Spartan Women's Basketball Begins Road Trip at No. 22 Illinois Sunday

EAST LANSGIN, Mich. - Michigan State women's basketball opens its two-game road trip at No. 22/22 Illinois on Sunday, Jan. 29. Tip off time is set for 6 p.m. (ET) on the Big Ten Network with Jason Ross Jr. and Meghan McKeown calling the action.

• The Spartans returned to their winning ways with a dominating 85-63 win over Rutgers on Jan. 22. With the victory, the Spartans improve to 11-9 overall and 3-6 in Big Ten action. Illinois holds a 16-5 overall record and stands 6-4 in league play. The Illini are coming off a 62-52 loss at home against Purdue on Jan. 26.

•   Against Rutgers, sophomore guard Matilda Ekh reached double figure scoring for the second-straight game, 14th time this season and 33rd time in her career with 13 points on 4-for-9 shooting. Ekh also recorded five assists, matching her season high set in her last time out against Iowa on Jan. 18.

•   The Spartans continue to distribute the ball well this season, standing third in the Big Ten in assists (18.3 apg). Michigan State is also third in the league in steals, averaging 11.2 spg.

•   Against Rutgers, senior guard Moira Joiner climbed into double figures on the scoreboard for the 11th time this season and 25th time in her career, scoring 13 points on 5-for-9 shooting from the floor. With one trey against the Scarlet Knights, she now has 111 for her career, which is good for tied for 16th in the MSU record books.

SCOUTING ILLINOIS
Illinois holds a 16-5 overall record and a 6-4 Big Ten ledger, heading in to the meeting with the Spartans. The Illini are 2-3 in their last five games with losses to Purdue (Jan. 26), Indiana (Jan. 18) and Ohio State (Jan. 8). Illinois started the season with six-straight wins. The Illini captured a signature win against Iowa at home on Jan. 1.

Former Spartan Kendall Bostic is one of four Illini averaging in double figures with 10.2 ppg. Makira Cook is seventh in the league in scoring, averaging 17.8 ppg, while Genesis Bryant is 13th with 15.1 ppg. Bostic is first in the Big Ten in rebounding, averaging 10.4 rpg and first in blocks with 1.76 bpg. Bryant also stand third in the conference in free throw percentage (.871).

As a team, the resurgent Illini are fifth in the Big Ten in scoring margin (+15.9), scoring 78.2 points while allowing 63.1 ppg. Illinois is first in the league in 3-point field goal percentage (.387) and rebound margin (+7.9).

Illinois head coach Shauna Green is in her first season at the helm of the Fighting Illini. She holds a career record of 172-80. She has had an immediate impact with Illinois holding a 16-5 record this season.

SERIES HISTORY VS. THE FIGHTING ILLINI
Michigan State holds a 46-28 series lead over Illinois. In Champaign, the leads is tighter with MSU on top 18-15. In East Lansing, the Spartans lead the series 25-10. On neutral territory, series is knotted 3-3. Michigan Stare has won 10-straight games in the series, including a 75-60 win at home on Dec. 9, 2021. In that early season matchup, Matilda Ekh scored a then-career-high 20 points in the home win.

The last time that Illinois captured a win in the series was in East Lansing with the Illini coming out on top 61-51 in 2014. Illinois' last win against the Spartans at the State Farm Center was on Feb. 2, 2007 with a 57-46 victory.

BY THE NUMBERS VS. RUTGERS
• Sophomore guard Matilda Ekh reached double figure scoring for the second straight game, 14th time this season and 33rd time in her career with 13 points on 4-for-9 shooting. Ekh also recorded five assists, matching her season high set in her last time out against Iowa on Jan. 18.
• Four Spartans cracked double figures in scoring on Sunday afternoon, bringing MSU's record to 6-1 overall when four players reach that mark.

SHORT-TERM MEMORY
Michigan State has had a pair of losing streaks this season. The Spartans snapped a five-game losing streak with a dominating win against Detroit Mercy, 91-41, on Dec. 18. MSU snapped a four-game losing streak with another solid performance with a 85-63 win over Rutgers on Jan. 22.

DID YOU KNOW?
Michigan State was dominant in the paint, out-scoring Rutgers by a 46-24 margin down low. The Green & White climb to 9-3 when out-scoring their opponent in the paint this season. Senior forward Taiyier Parks the Spartans in scoring with 14 points off the bench, followed closely behind by freshman Abbey Kimball with 13 points.

RISING TO THE OCCASION
Against Rutgers, freshman guard Abbey Kimball shattered her career high in scoring with 13 points on 5-for-10 shooting. Her previous career-best mark of seven was set in MSU's last game against Iowa on Jan. 18 inside the Breslin Center. Kimball also set a new career highs in minutes played (16), assists (two) and steals (two), also matching her career high in rebounds with a pair. Over the last three games, she has increased her scoring with five against Michigan (1/14), seven against Iowa (1/18) and 13 against Rutgers (1/22).

LOOKING AROUND THE LEAGUE
Reaching the half-way point of the Big Ten schedule, Indiana has take the top spot in the league with a 9-1 conference mark with Iowa close behind with a 8-1 record. MSU stands alone in ninth with a 3-6 conference record. The Spartans have had a tough first half of the season, playing all four top teams already (Indiana, Iowa, Maryland and Ohio State). Northwestern is the only team looking for its first league win with an 0-9 mark.

JOINING THE BENCH
Former Michigan State All-American Nia Clouden returns to the Spartan bench this season. During the WNBA offseason, the Connecticut Sun guard will serve as a graduate assistant on Suzy Merchant's staff.

CLIMBING THE CHARTS
Sophomore guard/forward Matilda Ekh is swiftly climbing the MSU career charts. In just two seasons, Ekh has drained 120 3-pointers, which places her 14th in the MSU record books. In two seasons, she is shooting .399 from beyond the arc (120-for-301), which places her second all-time in MSU history. Ekh stands one treys away from tying Spartan All-American Aerial Powers (2013-16), who drained 121 treys in her career. Senior guard Moira Joiner stands tied for 16th all-time with 111 career 3-point field goals.

Ekh's 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.

GETTING IN THE LINEUP
Against Rutgers on Jan. 22, Michigan State used the starting line-up of graduate guard Kamaria McDaniel, sophomore guard DeeDee Hagemann, sophomore guard/forward Matilda Ekh, senior guard Moira Joiner and sophomore forward Isaline Alexander. It was the Spartans' first game with that starting five, standing 1-0 in those games. Overall, it was MSU's seventh different line-up this season. McDaniel is the only Spartan to have started all 20 games. Both Ekh and Hagemann have started 19 games.

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 six ranked teams so far this season, taking on No. 18/18 Oregon on Nov. 27 and No. 13/14 Maryland on Jan. 7. On Jan. 14, the Spartans fell to No. 17/20 Michigan and No. 10/9 Iowa on Jan. 18. MSU is 1-6 this season against ranked foes.

LAST TIME VS. THE FIGHTING ILLINI
Behind a career-high 20 points by freshman Matilda Ekh, Michigan State women's basketball captured its home Big Ten opener against Illinois, 75-60, at the Breslin Center on Dec. 9, 2021.

The Spartans out-scored the Fighting Illini, 49-26, in the second half to overcome an eight-point half-time deficit. For the first time, Matilda Ekh led the team in scoring with a career-high 20 points, draining a career-best 6-for-9 from the beyond the arc. Despite a slow start, senior guard Nia Clouden ended with 17 points, including going 8-for-8 from the charity stripe.

MIGHTY MATILDA
Against Maryland on Jan. 7, sophomore guard/forward Matilda Ekh reached the 20-point mark for the second-straight game. 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.

Against Rutgers on Jan. 22, Ekh registered 13 points on 1-for-6 shooting from beyond the 3-point arc. The Vasteras, Sweden, native tallied double figures for the 14th time this season and 33rd in her career. Ekh also dished out a season-high five assists for the second-straight game, surpassing her previous season-best mark of four set against Northwestern on Jan. 2, and just one shy of her career-high six helpers vs. Minnesota (1/23/22).

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.

KMAC'S CONSISTENCY
Graduate guard Kamaria McDaniel had her six-game double-figure scoring streak stopped with three points against Rutgers on Jan. 22. Overall, she has reached double digits in 15 of MSU's 20 games. She has scored least 20 points five times this year. The guard still leads the team in scoring, averaging 14.2 ppg, which is 18th in the league. She leads the team in points scored this season with 284. The most points she has scored in a season is 290, during her sophomore season at Penn State (2018-19).

DOUBLE THE MO
Senior guard Moira Joiner has had a resurgence since returning from concussion symptoms that shortened her 2021-22 season. In 20 games this season, she has averaged 9.8 points per game. She is having her most productive season as a Spartan. She is second on the team in 3-pointers with 30. She has started five game so far this season.

Joiner recorded a double-double for the first time in her collegiate career, booking 11 points and 10 rebounds in addition to three assists against No. 10/9 Iowa on Jan. 18. With 13 points against Rutgers on Jan. 22, Joiner reached double figures in scoring for the 11th time in 2022-23 and the 24th time in her career. Joiner's one 3-pointer was her 111th career trey, as she is tied for No. 16 on MSU's career 3-pointers list with Rene Haynes (2003-07).

AROUND THE NATION
This week, Michigan State is ninth in the nation and third in the Big Ten in assists, averaging 18.2 apg, behind Iowa (20.4 apg). MSU is also 11th in the nation and third in the Big Ten in turnover margin (+6.6).

Individually, sophomore DeeDee Hagemann is 34th in the NCAA and fourth in the Big Ten in assist/turnover ratio (2.36). Graduate guard Kamaria McDaniel is 61st in the nation and seventh in the league in total free throws made with 79. Sophomore guard/forward Matilda Ekh is 37th in the NCAA and third in the B1G in 3-pointers made with 51.

CLOSE CALLS
In the Spartans' nine losses this season, six of the nine 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 fell to both No. 13/14 Maryland, Wisconsin and No. 10/9 Iowa by a combined 16 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 17 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 seven times this season. Senior forward Taiyier Parks and junior guard Gabby Elliott 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, while senior guard Moira Joiner has been on top three times.

TOPPING THE CHARTS
Michigan State is among the Big Ten's leaders in several categories this season. The Spartans are currently third in the B1G in turnover margin (+6.6) and steals (11.2 spg). MSU is also first in the league in offensive rebounds per game (14.9) and third in the conference in assists (18.3 apg). MSU currently stands fourth in the league in scoring margin (+15.9).

Sophomore guard Matilda Ekh is first in the Big Ten in 3-point field percentage, shooting .405. She is also third in made 3-pointers per game with 2.7 Sophomore guard DeeDee Hagemann stands fourth in the Big Ten in assist/turnover ratio (2.36). Graduate guard Kamaria McDaniel is 18th in the league in scoring, averaging 14.2 ppg.

In conference games, senior forward Taiyier Parks is tied for 11th in rebounds, averaging 7.0 rpg. Hagemann stands tied for sixth in steals in league contests, averaging 3.1 spg.

UP NEXT
Following the battle No. 21/23 Illinois on Sunday, Jan. 29, the Spartans will remain on the road to face Nebraska in Lincoln on Thursday, Jan. 2 at 8:30 p.m. (ET) on BTN.

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.

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.

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.

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 249 of its last 263 games (.947) when leading with five minutes left, including 199 of their last 215. In Coach Merchant's tenure, Michigan State is 283-22 (.928) 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 181 of their last 216 games (.838) when scoring at least 70 points, and the Spartans are 201-46 (.814) under head coach Suzy Merchant when hanging at least 70 points on the scoreboard. This season, MSU is 11-5 this season when scoring 70 points. The Spartans have losses to Oregon, Purdue Wisconsin, Maryland and Iowa when reaching the 70-point mark.

Spartan Women's Basketball Begins Road Trip at No. 22 Illinois Sunday

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Players Mentioned

Isaline Alexander

Nia Clouden

Matilda Ekh

Gabby Elliott

DeeDee Hagemann

Moira Joiner

Abbey Kimball

Kamaria McDaniel

Taiyier Parks