Sunday, February 6
Minneapolis, Minn.
3 PM ET
Michigan State University
12-10,6-5Big Ten
60
at
71
Minnesota
11-13,4-8Big Ten
1
2
3
4
F
Michigan St.
17
15
18
10
60
Minnesota
14
22
23
12
71
Michigan State Women’s Basketball Falls to Minnesota Sunday
2/6/2022 6:05:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Nia Clouden leads all scorers with 29 points.
MINNEAPOLIS -- Michigan State women's basketball fell to Minnesota on Sunday, 71-60, Sunday afternoon at Williams Arena.
After winning four-straight games, the Spartans have now lost two-straight, falling to 12-10 overall and 6-5 in Big Ten action. Minnesota improves to 11-13 overall and 4-8 in league play. The teams split the season series, with MSU earning a 74-71 win in East Lansing on Jan. 23.
Michigan State was led by senior guard Nia Clouden's 13th 20-point game, as she led all scorers with 29 points to go along with four rebounds. Clouden went 6-for-14 from beyond the arc, which was her second-straight game netting six treys. Freshman guard/forward Matilda Ekh reached double figures for the seventh game in a row and 15th time this season with 12 points.
Minnesota was led by 24 points from Sara Scalia, while Alexia Smith added 13 off the bench.
Both offenses took a while to warm up with the Golden Gophers starting the game 0-for-7 and MSU starting 2-for-6. Eventually, the Spartans got going opening up an 8-0 lead, highlighted by two 3-pointers from Clouden. Another Clouden trey gave MSU its first double-digit lead at 15-5 with under three minutes left in the period. The Gophers responded with a 6-0 run to trim the MSU lead to 15-11, leading to a MSU timeout.
Minnesota tied it 17-17 with a three-point play to open the second quarter. Smith had the hot hand for the Gophers in the second quarter with three-straight baskets as Minnesota opened up a 30-24 lead with 4:11 left in the half. Michigan State hit a cold spell going over three minutes without a basket before a layup by freshman forward Isaline Alexander. The first half was a 3-point shooting contest with both teams going 6-for-14 from long range, but Minnesota led 36-32.
The Gophers went 6-for-6 from the field to open up a 52-41 lead with 5:46 remaining in the third quarter. The home team's run jumped to 11-0 before a pair of Clouden free throws ended the streak. The scoring slowed down at the end of the period with both teams going over four minutes without a field goal. After Minnesota took a lead as big as a 15 points, MSU was able to claw its way back into it. A Clouden 3-pointer with 10 seconds left in the third period, cut it to a 59-50 game.
In the fourth quarter, Michigan State continued to battle, cutting the deficit to six after a trey by freshman guard DeeDee Hagemann. From that point, the Gophers re-established control and wouldn't let the Spartans get any closer.
The Spartans now return home to take on No. 6/5 Michigan for their annual Pink Game on Thursday, Feb. 10 at 6:30 p.m. on the Big Ten Network.
Post-Game Notes: at Minnesota 2-6-22
• After posting its longest B1G winning streak since 2015-16 season at four games in a row, Michigan State has now lost two in a row, marking just the second time this season that MSU has lost back-to-back B1G games.
• Sunday was just the fourth time in MSU's 11 B1G games that the opposition has scored over 70.
• Michigan State's starting line-up of senior guard Nia Clouden, freshman guard DeeDee Hagemann, graduate forward Tamara Farquhar, freshman guard/forward Matilda Ekh and senior forward Alisia Smith was the eighth-straight game that MSU has opened the game with that starting five, as part of the 10th total time this season ... overall, it is MSU's fourth different starting line-up overall this season.
• Senior guard Nia Clouden tallied a game-best 29 points, nearly split with 14 points in the first half and 15 in the second half.
• Clouden netted six 3-pointers Sunday, giving her 12 treys in the last game-and-a-half, as she had six triples in the second half last time out vs. Maryland (2/3/22) after not making anything from behind the arc in the first half.
• With 29 points on Sunday, Clouden netted 20-point games in back-to-back B1G games for the first time this season, as part of the eighth time this season she had 20+ points in consecutive contests ... overall, it is it the fourth time in the last seven games that Clouden has collected 20 or more points, as part of posting 20+ points for the 13th game this season and palindromic 31st time of her career ... Clouden also notched double-figures to the 21st game this season and 92nd of her career.
• Clouden climbed up to No. 4 on MSU's career scoring list with her seventh point on Sunday, coming on a 3-pointer with 2:39 left in the first quarter, for her 1,740th career point, passing Linsday Bowen (2002-06) with 1,739 points ... the 29 points gives Clouden 1,752 for her career, just 28 points shy of the No. 3 spot held by Liz Shimek (2002-06).
• With six 3-pointers Sunday, Clouden now has drained 49 triples this season and 135 in her career, maintaining her No. 10 mark on MSU's career 3-pointers list,and just three away from matching former Spartan player and current MSU assistant director of sports performance Annalise Pickrel (2010-14) at No. 9 with 138 3-pointers.
• Freshman guard/forward Matilda Ekh notched double-digits for the seventh-straight game as part of the eighth time in the last nine outings with 12 points Sunday ... Ekh has scored in double-figures a total of 15 times this season ... nine of Ekh's double-digit scoring outings have come during MSU's 11 B1G games.
• Ekh's 12 points ties her for the No. 15 spot on MSU's freshman scoring list, matching Bella Engen (1994-95) with 266 points.
• With two 3-pointers in Sunday's game, Ekh now has drained multiple 3-pointers in the seventh-straight game as part of her 13th game this season with multi treys ... Ekh solidified her hold on No. 3 on MSU's list for 3-pointers by a Spartan freshman, with 49 made 3-pointers ... next up at No. 2 is Tori Jankoska (2013-14) with 64 triples.
• By make 2-of-4 behind the arc, Ekh is now 50-of-116, as the 43.1 percent, maintaining the No. 2 spot on the Spartans' freshman 3-point percentage list, just ahead of current teammate Moira Joiner's .386 (30-of-101) in 2020-21, and behind the record holder Lindsay Bowen (2002-03) at .464 (77-of-166) ... Ekh's 116 3-point attempts is just one shy of the No. 5 mark on the freshman 3-pointers attempted list, with Maxann Reese (1996-97) currently holding the No. 5 spot with 117.
• Freshman guard DeeDee Hagemann dished out a game-high nine assists, as she led MSU in helpers for the second-straight game and team-leading 13th time this season ... Hagemann posted her 11th contest this season with five or more helpers in the last 12 games as part of a total of 14 times this season.
• With nine assists Sunday, Hagemann now has 113 for her first season as a Spartan ... after becoming just the eighth Spartan women's basketball player to register 100 assists as a freshman in MSU's last game (vs. Maryland, 2/3/22), Hagemann now has moved up to No. 7 on MSU's assists by a freshman list, passing Kim Archer (1983-84) at 106 assists, and needing just four more assists to catch former Spartan and current assistant coach Kristin Haynie (2001-02) at No. 6 with 117 helpers.
• Hagemann also swiped not only a game-high but also a season-high with four steals, matching the most by a Spartan player this season, joining Ekh (four steals done twice, last vs. Northwestern, 1/16/22) and graduate forward Tamara Farquhar (four steals also vs. Northwestern, 1/16/22).
After winning four-straight games, the Spartans have now lost two-straight, falling to 12-10 overall and 6-5 in Big Ten action. Minnesota improves to 11-13 overall and 4-8 in league play. The teams split the season series, with MSU earning a 74-71 win in East Lansing on Jan. 23.
Michigan State was led by senior guard Nia Clouden's 13th 20-point game, as she led all scorers with 29 points to go along with four rebounds. Clouden went 6-for-14 from beyond the arc, which was her second-straight game netting six treys. Freshman guard/forward Matilda Ekh reached double figures for the seventh game in a row and 15th time this season with 12 points.
Minnesota was led by 24 points from Sara Scalia, while Alexia Smith added 13 off the bench.
Both offenses took a while to warm up with the Golden Gophers starting the game 0-for-7 and MSU starting 2-for-6. Eventually, the Spartans got going opening up an 8-0 lead, highlighted by two 3-pointers from Clouden. Another Clouden trey gave MSU its first double-digit lead at 15-5 with under three minutes left in the period. The Gophers responded with a 6-0 run to trim the MSU lead to 15-11, leading to a MSU timeout.
Minnesota tied it 17-17 with a three-point play to open the second quarter. Smith had the hot hand for the Gophers in the second quarter with three-straight baskets as Minnesota opened up a 30-24 lead with 4:11 left in the half. Michigan State hit a cold spell going over three minutes without a basket before a layup by freshman forward Isaline Alexander. The first half was a 3-point shooting contest with both teams going 6-for-14 from long range, but Minnesota led 36-32.
The Gophers went 6-for-6 from the field to open up a 52-41 lead with 5:46 remaining in the third quarter. The home team's run jumped to 11-0 before a pair of Clouden free throws ended the streak. The scoring slowed down at the end of the period with both teams going over four minutes without a field goal. After Minnesota took a lead as big as a 15 points, MSU was able to claw its way back into it. A Clouden 3-pointer with 10 seconds left in the third period, cut it to a 59-50 game.
In the fourth quarter, Michigan State continued to battle, cutting the deficit to six after a trey by freshman guard DeeDee Hagemann. From that point, the Gophers re-established control and wouldn't let the Spartans get any closer.
The Spartans now return home to take on No. 6/5 Michigan for their annual Pink Game on Thursday, Feb. 10 at 6:30 p.m. on the Big Ten Network.
Post-Game Notes: at Minnesota 2-6-22
• After posting its longest B1G winning streak since 2015-16 season at four games in a row, Michigan State has now lost two in a row, marking just the second time this season that MSU has lost back-to-back B1G games.
• Sunday was just the fourth time in MSU's 11 B1G games that the opposition has scored over 70.
• Michigan State's starting line-up of senior guard Nia Clouden, freshman guard DeeDee Hagemann, graduate forward Tamara Farquhar, freshman guard/forward Matilda Ekh and senior forward Alisia Smith was the eighth-straight game that MSU has opened the game with that starting five, as part of the 10th total time this season ... overall, it is MSU's fourth different starting line-up overall this season.
• Senior guard Nia Clouden tallied a game-best 29 points, nearly split with 14 points in the first half and 15 in the second half.
• Clouden netted six 3-pointers Sunday, giving her 12 treys in the last game-and-a-half, as she had six triples in the second half last time out vs. Maryland (2/3/22) after not making anything from behind the arc in the first half.
• With 29 points on Sunday, Clouden netted 20-point games in back-to-back B1G games for the first time this season, as part of the eighth time this season she had 20+ points in consecutive contests ... overall, it is it the fourth time in the last seven games that Clouden has collected 20 or more points, as part of posting 20+ points for the 13th game this season and palindromic 31st time of her career ... Clouden also notched double-figures to the 21st game this season and 92nd of her career.
• Clouden climbed up to No. 4 on MSU's career scoring list with her seventh point on Sunday, coming on a 3-pointer with 2:39 left in the first quarter, for her 1,740th career point, passing Linsday Bowen (2002-06) with 1,739 points ... the 29 points gives Clouden 1,752 for her career, just 28 points shy of the No. 3 spot held by Liz Shimek (2002-06).
• With six 3-pointers Sunday, Clouden now has drained 49 triples this season and 135 in her career, maintaining her No. 10 mark on MSU's career 3-pointers list,and just three away from matching former Spartan player and current MSU assistant director of sports performance Annalise Pickrel (2010-14) at No. 9 with 138 3-pointers.
• Freshman guard/forward Matilda Ekh notched double-digits for the seventh-straight game as part of the eighth time in the last nine outings with 12 points Sunday ... Ekh has scored in double-figures a total of 15 times this season ... nine of Ekh's double-digit scoring outings have come during MSU's 11 B1G games.
• Ekh's 12 points ties her for the No. 15 spot on MSU's freshman scoring list, matching Bella Engen (1994-95) with 266 points.
• With two 3-pointers in Sunday's game, Ekh now has drained multiple 3-pointers in the seventh-straight game as part of her 13th game this season with multi treys ... Ekh solidified her hold on No. 3 on MSU's list for 3-pointers by a Spartan freshman, with 49 made 3-pointers ... next up at No. 2 is Tori Jankoska (2013-14) with 64 triples.
• By make 2-of-4 behind the arc, Ekh is now 50-of-116, as the 43.1 percent, maintaining the No. 2 spot on the Spartans' freshman 3-point percentage list, just ahead of current teammate Moira Joiner's .386 (30-of-101) in 2020-21, and behind the record holder Lindsay Bowen (2002-03) at .464 (77-of-166) ... Ekh's 116 3-point attempts is just one shy of the No. 5 mark on the freshman 3-pointers attempted list, with Maxann Reese (1996-97) currently holding the No. 5 spot with 117.
• Freshman guard DeeDee Hagemann dished out a game-high nine assists, as she led MSU in helpers for the second-straight game and team-leading 13th time this season ... Hagemann posted her 11th contest this season with five or more helpers in the last 12 games as part of a total of 14 times this season.
• With nine assists Sunday, Hagemann now has 113 for her first season as a Spartan ... after becoming just the eighth Spartan women's basketball player to register 100 assists as a freshman in MSU's last game (vs. Maryland, 2/3/22), Hagemann now has moved up to No. 7 on MSU's assists by a freshman list, passing Kim Archer (1983-84) at 106 assists, and needing just four more assists to catch former Spartan and current assistant coach Kristin Haynie (2001-02) at No. 6 with 117 helpers.
• Hagemann also swiped not only a game-high but also a season-high with four steals, matching the most by a Spartan player this season, joining Ekh (four steals done twice, last vs. Northwestern, 1/16/22) and graduate forward Tamara Farquhar (four steals also vs. Northwestern, 1/16/22).
Team Stats
MSU
MINN
FG%
.375
.391
3FG%
.409
.320
FT%
.750
.867
RB
36
39
TO
17
12
STL
7
7
Game Leaders
Pts
29
FGM
10
3FGM
6
FTM
3
Pts
12
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
4
Pts
6
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
5
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballG/F
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballGuard
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ 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