Thursday, March 3
Indianapolis, Ind. / GAINBRIDGE FIELDHOUSE
11:30 AM
Michigan State University
vs
Purdue
Photo by: Matthew Mitchell Photography
Spartans Open Big Ten Tournament with Purdue Thursday
3/2/2022 1:35:00 PM | Women's Basketball
MSU takes on the Boilermakers at 11:30 a.m.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - No. 8-seeded Michigan State women's basketball will open action at the Big Ten Tournament, taking on No. 9-seeded Purdue on Thursday, March 3 at 11:30 a.m. at Gainsbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The game will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network with Mike Hall and Stephanie White on the call.
• This is the first time that the Spartans and the Boilermakers have met in the Big Ten Tournament since, Purdue captured a 72-63 win in the second round of the 2020 tournament. Michigan State holds a 1-5 all-time record against Purdue in the B1G Tournament.
• Senior guard Nia Clouden earned first-team All-Big honors on Tuesday. She became just the seventh MSU player to earn All-Big Ten accolades all four years as a Spartan. Freshmen Matilda Ekh and DeeDee Hagemann both captured All-Freshman and Honorable Mention All-Big Ten honors.
• 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 just returned to the lineup after missing two games with a knee injury, while DeeDee Hagemann returned to the lineup after being place in concussion protocol.
• Graduate forward Tamara Farquhar pulled down a career-high 22 rebounds on Senior Day against Ohio State, becoming the first Spartan women's basketball player to pull down 20 boards since Lykendra Johnson snared 20 vs. IPFW on Jan. 15, 2011. The 22 rebounds is tied for No. 3 on MSU's single-game rebounds list, matching Nanette Gibson vs. Minnesota on 2/9/80.
SCOUTING PURDUE
The ninth-seeded Boilermakers enter the Big Ten Tournament with a 16-13 overall record and stand 7-11 in the Big Ten. Purdue went 2-3 in its final five league contests with wins against Rutgers and Illinois.
Jeanae Terry, Abbey Ellis and Madison Layden all were named All-Big Ten Honorable Mention. Layden and Ellis lead the team in scoring, averaging 11.4 ppg. All three were all recognized from the conference coaches and media. Cassidy Hardin is fifth in the conference in 3-pointers made with 2.5 per game, while Layden is eighth in steals, averaging 1.8 spg.
As a team, Purdue stands 10th in the league scoring, averaging 67.3 ppg. The Boilermakers stand third in the league in blocks with 4.1 bpg.
SERIES HISTORY VS. THE BOILERMAKERS
Purdue leads the overall series with Michigan State 43-26, including a 5-1 record at the Big Ten Tournament. MSU has won three of the last five, but the Boilermakers captured the last meeting in East Lansing on Jan. 9 69-59.
The series has had several streaks with MSU winning four-straight from 2014-2016, but since then neither team has won more than two in a row.
AGAINST PURDUE IN B1G TOURNEY
The Boilermakers hold a 5-1 lead over the Spartans in the B1G Tournament. In 2020, No. 8 seeded MSU dropped a close call to No. 9 Purdue, 63-72. Despite two players grabbing double-doubles, Michigan State's comeback fell short against Purdue in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament. That matchup was the only other second round Big Ten Tournament game between the two Spartans and the Boilermakers. MSU's 65-64 win against Purdue in 2016 was the beginning of the Spartans run to the B1G Championship game.
1996 Quarterfinals - Purdue 74, MSU 66
2007 Semifinals - Purdue 64, MSU 61
2012 Quarterfinals - Purdue 73, MSU 64
2013 Finals - Purdue 62, MSU 47
2016 Quarterfinals - MSU 65, Purdue 64
2020 Second Round - Purdue 72, MSU 63
LAST TIME VS. PURDUE
On Jan. 9, Michigan State fell to Purdue, 69-59, on Alumni Day Sunday at the Breslin Center. Michigan State welcomed back junior guard Moira Joiner who had been out since Dec. 9. Fellow guards DeeDee Hagemann and Laurel Jacqmain also returned to the lineup after missing the game against Nebraska on Dec. 30. For the only this season, senior guard Nia Clouden did not reach double figures, ending the game with seven points and four rebounds.
TOURNEY NOTES
AROUND THE CORNER
The winner of the game between the Spartans and the Boilermakers has a date with No. 1-seeded Ohio State. The Buckeyes won both meetings this season against Michigan State, including spoiling MSU's senior day with a 61-55 win in East Lansing on Feb. 27. The last time Michigan State faced Ohio State in the B1G Tournament was in 2016. After defeating Purdue in the quarterfinals, MSU took down Ohio State, 82-63, en route to the Big Ten Championship game.
DOUBLE TROUBLE
Junior forward Taiyer Parks scored 15 points and matched her career high with 13 rebounds, recording her fourth double-double of the season and sixth of her career against No. 17/17 Ohio State on Feb. 27. Tamara Farquhar also added a double-double with 10 points and a career-high 22 rebounds. Parks and Farquhar became the first Spartan duo to register double-doubles in the same game since Jenna Allen (17p, 15r) and Taryn McCutcheon (16p, 12a) in a 99-69 MSU win over Bowling Green on Nov. 7, 2018.
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 10.3 ppg.
With one assist against OSU, Hagemann has 135 assists this season, standing 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.
CLEANING THE GLASS
Against Ohio State, graduate forward Tamara Farquhar pulled down a career-high 22 rebounds, becoming the first Spartan women's basketball player to pull down 20 boards since Lykendra Johnson snared 20 vs. IPFW on Jan. 15, 2011. Farquhar's 22 rebounds topped her previous MSU career-high of 16 vs. Florida Gulf Coast (12/21/21). It also surpassed her previous overall career-best during her time at Purdue of 18 at Northwestern (1/13/19).
The 22 rebounds is tied for No. 3 on MSU's single-game rebounds list, matching Nanette Gibson vs. Minnesota on 2/9/80. Her 10 offensive boards also puts her tied for second on the Spartans' single-game offensive rebounds list, putting her even with LyKendra Johnson at Michigan on 1/9/11, current assistant coach Kristin Haynie at Illinois on 3/16/02 and Kisha Kelley at Wisconsin on 1/15/93.
SLUMP BUSTER
Freshman Matilda Ekh has had a stellar freshman season, averaging 11.5 points per game. She earned All-Freshman Team and Honorable Mention All-Big Ten honors. She has hit a shooting slump the final two games of the season. Ekh had reached double digits nine of the last 11 games, before hitting a slump in the last two games. Heading into the Big Ten Tournament, she was 2-for-25 from the field in her final two games of the regular season.
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, who missed two games with a left knee injury before returning to the lineup against Ohio State on Feb. 27.
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 115 games in which she has played at Michigan State. She has not missed a start since becoming a Spartan. Clouden is now No. 8 in the MSU career standings in games started with 115. She has passed 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 3,720 minutes in her career, holding at No. 8 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 Ohio State gives her 323 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 571 points, which is fifth all-time in the MSU single-season record books. Her 159 free throws is third, passing Tori Jankoska in 2016-17. Averaging 36.0 minutes per game, Clouden is seventh. Matilda Ekh has a .392 3-point field goal percentage, which currently puts her eighth, while Clouden's .408 places her fourth.
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 1,852 points, passing Aerial Powers (2013-16) scored 1,817 points in three seasons at MSU.
SPARTAN FUN FACTS
SPARTAN TRIO EARN POSTSEASON HONORS
Three Michigan State players were named to the All-Big Ten team Tuesday. Senior guard Nia Clouden led the way being named first-team All-Big Ten by both coaches and the media. Freshmen Matilda Ekh and DeeDee Hagemann were both named honorable mention All-Big Ten and to the All-Freshman team. Ekh was honored by both coaches and media, while Hagemann was rewarded by the media.
This is the first time since the 2007-08 season that Michigan State has had two players named to the All-Freshman team. During the 2018-19 season, Clouden was also on the All-Freshman squad. She was the first Spartan to be named to the All-Freshman team since Aerial Powers during the 2013-14 season.
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 (27.5 ppg), Penn State's Makenna Marisa (22.5 ppg), Michigan's Naz Hillmon (21.1 ppg) and Iowa's Monika Czinano (20.7 ppg). Clouden also holds the ninth spot in the league in assists with 4.0 helpers per contest, while freshman guard DeeDee Hagemann is fourth with 5.4 apg. Hagemann is also 10th in the league in assist/turnover ration (1.8). Clouden is also first in the league in free-throw percentage (.888). She is also sixth in 3-point field goal percentage (.408). In league contests, Hagemann is fourth in assists, averaging 5.9 apg, while Clouden is eighth in scoring with 19.0 ppg. As a team, the Spartans are eighth in the Big Ten in field goal percentage (.438) and fifth in 3-point field goal percentages (.356). Michigan State is third in assists, averaging 17.0 apg.
AROUND THE NATION
The Spartans are Michigan State is 17th in the nation and third in the Big Ten with 475 total assists and are 16th in assists per game, averaging 17.0 apg. MSU is also 27th in the nation in 3-point field goal percentage (.356). Senior guard Nia Clouden is fifth in the nation in free throws made (159) and 15th in the NCAA in free throw percentage (.888). 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 310-171 record at Michigan State. Karen Langeland is the all-time leader with a 376-291 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.
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.
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).
ANATOMY OF RECORD BREAKER
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.
• This is the first time that the Spartans and the Boilermakers have met in the Big Ten Tournament since, Purdue captured a 72-63 win in the second round of the 2020 tournament. Michigan State holds a 1-5 all-time record against Purdue in the B1G Tournament.
• Senior guard Nia Clouden earned first-team All-Big honors on Tuesday. She became just the seventh MSU player to earn All-Big Ten accolades all four years as a Spartan. Freshmen Matilda Ekh and DeeDee Hagemann both captured All-Freshman and Honorable Mention All-Big Ten honors.
• 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 just returned to the lineup after missing two games with a knee injury, while DeeDee Hagemann returned to the lineup after being place in concussion protocol.
• Graduate forward Tamara Farquhar pulled down a career-high 22 rebounds on Senior Day against Ohio State, becoming the first Spartan women's basketball player to pull down 20 boards since Lykendra Johnson snared 20 vs. IPFW on Jan. 15, 2011. The 22 rebounds is tied for No. 3 on MSU's single-game rebounds list, matching Nanette Gibson vs. Minnesota on 2/9/80.
SCOUTING PURDUE
The ninth-seeded Boilermakers enter the Big Ten Tournament with a 16-13 overall record and stand 7-11 in the Big Ten. Purdue went 2-3 in its final five league contests with wins against Rutgers and Illinois.
Jeanae Terry, Abbey Ellis and Madison Layden all were named All-Big Ten Honorable Mention. Layden and Ellis lead the team in scoring, averaging 11.4 ppg. All three were all recognized from the conference coaches and media. Cassidy Hardin is fifth in the conference in 3-pointers made with 2.5 per game, while Layden is eighth in steals, averaging 1.8 spg.
As a team, Purdue stands 10th in the league scoring, averaging 67.3 ppg. The Boilermakers stand third in the league in blocks with 4.1 bpg.
SERIES HISTORY VS. THE BOILERMAKERS
Purdue leads the overall series with Michigan State 43-26, including a 5-1 record at the Big Ten Tournament. MSU has won three of the last five, but the Boilermakers captured the last meeting in East Lansing on Jan. 9 69-59.
The series has had several streaks with MSU winning four-straight from 2014-2016, but since then neither team has won more than two in a row.
AGAINST PURDUE IN B1G TOURNEY
The Boilermakers hold a 5-1 lead over the Spartans in the B1G Tournament. In 2020, No. 8 seeded MSU dropped a close call to No. 9 Purdue, 63-72. Despite two players grabbing double-doubles, Michigan State's comeback fell short against Purdue in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament. That matchup was the only other second round Big Ten Tournament game between the two Spartans and the Boilermakers. MSU's 65-64 win against Purdue in 2016 was the beginning of the Spartans run to the B1G Championship game.
1996 Quarterfinals - Purdue 74, MSU 66
2007 Semifinals - Purdue 64, MSU 61
2012 Quarterfinals - Purdue 73, MSU 64
2013 Finals - Purdue 62, MSU 47
2016 Quarterfinals - MSU 65, Purdue 64
2020 Second Round - Purdue 72, MSU 63
LAST TIME VS. PURDUE
On Jan. 9, Michigan State fell to Purdue, 69-59, on Alumni Day Sunday at the Breslin Center. Michigan State welcomed back junior guard Moira Joiner who had been out since Dec. 9. Fellow guards DeeDee Hagemann and Laurel Jacqmain also returned to the lineup after missing the game against Nebraska on Dec. 30. For the only this season, senior guard Nia Clouden did not reach double figures, ending the game with seven points and four rebounds.
TOURNEY NOTES
- This is only the second time that the Spartans have been the No. 8 seed. In the 2020 Big Ten Tournament, Michigan State also faced Purdue with the Boilermakers winning that matchup, 73-62.
- Last season, No. 7-seeded MSU reached the semifinals of the B1G Tournament, before falling to No. 6 Iowa, 87-72.
- After last season's Big Ten Tournament semifinal appearance, MSU stands 24-25 in the tournament.
AROUND THE CORNER
The winner of the game between the Spartans and the Boilermakers has a date with No. 1-seeded Ohio State. The Buckeyes won both meetings this season against Michigan State, including spoiling MSU's senior day with a 61-55 win in East Lansing on Feb. 27. The last time Michigan State faced Ohio State in the B1G Tournament was in 2016. After defeating Purdue in the quarterfinals, MSU took down Ohio State, 82-63, en route to the Big Ten Championship game.
DOUBLE TROUBLE
Junior forward Taiyer Parks scored 15 points and matched her career high with 13 rebounds, recording her fourth double-double of the season and sixth of her career against No. 17/17 Ohio State on Feb. 27. Tamara Farquhar also added a double-double with 10 points and a career-high 22 rebounds. Parks and Farquhar became the first Spartan duo to register double-doubles in the same game since Jenna Allen (17p, 15r) and Taryn McCutcheon (16p, 12a) in a 99-69 MSU win over Bowling Green on Nov. 7, 2018.
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 10.3 ppg.
With one assist against OSU, Hagemann has 135 assists this season, standing 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.
CLEANING THE GLASS
Against Ohio State, graduate forward Tamara Farquhar pulled down a career-high 22 rebounds, becoming the first Spartan women's basketball player to pull down 20 boards since Lykendra Johnson snared 20 vs. IPFW on Jan. 15, 2011. Farquhar's 22 rebounds topped her previous MSU career-high of 16 vs. Florida Gulf Coast (12/21/21). It also surpassed her previous overall career-best during her time at Purdue of 18 at Northwestern (1/13/19).
The 22 rebounds is tied for No. 3 on MSU's single-game rebounds list, matching Nanette Gibson vs. Minnesota on 2/9/80. Her 10 offensive boards also puts her tied for second on the Spartans' single-game offensive rebounds list, putting her even with LyKendra Johnson at Michigan on 1/9/11, current assistant coach Kristin Haynie at Illinois on 3/16/02 and Kisha Kelley at Wisconsin on 1/15/93.
SLUMP BUSTER
Freshman Matilda Ekh has had a stellar freshman season, averaging 11.5 points per game. She earned All-Freshman Team and Honorable Mention All-Big Ten honors. She has hit a shooting slump the final two games of the season. Ekh had reached double digits nine of the last 11 games, before hitting a slump in the last two games. Heading into the Big Ten Tournament, she was 2-for-25 from the field in her final two games of the regular season.
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, who missed two games with a left knee injury before returning to the lineup against Ohio State on Feb. 27.
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 115 games in which she has played at Michigan State. She has not missed a start since becoming a Spartan. Clouden is now No. 8 in the MSU career standings in games started with 115. She has passed 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 3,720 minutes in her career, holding at No. 8 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 Ohio State gives her 323 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 571 points, which is fifth all-time in the MSU single-season record books. Her 159 free throws is third, passing Tori Jankoska in 2016-17. Averaging 36.0 minutes per game, Clouden is seventh. Matilda Ekh has a .392 3-point field goal percentage, which currently puts her eighth, while Clouden's .408 places her fourth.
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 1,852 points, passing Aerial Powers (2013-16) scored 1,817 points in three seasons at MSU.
SPARTAN FUN FACTS
- Five Spartans have played all 28 games this season in Nia Clouden, Matilda Ekh, Taiyier Parks, Alisia Smith and Tamara Farquhar. With Clouden, Ekh and Smith starting all 28 games.
- Graduate forward Tamara Farquhar is now ninth in the Big Ten in rebounds in league contests, averaging 7.4 rpg.
- Freshman guard DeeDee Hagemann notched four steals against the Buckeyes, matching her season high from Feb. 6 at Minnesota.
SPARTAN TRIO EARN POSTSEASON HONORS
Three Michigan State players were named to the All-Big Ten team Tuesday. Senior guard Nia Clouden led the way being named first-team All-Big Ten by both coaches and the media. Freshmen Matilda Ekh and DeeDee Hagemann were both named honorable mention All-Big Ten and to the All-Freshman team. Ekh was honored by both coaches and media, while Hagemann was rewarded by the media.
This is the first time since the 2007-08 season that Michigan State has had two players named to the All-Freshman team. During the 2018-19 season, Clouden was also on the All-Freshman squad. She was the first Spartan to be named to the All-Freshman team since Aerial Powers during the 2013-14 season.
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 (27.5 ppg), Penn State's Makenna Marisa (22.5 ppg), Michigan's Naz Hillmon (21.1 ppg) and Iowa's Monika Czinano (20.7 ppg). Clouden also holds the ninth spot in the league in assists with 4.0 helpers per contest, while freshman guard DeeDee Hagemann is fourth with 5.4 apg. Hagemann is also 10th in the league in assist/turnover ration (1.8). Clouden is also first in the league in free-throw percentage (.888). She is also sixth in 3-point field goal percentage (.408). In league contests, Hagemann is fourth in assists, averaging 5.9 apg, while Clouden is eighth in scoring with 19.0 ppg. As a team, the Spartans are eighth in the Big Ten in field goal percentage (.438) and fifth in 3-point field goal percentages (.356). Michigan State is third in assists, averaging 17.0 apg.
AROUND THE NATION
The Spartans are Michigan State is 17th in the nation and third in the Big Ten with 475 total assists and are 16th in assists per game, averaging 17.0 apg. MSU is also 27th in the nation in 3-point field goal percentage (.356). Senior guard Nia Clouden is fifth in the nation in free throws made (159) and 15th in the NCAA in free throw percentage (.888). 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 310-171 record at Michigan State. Karen Langeland is the all-time leader with a 376-291 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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G/F
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G/F
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ 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