Wednesday, January 11
East Lansing, Mich.
7 PM
Michigan State University
vs
Wisconsin
Photo by: Rey Del Rio
MSU Women's Basketball Hosts Wisconsin on Pride Night
1/10/2023 5:16:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Spartans and the Badgers will meet twice in the regular season.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State women's basketball returns to the friendly confines of the Breslin Center to take on Wisconsin on Wednesday, Jan. 11. The Spartans will be celebrating their inaugural Pride Night. Tip off time is set for 7 p.m. on BTN+ with Brendan Schabath and Owen Oszust calling the action.
• The Spartans had their four-game winning streak halted by No. 13/14 Maryland in College Park, 94-85, on Jan. 7. MSU now stands 10-6 overall and 2-3 in league play. Wisconsin beat Minnesota last time out to improve to 5-11 overall and 1-4 in B1G action.
•Michigan State is eighth in the in nation and second in the Big Ten in turnover margin (7.06). Michigan State is also 10th in the country in assists per game with 18.7 apg.
•Senior forward Taiyier Parks was one rebounds shy of her career high with 12 boards against Maryland. She has pulled down 13 rebounds twice with the last occurring against Ohio State on Feb. 27, 2022. Her previous season high was nine earlier this season against Purdue Fort Wayne on Nov. 10.
•Michigan State's 19 made 3-pointers against Maryland broke an MSU record. The previous record was 17 against Morehead State on Nov. 9, 2021. The 19 treys was also tied for the second-most in Big Ten history. The most made was 20 by Maryland in 2020.
SCOUTING WISCONSIN
Wisconsin earned its first Big Ten win with an 81-77 victory over Minnesota on Jan. 8 in Madison. With the win, the Badgers improved to 5-11 overall and 1-4 in league contests. Julie Pospisilova and Avery LaBarbera lead the Badgers with 20 points and seven rebounds apiece.
UW has Big Ten losses against Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois and Purdue. In non-conference play, Wisconsin earned solid wins against Milwaukee, North Florida, Bradley and St. Thomas. In the ACC/B1G Challenge, the Badgers suffered a tight, 92-87, loss to Florida State.
Wisconsin has five players averaging in double figures lead by Pospisilova, who is scoring 13.9 ppg. Maty Wilke is second in scoring with 12.6 ppg. Pospisilova is also ninth in the Big Ten in assists with 4.2 apg. Serah Williams in fourth in the league in blocks (1.5 bpg), while LaBarbera is ninth in minutes played (33.2 mpg).
Marisa Moseley is in her second season with Wisconsin, holding a 12-32 mark with the Badgers. Overall, she holds a 58-61 record in five season as a head coach.
SERIES HISTORY VS. THE BADGERS
Michigan State leads the overall series against Wisconsin, 48-26, including holding a 27-6 advantage in East Lansing. In Madison, the Badgers have a slight lead 19-18. On neutral territory, MSU leads 3-1.
Michigan State has won five-straight in the series, including a 74-67 win in Madison last season. The Spartans had won 11-straight games in the series, until the Badgers captured a 79-62 win in Madison in 2019. Wisconsin's last win in East Lansing came in 2010 when the Badgers earned a 48-45 victory.
BY THE NUMBERS VS. MARYLAND
• Senior guard Moria Joiner scored a season-high 19 points against the Terrapins, including 10 in the fourth quarter alone. She was just one point shy of tying her career high of 20 points at Rutgers on Jan. 1, 2020. She tied her career high with five 3-pointers, going 5-for-8 for the game. This was the fourth time in her career that she drained five treys in a game. Joiner added a season-high eight rebounds and tied a season high with five assists.
• Five of Michigan State's six losses have come by 10 points or less. Three of the Spartans defeats came at the hands of ranked teams, including No. 5/4 Iowa State, No. 3/4 Ohio State and No. 13/14 Maryland.
DID YOU KNOW?
Michigan State's 19 made 3-pointers against Maryland broke an MSU record. The previous record was 17 against Morehead State on Nov. 9, 2021. The 19 treys was also tied for the second-most in Big Ten history. The most made was 20 by Maryland on Dec. 3, 2020. The Spartans 44 3-point attempts is a new Big Ten record, passing Minnesota's 42 attempts vs. NJIT on Dec. 28, 2015
CLIMBING THE CHARTS
Sophomore guard/forward Matilda Ekh is swiftly climbing the MSU career charts. In just two seasons, Ekh has drained 113 3-pointers, which places her 15th in the MSU record books. She is now just three treys away from tying Taylor Alton (2008-12) for No. 16 in the record books. In two seasons, she is shooting .408 from beyond the arc (113-for-277), which places her first all-time in MSU history.
Her 69 3-pointers as a freshman were the second most all-time for a Spartan rookie. MSU All-American Lindsay Bowen holds the top spot with 77 treys as a freshman during the 2002-03 season.
PLAY THE BEST TO BE THE BEST
The Dec. 29 win over No. 4/3 Indiana was MSU's third opponent ranked in the top 5, after facing then-No. 5/4 Iowa State on Nov. 24, 2022 in Portland, Oregon, and playing at then-No. 3/4 Ohio State on Dec. 11, 2022. Overall, MSU has faced five ranked teams so far this season, taking on No. 18/18 Oregon on Nov. 27 and No. 13/14 Maryland on Jan. 7. MSU is 1-4 this season against ranked foes.
LAST TIME VS. THE BADGERS
Freshman guard/forward Matilda Ekh's game-high 25 points helped guide the Michigan State women's basketball team past Wisconsin, 74-67, at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin on Feb. 16, 2022.
The Spartans were playing without starting point guard DeeDee Hagemann, who is out in concussion protocol. Michigan State only played eight players in the contest.
Aside from Ekh's 25 points, two other Spartans reached double figures. Senior guard Nia Clouden added 12 points and tied her season high with eight assists. Senior forward Alisia Smith also added 12 points along with four rebounds and two steals.
MIGHTY MATILDA
For the second-straight game, sophomore guard/forward Matilda Ekh reached the 20-point mark. Against Maryland, she scored 20 points to lead the Spartans, highlighted by 17 points in the second half. Behind a 17-point second quarter against Northwestern, she scored 21 points on Jan. 2. The guard now has six games this season with at least four treys.
Ekh is second on the team in scoring, averaging 13.1 points per game. She has drained 44 treys in 16 games this season, shooting .408 from beyond the arc. She has scored in double figures 11 times this season, including five-straight games.
TAKING DOWN THE TOP
Michigan State's upset of No. 4/3 Indiana is the Spartans' highest win over a ranked team since upsetting No. 4/4 Michigan, 63-57, on Feb. 10, 2022 at the Breslin Center. MSU dealt the Hoosiers their first loss of the season, as Indiana brought a 12-0 overall and 2-0 Big Ten ledger into that contest.
BACK-TO-BACK BADGERS
The Spartans and the Badgers will become very familiar this week. The Michigan State men's team will take on Wisconsin at the Kohl Center on Jan. 10. One day later, the Badger women's team will make the journey to East Lansing. This is the first of two meetings between the MSU and UW women's teams this season. The teams will also meet in Madison on Feb. 8.
BIG TEN OPENERS
Michigan State is 20-21 in Big Ten openers, having won seven of their 12. MSU is 9-7 in league openers in Coach Merchant's 16 seasons after losing to Iowa in last season's league opener. During the 2020-21 season, the Spartans won their opener in Minneapolis, 81-68, over the Gophers.
KMAC GETS THE JOB DONE
Graduate guard Kamaria McDaniel has been a solid force for the Spartans all season. With 15 points against No. 13/14 Maryland, she has now scored in double digits for four-straight games. Overall, she has reached double digits in 12 of MSU's 16 games. She has scored least 20 points four times this year. The guard leads the team in scoring, averaging 14.7 ppg, which is tied for 16th in the league. She leads the team in points scored this season with 235. The most points she has scored in a season is 290, during her sophomore season at Penn State (2018-19).
MORE MO PLEASE
Senior guard Moira Joiner has had a resurgence since returning from concussion symptoms that shortened her 2021-22 season. In 16 games this season, she has averaged 9.2 points per game. Against Central Michigan on Nov. 19, she scored a then-season-high 17 points. She also tied her career high with five made 3-pointers.
She scored a season-high 19 points against Maryland on Jan. 7, including 10 in the fourth quarter alone. She was just one point shy of tying her career high of 20 points at Rutgers on Jan. 1, 2020. She tied her career high with five 3-pointers, going 5-for-8 for the game. This was the fourth time in her career that she drained five treys in a game. Joiner added a season-high eight rebounds and tied a season high with five assists.
She has started games against Iowa State (Nov. 24) and Ohio State (Dec. 11).
FREQUENT FLYER
Sophomore guard Matilda Ekh returned to the lineup for the Spartans against Oregon on Nov. 27. After playing against Central Michigan on Nov. 19, Ekh traveled to Sweden for a National Team game against Israel. She arrived in Portland on Friday and scored 14 points for the Spartans against Oregon on Nov. 25. She also scored 14 points against Georgia Tech on Dec. 1 and 12 against Purdue on Dec. 5.
CLOSE CALLS
In the Spartans' six losses this season, five of the six defeats have come by a margin of nine points or less. On Nov. 27, MSU fell to No. 18/18 Oregon, 86-78. MSU lost to Georgia Tech on Dec. 1, 66-63, before falling in overtime to Purdue on Dec. 5, 76-71. Against No. 3/4 Ohio State, the Spartans fell, 74-68. Most recently, Michigan State lost the final four games of the losing streak by a total of 22 points.
BALANCED ATTACK
Without All-American Nia Clouden to dominate the box score this season, the Spartans are looking for a more balanced attack. In 14 games this season, Michigan State has spread out the scoring. Eight different players have led the team in scoring this season. Graduate guard Kamaria McDaniel has led the team in scoring five times this season. Senior forward Taiyier Parks, junior guard Gabby Elliott and senior guard Moira Joiner have both led the team in scoring twice. McDaniel has four 20-point games and has led the team in scoring in all of those games. Sophomore guard Matilda Ekh has led the squad in scoring four times.
TOPPING THE CHARTS
Michigan State is among the Big Ten's leaders in several categories this season. The Spartans are currently second in the B1G in turnover margin (+7.1) and third in steals (11.6 spg). MSU is also first in the league in offensive rebounds per game (15.4) and third in the conference in assists (18.7 apg). MSU currently stands third in the league in scoring margin (+19.9).
Sophomore guard Matilda Ekh is first in the Big Ten in 3-point field percentage, shooting .431. She is also third in made 3-pointers per game with 2.9. Sophomore guard DeeDee Hagemann stands fourth in the Big Ten in assist/turnover ration (2.44). Graduate guard Kamaria McDaniel is tied for 16th in the league in scoring, averaging 14.7 ppg.
AROUND THE NATION
This week, Michigan State is eighth in the nation and third in the Big Ten in assists, averaging 18.7, behind Iowa (19.2 apg). MSU is also eighth in the nation and second in the Big Ten in turnover margin (+7.1).
Individually, sophomore DeeDee Hagemann is 32nd in the NCAA and fourth in the Big Ten in assist/turnover ratio (2.44). Graduate guard Kamaria McDaniel is 48th in the nation and sixth in the league in total free throws made with 63.
UP NEXT
Michigan State will close out the week at No. 17/20 Michigan on Saturday, Jan. 14 at 2 p.m. The road doesn't get any easier for the Spartans, as they then return home to face No. 12/9 Iowa on Wednesday, Jan. 18 at 7 p.m.
TITLE IX CELEBRATION
Throughout the season, Michigan State will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of Title IX. MSU Athletics kicked off its year-round celebration on June 23, 2022. While the work in advancing women's athletics is not complete, the Spartans will celebrate the advancements that have been made in the last 50 years.
LEGENDARY SPARTAN
Former Michigan State women's basketball guard Nia Clouden was drafted 12th in the first round by the Connecticut Sun at the 2022 WNBA Draft. Clouden was the 12th Big Ten student-athlete drafted by the Sun franchise (which began as the Orlando Miracle from 1999-2002). Clouden, an Owings Mills, Maryland native, became the eighth Spartan to be selected in the WNBA draft. Tori Jankoska was the ninth overall pick in the 2017 draft by the Chicago Sky, while Aerial Powers was the fifth overall pick in 2016 going to the Dallas Wings.
Maxann Reese and Kristen Rasmussen were the first Spartans selected in the WNBA, drafted in 2000. Reese was taken in the third round, while Rasmussen was selected in the fourth. In 2003, Syreeta Broomfield was drafted in the third round. In 2005, Kristin Haynie was the ninth overall pick by Sacramento, while Liz Shimek was taken in the second round by Phoenix in 2006.
SPARTANS: THE NEW CLASS
Michigan State women's basketball head coach Suzy Merchant announced the signing of two National Letters of Intent on Thursday, including Jordan Wood (Chicago, Illinois/Carmel Catholic High School) and Bree Robinson (Mississauga, Ontario/ Webb School).
Wood is a 6-4 forward, who is a native of Chicago, Illinois. She attends Carmel Catholic High School and is coached by Ben Berg. Wood is currently ranked No. 62 in the ESPNW HoopGurlz Recruiting Rankings. As a junior, she scored 1,000 points, as well as leading the Corsairs to a Class 3A Illinois State Championship. Last season, she averaged 14.4 points and 6.6 rebounds per game, while also leading the team in assists (3.2 apg).
Robinson is a 5-8 guard, who is a native of Mississauga, Ontario, plays for head coach Matthew Shewmake at the Webb School (Tenn.). She helped lead the Webb school to a Tennessee State Championship, earning First-Team All-District 3 honors in the process. She also has a vast amount of international experience playing for Team Canada. She was the captain for Team Canada, playing in the U16 FIBA Americas in 2021, capturing a silver medal.
CLOSING OUT THE GAMES
The Spartans have been extremely effective closing out games over the last couple years, winning 248 of its last 261 games (.950) when leading with five minutes left, including 198 of their last 213. In Coach Merchant's tenure, Michigan State is 282-21 (.931) when holding a lead with five minutes left. This season, MSU is 10-0 when leading with five minutes remaining.
MAGIC NUMBERS
In head coach Suzy Merchant's tenure, when two numbers on the scoreboard were achieved it typically has been a sign of a MSU win. The Green & White have won 180 of their last 213 games (.845) when scoring at least 70 points, and the Spartans are 200-44 (.820) under head coach Suzy Merchant when hanging at least 70 points on the scoreboard. This season, MSU is 10-3 this season when scoring 70 points. The Spartans have losses to Oregon and Purdue went reaching the 70-point mark.
• The Spartans had their four-game winning streak halted by No. 13/14 Maryland in College Park, 94-85, on Jan. 7. MSU now stands 10-6 overall and 2-3 in league play. Wisconsin beat Minnesota last time out to improve to 5-11 overall and 1-4 in B1G action.
•Michigan State is eighth in the in nation and second in the Big Ten in turnover margin (7.06). Michigan State is also 10th in the country in assists per game with 18.7 apg.
•Senior forward Taiyier Parks was one rebounds shy of her career high with 12 boards against Maryland. She has pulled down 13 rebounds twice with the last occurring against Ohio State on Feb. 27, 2022. Her previous season high was nine earlier this season against Purdue Fort Wayne on Nov. 10.
•Michigan State's 19 made 3-pointers against Maryland broke an MSU record. The previous record was 17 against Morehead State on Nov. 9, 2021. The 19 treys was also tied for the second-most in Big Ten history. The most made was 20 by Maryland in 2020.
SCOUTING WISCONSIN
Wisconsin earned its first Big Ten win with an 81-77 victory over Minnesota on Jan. 8 in Madison. With the win, the Badgers improved to 5-11 overall and 1-4 in league contests. Julie Pospisilova and Avery LaBarbera lead the Badgers with 20 points and seven rebounds apiece.
UW has Big Ten losses against Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois and Purdue. In non-conference play, Wisconsin earned solid wins against Milwaukee, North Florida, Bradley and St. Thomas. In the ACC/B1G Challenge, the Badgers suffered a tight, 92-87, loss to Florida State.
Wisconsin has five players averaging in double figures lead by Pospisilova, who is scoring 13.9 ppg. Maty Wilke is second in scoring with 12.6 ppg. Pospisilova is also ninth in the Big Ten in assists with 4.2 apg. Serah Williams in fourth in the league in blocks (1.5 bpg), while LaBarbera is ninth in minutes played (33.2 mpg).
Marisa Moseley is in her second season with Wisconsin, holding a 12-32 mark with the Badgers. Overall, she holds a 58-61 record in five season as a head coach.
SERIES HISTORY VS. THE BADGERS
Michigan State leads the overall series against Wisconsin, 48-26, including holding a 27-6 advantage in East Lansing. In Madison, the Badgers have a slight lead 19-18. On neutral territory, MSU leads 3-1.
Michigan State has won five-straight in the series, including a 74-67 win in Madison last season. The Spartans had won 11-straight games in the series, until the Badgers captured a 79-62 win in Madison in 2019. Wisconsin's last win in East Lansing came in 2010 when the Badgers earned a 48-45 victory.
BY THE NUMBERS VS. MARYLAND
• Senior guard Moria Joiner scored a season-high 19 points against the Terrapins, including 10 in the fourth quarter alone. She was just one point shy of tying her career high of 20 points at Rutgers on Jan. 1, 2020. She tied her career high with five 3-pointers, going 5-for-8 for the game. This was the fourth time in her career that she drained five treys in a game. Joiner added a season-high eight rebounds and tied a season high with five assists.
• Five of Michigan State's six losses have come by 10 points or less. Three of the Spartans defeats came at the hands of ranked teams, including No. 5/4 Iowa State, No. 3/4 Ohio State and No. 13/14 Maryland.
DID YOU KNOW?
Michigan State's 19 made 3-pointers against Maryland broke an MSU record. The previous record was 17 against Morehead State on Nov. 9, 2021. The 19 treys was also tied for the second-most in Big Ten history. The most made was 20 by Maryland on Dec. 3, 2020. The Spartans 44 3-point attempts is a new Big Ten record, passing Minnesota's 42 attempts vs. NJIT on Dec. 28, 2015
CLIMBING THE CHARTS
Sophomore guard/forward Matilda Ekh is swiftly climbing the MSU career charts. In just two seasons, Ekh has drained 113 3-pointers, which places her 15th in the MSU record books. She is now just three treys away from tying Taylor Alton (2008-12) for No. 16 in the record books. In two seasons, she is shooting .408 from beyond the arc (113-for-277), which places her first all-time in MSU history.
Her 69 3-pointers as a freshman were the second most all-time for a Spartan rookie. MSU All-American Lindsay Bowen holds the top spot with 77 treys as a freshman during the 2002-03 season.
PLAY THE BEST TO BE THE BEST
The Dec. 29 win over No. 4/3 Indiana was MSU's third opponent ranked in the top 5, after facing then-No. 5/4 Iowa State on Nov. 24, 2022 in Portland, Oregon, and playing at then-No. 3/4 Ohio State on Dec. 11, 2022. Overall, MSU has faced five ranked teams so far this season, taking on No. 18/18 Oregon on Nov. 27 and No. 13/14 Maryland on Jan. 7. MSU is 1-4 this season against ranked foes.
LAST TIME VS. THE BADGERS
Freshman guard/forward Matilda Ekh's game-high 25 points helped guide the Michigan State women's basketball team past Wisconsin, 74-67, at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin on Feb. 16, 2022.
The Spartans were playing without starting point guard DeeDee Hagemann, who is out in concussion protocol. Michigan State only played eight players in the contest.
Aside from Ekh's 25 points, two other Spartans reached double figures. Senior guard Nia Clouden added 12 points and tied her season high with eight assists. Senior forward Alisia Smith also added 12 points along with four rebounds and two steals.
MIGHTY MATILDA
For the second-straight game, sophomore guard/forward Matilda Ekh reached the 20-point mark. Against Maryland, she scored 20 points to lead the Spartans, highlighted by 17 points in the second half. Behind a 17-point second quarter against Northwestern, she scored 21 points on Jan. 2. The guard now has six games this season with at least four treys.
Ekh is second on the team in scoring, averaging 13.1 points per game. She has drained 44 treys in 16 games this season, shooting .408 from beyond the arc. She has scored in double figures 11 times this season, including five-straight games.
TAKING DOWN THE TOP
Michigan State's upset of No. 4/3 Indiana is the Spartans' highest win over a ranked team since upsetting No. 4/4 Michigan, 63-57, on Feb. 10, 2022 at the Breslin Center. MSU dealt the Hoosiers their first loss of the season, as Indiana brought a 12-0 overall and 2-0 Big Ten ledger into that contest.
BACK-TO-BACK BADGERS
The Spartans and the Badgers will become very familiar this week. The Michigan State men's team will take on Wisconsin at the Kohl Center on Jan. 10. One day later, the Badger women's team will make the journey to East Lansing. This is the first of two meetings between the MSU and UW women's teams this season. The teams will also meet in Madison on Feb. 8.
BIG TEN OPENERS
Michigan State is 20-21 in Big Ten openers, having won seven of their 12. MSU is 9-7 in league openers in Coach Merchant's 16 seasons after losing to Iowa in last season's league opener. During the 2020-21 season, the Spartans won their opener in Minneapolis, 81-68, over the Gophers.
KMAC GETS THE JOB DONE
Graduate guard Kamaria McDaniel has been a solid force for the Spartans all season. With 15 points against No. 13/14 Maryland, she has now scored in double digits for four-straight games. Overall, she has reached double digits in 12 of MSU's 16 games. She has scored least 20 points four times this year. The guard leads the team in scoring, averaging 14.7 ppg, which is tied for 16th in the league. She leads the team in points scored this season with 235. The most points she has scored in a season is 290, during her sophomore season at Penn State (2018-19).
MORE MO PLEASE
Senior guard Moira Joiner has had a resurgence since returning from concussion symptoms that shortened her 2021-22 season. In 16 games this season, she has averaged 9.2 points per game. Against Central Michigan on Nov. 19, she scored a then-season-high 17 points. She also tied her career high with five made 3-pointers.
She scored a season-high 19 points against Maryland on Jan. 7, including 10 in the fourth quarter alone. She was just one point shy of tying her career high of 20 points at Rutgers on Jan. 1, 2020. She tied her career high with five 3-pointers, going 5-for-8 for the game. This was the fourth time in her career that she drained five treys in a game. Joiner added a season-high eight rebounds and tied a season high with five assists.
She has started games against Iowa State (Nov. 24) and Ohio State (Dec. 11).
FREQUENT FLYER
Sophomore guard Matilda Ekh returned to the lineup for the Spartans against Oregon on Nov. 27. After playing against Central Michigan on Nov. 19, Ekh traveled to Sweden for a National Team game against Israel. She arrived in Portland on Friday and scored 14 points for the Spartans against Oregon on Nov. 25. She also scored 14 points against Georgia Tech on Dec. 1 and 12 against Purdue on Dec. 5.
CLOSE CALLS
In the Spartans' six losses this season, five of the six defeats have come by a margin of nine points or less. On Nov. 27, MSU fell to No. 18/18 Oregon, 86-78. MSU lost to Georgia Tech on Dec. 1, 66-63, before falling in overtime to Purdue on Dec. 5, 76-71. Against No. 3/4 Ohio State, the Spartans fell, 74-68. Most recently, Michigan State lost the final four games of the losing streak by a total of 22 points.
BALANCED ATTACK
Without All-American Nia Clouden to dominate the box score this season, the Spartans are looking for a more balanced attack. In 14 games this season, Michigan State has spread out the scoring. Eight different players have led the team in scoring this season. Graduate guard Kamaria McDaniel has led the team in scoring five times this season. Senior forward Taiyier Parks, junior guard Gabby Elliott and senior guard Moira Joiner have both led the team in scoring twice. McDaniel has four 20-point games and has led the team in scoring in all of those games. Sophomore guard Matilda Ekh has led the squad in scoring four times.
TOPPING THE CHARTS
Michigan State is among the Big Ten's leaders in several categories this season. The Spartans are currently second in the B1G in turnover margin (+7.1) and third in steals (11.6 spg). MSU is also first in the league in offensive rebounds per game (15.4) and third in the conference in assists (18.7 apg). MSU currently stands third in the league in scoring margin (+19.9).
Sophomore guard Matilda Ekh is first in the Big Ten in 3-point field percentage, shooting .431. She is also third in made 3-pointers per game with 2.9. Sophomore guard DeeDee Hagemann stands fourth in the Big Ten in assist/turnover ration (2.44). Graduate guard Kamaria McDaniel is tied for 16th in the league in scoring, averaging 14.7 ppg.
AROUND THE NATION
This week, Michigan State is eighth in the nation and third in the Big Ten in assists, averaging 18.7, behind Iowa (19.2 apg). MSU is also eighth in the nation and second in the Big Ten in turnover margin (+7.1).
Individually, sophomore DeeDee Hagemann is 32nd in the NCAA and fourth in the Big Ten in assist/turnover ratio (2.44). Graduate guard Kamaria McDaniel is 48th in the nation and sixth in the league in total free throws made with 63.
UP NEXT
Michigan State will close out the week at No. 17/20 Michigan on Saturday, Jan. 14 at 2 p.m. The road doesn't get any easier for the Spartans, as they then return home to face No. 12/9 Iowa on Wednesday, Jan. 18 at 7 p.m.
TITLE IX CELEBRATION
Throughout the season, Michigan State will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of Title IX. MSU Athletics kicked off its year-round celebration on June 23, 2022. While the work in advancing women's athletics is not complete, the Spartans will celebrate the advancements that have been made in the last 50 years.
LEGENDARY SPARTAN
Former Michigan State women's basketball guard Nia Clouden was drafted 12th in the first round by the Connecticut Sun at the 2022 WNBA Draft. Clouden was the 12th Big Ten student-athlete drafted by the Sun franchise (which began as the Orlando Miracle from 1999-2002). Clouden, an Owings Mills, Maryland native, became the eighth Spartan to be selected in the WNBA draft. Tori Jankoska was the ninth overall pick in the 2017 draft by the Chicago Sky, while Aerial Powers was the fifth overall pick in 2016 going to the Dallas Wings.
Maxann Reese and Kristen Rasmussen were the first Spartans selected in the WNBA, drafted in 2000. Reese was taken in the third round, while Rasmussen was selected in the fourth. In 2003, Syreeta Broomfield was drafted in the third round. In 2005, Kristin Haynie was the ninth overall pick by Sacramento, while Liz Shimek was taken in the second round by Phoenix in 2006.
SPARTANS: THE NEW CLASS
Michigan State women's basketball head coach Suzy Merchant announced the signing of two National Letters of Intent on Thursday, including Jordan Wood (Chicago, Illinois/Carmel Catholic High School) and Bree Robinson (Mississauga, Ontario/ Webb School).
Wood is a 6-4 forward, who is a native of Chicago, Illinois. She attends Carmel Catholic High School and is coached by Ben Berg. Wood is currently ranked No. 62 in the ESPNW HoopGurlz Recruiting Rankings. As a junior, she scored 1,000 points, as well as leading the Corsairs to a Class 3A Illinois State Championship. Last season, she averaged 14.4 points and 6.6 rebounds per game, while also leading the team in assists (3.2 apg).
Robinson is a 5-8 guard, who is a native of Mississauga, Ontario, plays for head coach Matthew Shewmake at the Webb School (Tenn.). She helped lead the Webb school to a Tennessee State Championship, earning First-Team All-District 3 honors in the process. She also has a vast amount of international experience playing for Team Canada. She was the captain for Team Canada, playing in the U16 FIBA Americas in 2021, capturing a silver medal.
CLOSING OUT THE GAMES
The Spartans have been extremely effective closing out games over the last couple years, winning 248 of its last 261 games (.950) when leading with five minutes left, including 198 of their last 213. In Coach Merchant's tenure, Michigan State is 282-21 (.931) when holding a lead with five minutes left. This season, MSU is 10-0 when leading with five minutes remaining.
MAGIC NUMBERS
In head coach Suzy Merchant's tenure, when two numbers on the scoreboard were achieved it typically has been a sign of a MSU win. The Green & White have won 180 of their last 213 games (.845) when scoring at least 70 points, and the Spartans are 200-44 (.820) under head coach Suzy Merchant when hanging at least 70 points on the scoreboard. This season, MSU is 10-3 this season when scoring 70 points. The Spartans have losses to Oregon and Purdue went reaching the 70-point mark.
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