ground, MSU leads, 3-1. Michigan State has won seven of the last 10 meetings in the series, including the last three.
This is the second meeting between the Spartans and the Gophers this season. In the last meeting, Nia Clouden and Matilda Ekh helped lift the Spartans past Minnesota, 74-71, on Jan. 23 at the Breslin Center. Clouden scored 25 points to go along with five assists, while Matilda Ekh had her third 20+ game with 23 points and a career high six assists.
Michigan State head coach Suzy Merchant returned to the bench after missing the Northwestern game on Jan. 16 due to COVID-19 protocols.
MAMMA MIA
The 10 points against No. 17/14 Maryland gives freshman guard/forward Matilda Ekh 254 for her freshman campaign, needing just 12 more to tie for the No. 15 spot on MSU's freshman scoring list, held by Bella Engen (1994-95) with 266 points. With two 3-pointers, Ekh notched her 12th game overall with multiple 3-pointers. Ekh now has 48 triples for the season, passing Taryn McCutcheon (2016-17) at No. 3 on MSU's list for 3-pointers by a Spartan freshman, with 47 3-pointers. Next up at No. 2 is Tori Jankoska (2013-14) with 64 triples.
SENSATIONAL SMITTY
Senior forward Alisia Smith has been solid inside for the Spartans this season. The 18 points against Maryland was Smith's third double-digit scoring outing in a row as part of her eighth of the season and 13th of her Spartan career. The three-straight double-figure games is Smith's longest streak of not only the season, but her MSU career, and the longest since the first five games of the 2018-19 season at Penn State, the second of her three seasons as a Lady Lion.
EVEN MORE ON ALISIA
Alisia Smith's 18 points against Maryland was her most in a B1G game this season and second-highest overall of the season. It was her most in a B1G game this season for the second game in a row, after tallying 14 points last time out, at Rutgers (1/30/22). The 18 points was Smith's second-highest overall this season behind her MSU career-high of 20 points vs. Marshall (11/30/21), and tied for her third-highest overall of her Spartan career, along with last season's high of 19 points at Wisconsin (1/24/21) and matching 18 points vs. Purdue (2/21/21).
CLOUDEN ADDED TO DAWN STALEY WATCH LIST
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.
ROAD WARRIORS
The Spartans had a successful two-game road trip last week. In two wins over Rutgers and Penn State, Michigan State shot .477 percent (52-for-109) from the field and .455 percent from beyond the arc (15-for-33). Senior guard Nia Clouden led the team in scoring, averaging 16.5 points per game. Freshman guard/forward Matilda Ekh, junior forward Taiyier Parks and senior forward Alisia Smith all averaged 13.0 ppg during the road trip.
MOVING ON UP
With 22 points on Feb. 3, Nia Clouden now has 1,733 points, just six shy from the No. 4 spot on MSU's career scoring list held by Linsday Bowen (2002-06) with 1,739 points.
Clouden dished out four assists Thursday, notching her fifth game in a row with four or more helpers and was her 90th of the season and gives her 414 for her career, maintaining the No. 7 spot on MSU's career assists mark, continuing to close gap on No. 5 spot held by Deb Traxinger (1978-82) with 443 helpers.
BATTLE ON THE BOARDS
Michigan State had a dominating 45-18 rebounding advantage against Penn State on Jan. 27. MSU's +27 rebounding advantage was its highest of the season topping the previous season-high of +22 vs. Florida Gulf Coast (12/20/21). The 45 rebounds was the Spartans' fifth game with 40+ rebounds, including second in B1G play, and matching the 45 boards vs. Nebraska (12/30/21) for the most in the conference game this season. MSU had 14 offensive rebounds Thursday night, nearly matching PSU's total rebounds of 16.
SPARTAN FUN FACTS
- Freshman guard DeeDee Hagemann dished out a game-high seven assists, her 10th game with five or more assists in the last 11 contests, as part of the 13th overall game this season.
- Graduate forward Tamara Farquhar is now 10th in the Big Ten in rebounds in league contests, averaging 7.3 rpg.
- The MSU freshman have been strong in the scoring column this season with Matilda Ekh scoring in double figures 14 times, while DeeDee Hagemann has reached double figures seven times.
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 third in the B1G in scoring with 21.0 points per game behind Iowa's Caitlin Clark (26.5 ppg) and Penn State's Makenna Marisa (22.2 ppg). Clouden also holds the eighth spot in the league in assists with 4.3 helpers per contest, while freshman guard DeeDee Hagemann is fifth with 5.5 apg. Hagemann is also 11th in the league in assist/turnover ration (1.7). Clouden is also second in the league in free-throw percentage (.891). In league contests, Hagemann is second in assists, averaging 6.3 apg, while Clouden is seventh in scoring with 19.4 ppg.
As a team, the Spartans are third in the Big Ten in free throw percentage (.757) and sixth in field goal percentages (.451). Michigan State is third in assists, averaging 17.9 apg.
AROUND THE NATION
The Spartans are distributing the ball really well through the first 21 games. Michigan State is 12th in the nation and second in the Big Ten with 378 total assists and are 12th in assists per game, averaging 18.0 apg. MSU is also 34th in the nation in field goal percentage (.449). Senior guard Nia Clouden has been stellar in getting to the line. She is second in the nation in free throws made (131) and 20th in the NCAA in free throw percentage (.891). Clouden is also ninth in the country in scoring with 21.0 ppg.
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.
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 308-196 record at Michigan State. Karen Langeland is the all-time leader with a 376-290 record at MSU. Merchant is also seven 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 509-286 record overall.
UP NEXT
MSU returns home for its annual Pink Game on Thursday, Feb. 10. The Spartans will take on in-state rival No. 6/5 Michigan for the first of two meetings at 6:30 p.m. on BTN.
20 DIMES FOR WINS
The Spartans improved to 9-1 this season when dishing out 20 or more assists with 22 helpers on Jan. 27 at Penn State. It also marked MSU's third game in a row with 20+ assists after 20 vs. Northwestern (1/16/22) and 22 vs. Minnesota (1/23/22). The three-game streak is 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).
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 third in the Big Ten in free throw percentage (.762). 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.
LAST TIME OUT
Despite senior guard Nia Clouden's 18 second-half points, Michigan State women's basketball had its four-game winning streak halted by No. 17/14 Maryland on the 36th annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day in East Lansing, Michigan on Thursday.
Michigan State had three players in double figures led by 22 points by Clouden who also added five rebounds and four assists. Senior forward Alisia Smith was two points shy of her Michigan State career high with 18 points to go along with eight rebounds, two blocks and two steals. Smith has scored in double figures in three-straight games. Freshman guard/forward Matilda Ekh added 10 points and was just shy of her career high with seven boards. The Spartans had 50 of their 67 points come Clouden, Smith and Ekh.
EKH EARNS ANOTHER B1G HONOR
On Jan. 24, guard/forward Matilda Ekh captured her second Freshman of the Week honor after leading the Spartans to a win against Minnesota on Jan. 23, scoring 23 points. Ekh also dished out a career-high six assists, topping her previous high of four, done twice in previous two games, at Ohio State (1/12/22) and vs. Northwestern (1/16/22). She also garnered the honor on Dec. 13. Ekh is now also tied 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.
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 234 of its last 246 games (.951) when leading with five minutes left, including 184 of their last 198. In Coach Merchant's tenure, Michigan State is 268-20 (.931) when holding a lead with five minutes left. This season, MSU is 11-1 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 167 of their last 195 games (.856) when scoring at least 70 points, and the Spartans are 187-36 (.839) under head coach Suzy Merchant when hanging at least 70 points on the scoreboard. This season, MSU is now 10-3 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'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. 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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/ Women's BasketballRobyn Fralick Postgame Press Conference | Oakland
Sunday, November 23
Robyn Fralick Postgame Press Conference | Eastern Illinois
Thursday, November 20
Robyn Fralick Postgame Press Conference | Western Michigan
Sunday, November 16
Robyn Fralick Postgame Press Conference | Youngstown State
Wednesday, November 12