Spartans Open B1G Tournament with Nebraska Thursday

EAST LANSING, Mich. - No. 9-seeded Michigan State women's basketball will head to the Gopher State to face No. 8-seeded Nebraska in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament on Thursday, March 2 in Minneapolis. Tip off time is set for 12:30 p.m. ET at the Target Center on the Big Ten Network with Mike Hall and Meghan McKeown calling the action.

• This is only the fifth time that the Spartans have been the No. 9 seed. Overall, Michigan State is 2-4 in the tournament as the No. 9 seed. MSU and Nebraska have only met once in the Big Ten Tournament with the Huskers coming out on top 86-58 on March 8, 2014.

•   In its last outing, MSU won its second-straight game with an 80-65 win at Penn State on Feb. 25. The Spartans ended the regular season with a 15-13 overall record and a 7-10 mark in Big Ten action. Nebraska enters the tournament with a 16-13 record and were 8-10 in league play. The Huksers ended the season with a 80-64 win over Northwestern.

• The Spartans placed three on the All-Big Ten team on Feb. 28. Sophomore guards DeeDee Hagemann and Matilda Ekh, along with graduate guard Kamaria McDaniel all earned sports on the honorable mention team.

•   Sophomore DeeDee Hagemann currently stands seventh in the nation and second in the Big Ten in assist/turnover ratio (2.67).

SCOUTING NEBRASKA
Nebraska enters the Big Ten Tournament with a 16-13 overall record and an 8-10 mark in Big Ten play. The Cornhuskers have won two-straight games with a road win against Illinois and a Senior Day home victory against Northwestern. Prior to the two-game winning streak, the Huskers had lost four in a row.

Nebraska is eighth in the Big Ten in scoring, averaging 71.2 ppg, while standing in fifth in scoring defense, allowing only 65.6 ppg. Nebraska is second in the league in 3-point field goals made with 8.3.

Nebraska had a quartet of players earn All-Big Ten honors led by Jaz Shelley, who was named to the first team. Alexis Markowski was named to the second team, while Isabelle Bourne and Sam Haiby garnered honorable mention honors. In Big Ten action, Shelley ranks 10th in the league in scoring (15.2 ppg), 25th in rebounding (5.5 rpg).

Amy Williams is in her seventh season with Nebraska, holding a 112-97 mark with the Huskers. Overall, she holds a 305-206 record in 16 season as a head coach.

SERIES HISTORY VS. THE CORNHUSKERS
Nebraska holds the series lead with Michigan State, 10-5. The Spartans are looking for their first-ever win against the Huskers in the Big Ten Tournament with Nebraska holding a 1-0 lead in postseason play against MSU. Nebraska won the only meeting at the Big Ten Tournament, 86-58 in 2014. At the Breslin Center, the Spartans have a slight 5-3 advantage. In Lincoln, the Huskers lead 6-0.

MSU has won two of the last four meetings with Nebraska, including a 72-69 win in East Lansing on Dec. 30, 2021. Earlier this season, the Huskers defeated the Spartans 71-67 on Feb. 2 in Lincoln.

AGAINST NEBRASKA IN B1G TOURNEY
The Spartans and the Huksers have only met once in the Big Ten Tournament with Nebraska coming out on top, 86-58, on March 8, 2014. Current Co-Director of Athletic Performance started that game, while Branndaie Agee scored 18 points off the bench.

TOURNEY NOTES
This is only the fifth time that the Spartans have been the No. 9 seed. Overall, Michigan State is 2-4 in the tournament as the No. 9 seed.

Last season, No. 8-seeded MSU reached the quarterfinals of the B1G Tournament in Indianapolis, before falling to No. 1 Ohio State, 74-58. MSU beat Purdue in the second round, 73-69.

After last season's Big Ten Tournament, MSU stands 25-26 in the tournament.

DID YOU KNOW?
With 68 3-pointers so far this season, sophomore guard/forward Matilda Ekh stands tied for ninth in the single-season record books. Last season, she stood alone in the eighth spot with 69 treys during her freshman campaign.

3-Point Field Goals
1.   Tori Jankoska, 122, 2016-17
2.   Lindsay Bowen, 83, 2004-05
3.   Taryn McCutcheon,  79, 2018-19
4.   Lindsay Bowen, 77, 2002-03
5.   Maxann Reese, 74, 1998-99
6.   Taryn McCutcheon, 72, 2017-18
7.   Kalisha Keane, 71, 2010-11
8.   Matilda Ekh, 69, 2021-22
9.   Matilda Ekh, 68, 2022-23
   Tori Jankoska, 68, 2014-15
   Lindsay Bowen, 68, 2005-06

BREAKING RECORDS
Sophomore guard DeeDee Hagemann is looking to break the school record for assist-to-turnover ration. Through 28 games this season, she has a 2.67 assist-to-turnover ration, which is ahead of the current single-season record held by Christine Powers who held a 2.40 ratio during the 1994-95 season.

Assist-to-Turnover Ratio (min. 2.0 APG)
1.   DeeDee Hagemann, 2.67, 2022-
2.   Christine Powers, 2.40, 1994-95
3.   Kristin Haynie, 2.30, 2004-05
4.   Taryn McCutcheon, 2.28, 2016-17
5.   Taryn McCutcheon, 2.11, 2017-18
6.   Tamika Matlock, 2.08, 1996-97
7.   Donita Johnson, 1.98, 1999-00
8.   Nia Clouden, 1.95, 2020-21
9.   Kiana Johnson, 1.93, 2012-13
10   Tamika Matlock, 1.91, 1995-96
* turnovers were first kept in 1984-85 season

AROUND THE CORNER
The winner of the game between the Spartans and the Cornhuskers has a date with No. 1-seeded Indiana. Michigan State captured the regular season meeting against the Hoosiers with an 83-78 upset at the Breslin Center on Dec. 29. In that battle, graduate guard Kamaria McDaniel led the way with 24 points. No. 2 ranked Indiana is 26-2 this season and 16-2 in league contests. Prior to a regular-season finale loss to Iowa, the Spartans were the only team to defeat the Hoosiers this season. MSU is 2-1 all-time against Indiana in the B1G Tournament. The last time they faced each other was an epic 111-109 4 OT loss in 2018.

SPARTAN STRONG
Thursday is just the fourth game for MSU since a mass shooting on the East Lansing campus on Monday, Feb. 13, when three students were killed and five were hospitalized. The Spartans return to the court after their game against Purdue on Feb. 15 was postponed. Michigan State students returned to class on Monday, Feb. 20.

BY THE NUMBERS VS. PENN STATE
• Michigan State improves to 5-5 when three Spartan reach double figures. Against the Lady Lions, DeeDee Hagemann scored 20 points with Kamaria McDaniel scoring 12 and Taiyier Parks adding 11.

• Freshman guard Theryn Hallock was just shy of tying her career high, scoring nine points in 11 minutes on Saturday. Her career high is 10 points against Purdue Fort Wayne on Nov. 10. She scored seven of her nine points in the first quarter.

SPARTAN TRIO EARN POSTSEASON HONORS
Three Michigan State women's basketball players were named to the All-Big Ten team Tuesday, as voted on by both the league's 14 coaches. Sophomore guards Matilda Ekh and DeeDee Hagemann both garnered honorable mention All-Big Ten accolades by both the coaches and the media. Graduate guard Kamaria McDaniel earned honorable mention All-Big Ten recognition by the media.

Ekh, a native of Vasteras, Sweden, earned her second-straight honorable mention honor. She is second on the team in scoring, averaging 12.3 ppg.

Hagemann, who hails from Detroit, Michigan, is averaging 8.7 ppg this season. Her 5.0 assists per game average is fifth in the conference. Hagemann also stands second in the Big Ten in assist/turnover ratio (2.7).

McDaniel, a guard from Inkster, Michigan captured All-Big Ten honors for the second time in his career. She earned first-team All-Big Ten honors as a sophomore at Penn State during the 2019-20 season.

LEADING THE TEAM
MSU will be playing its eighth-straight game without head coach Suzy Merchant on the bench after suffering a medical incident on Jan. 28. Dean Lockwood will be the Spartans' acting head coach.

THE BRAINY BALLERS
Sophomore guard/forward Matilda Ekh and sophomore forward Isaline Alexander were named to the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Women's Basketball Team on Feb. 21. All honorees must have at least a 3.50 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) their current institution.

EKH-CELLENT OUTING
Sophomore guard/forward Matilda Ekh netted 21 points against Penn State on Feb. 12, including draining five 3-pointers. The 21 points tied Ekh's season-high and her most at home, as she matched her season-best of 21 at Northwestern (Jan. 2). The five treys tied her most in a B1G game for the third time this season, also doing so in back-to-back games at Northwestern (Jan. 2) and at Maryland (Jan. 7), and was one shy of her career-high of six triples, done once this season vs. Western Michigan (Nov. 13) as part of three total times of her career.

LENDING A HELPING HAND
Sophomore guard DeeDee Hagemann dished out a season high-tying nine assists against the Terrapins on Feb. 18, matching her previous mark set against Michigan on Feb. 5. The Detroit native also matched her career high with one block against Maryland. Over the last nine games, Hagemann has had at least five helpers in eight of the nine contests. She has averaged 6.9 apg during that nine game span. She has also scored in double figures eight times during the last nine games. Hagemann is now fifth in the Big Ten in assists, averaging 5.0 apg. She is also seventh in steals with 1.9 spg. In Big Ten contests, she is sixth with 5.6 apg.

LAST TIME VS. NEBRASKA
Michigan State's ferocious fourth-quarter comeback fell just short as the Spartans were topped by Nebraska, 71-67, at Pinnacle Bank Arena on Feb. 2. Michigan State trailed by as many 21 points in the game, but the offense came to life with a 27-point fourth quarter.

Four Spartans reached double figures led by 17 points from sophomore guard DeeDee Hagemann, including 15 in the second half to spark the Spartan comeback. Hagemann also tied her career-high with five steals. Sophomore forward Matilda Ekh scored 13 of her 15 points in the second half, while senior guard Moira Joiner added 15 points, with a new career-high five steals. Off the bench, senior forward Taiyier Parks scored 11 points with six rebounds.

EKH EQUALS CONSISTENCY
Sophomore guard/forward Matilda Ekh has been one of Michigan State's most consistent players this season. The Vasteras, Sweden, native tallied double figures for the 18th time this season and 37th in her career with 15 points against Minnesota on Feb. 22. She has only had two games this season without at least one 3-pointer made. Ekh leads the team in 3-pointers made this season with 65.

With 137 made 3-pointers in her two seasons, she stands 11th all-time at MSU. Next up for Ekh is No. 10 Annalise Pickrel (138, 2010-14), who currently serves as the team's athletic performance coach.

THIEVES IN THE NIGHT
Against Nebraska on Feb. 2, the Spartans forced 19 turnovers, highlighted by 18 steals. The 18 steals are the most in a Big Ten game and the second most this season for MSU. Senior guard Moira Joiner and sophomore guard DeeDee Hagemann registered five steals, while senior guard/forward Tory Ozment tied her career high with three. Michigan State's season high in steals came against Oakland on Nov. 15 with 19.

GETTING IN THE LINEUP
MSU returned to the lineup of graduate guard Kamaria McDaniel, sophomore guard DeeDee Hagemann, sophomore guard/forward Matilda Ekh, senior guard Moira Joiner and sophomore forward Isaline Alexander after celebrating Senior Day against Minnesota on Feb. 22. The Spartans are now 4-4 with that line-up. Overall, MSU has had eight different line-ups this season. McDaniel is the only Spartan to have started all 28 games. Hagemann has started 27 games, while Ekh has been in the starting lineup 26 times.

AMAZING AYRAULT
Redshirt junior guard/forward Julia Ayrault finished as Michigan State's leading scorer against Maryland on Feb. 18, scoring 15 on a 4-for-7 evening from the floor. Ayrault's scoring output surpassed her previous season high of 13 set against Detroit Mercy on Dec. 18. The Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan, native scored in double figures for the second time this season and 14th time in her career. Ayrault additionally matched her season high in blocks with two rejections against the Terrapins. She also matched her career high in 3-point makes with a trio of field goals from downtown. Her previous career high was set against Detroit Mercy on Dec. 18.

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.

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. The Spartans dropped to 1-8 this season against ranked foes with a losses to No. 22/22 Illinois on Jan. 29 and No. 8/8 Maryland on Feb. 18.

TAKING DOWN THE TOP
Michigan State's upset of No. 4/3 Indiana on Dec. 29 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.

MO' MOIRA, MO' SCORING
Senior guard Moira Joiner has had a resurgence since returning from concussion symptoms that shortened her 2021-22 season. In 28 games this season, she has averaged 9.6 points per game. She is having her most productive season as a Spartan. She is second on the team in 3-pointers with 40. She has started 12 games so far this season, including 10 of the last 11. 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 one 3-pointer against Penn State on Feb. 25, Joiner now has 121 career 3-pointers, tying All-American Aerial Powers for 14th all-time in the MSU record books. She is just two shy of tying Eileen Shea (1987-91) with 123.

AROUND THE NATION
This week, Michigan State is 10th in the nation and third in the Big Ten in assists, averaging 17.9 apg, behind Iowa (21.0 apg). MSU is also 11th in the nation and three in the Big Ten in turnover margin (+6.3).
Individually, sophomore DeeDee Hagemann is seventh in the NCAA and two in the Big Ten in assist/turnover ratio (2.7). Sophomore guard/forward Matilda Ekh is 50th in the NCAA and third in the B1G in 3-pointers made with 68.

CLOSE CALLS
In the Spartans' 13 losses this season, 10 of the 13 defeats have come by a margin of 10 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. Against No. 22/22 Illinois, MSU lost by a close 86-76 margin, followed by a 71-67 loss to Nebraska on Feb. 2. Most recently, MSU fell to No. 18/19 Michigan, 77-67 and lost to No. 8/8 Maryland 66-61 on Feb. 18.

BALANCED ATTACK
Without All-American Nia Clouden to dominate the box score this season, the Spartans are looking for a more balanced attack. In 28 games this season, Michigan State has spread out the scoring. Nine different players have led the team in scoring this season. Graduate guard Kamaria McDaniel has led the team in scoring nine times this season. Senior forward Taiyier Parks and junior guard Gabby Elliott have been on top twice. DeeDee Hagemann has led the team in scoring three times. McDaniel has six 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 seven times, while senior guard Moira Joiner has been on top four times. Redshirt-junior guard/forward was the top scorer for the Spartans against Maryland on Feb. 18.

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 (+6.3) and third in steals (11.1 spg). MSU is also first in the league in offensive rebounds per game (13.8) and third in the conference in assists (17.9 apg). MSU currently stands fourth in the league in scoring margin (+12.1).

Sophomore guard Matilda Ekh is third in made 3-pointers per game with 2.5. Sophomore guard DeeDee Hagemann stands second in the Big Ten in assist/turnover ratio (2.7). Senior forward Taiyier Parks is 20th in the league in rebounding, averaging 5.5 rpg. In conference games, senior forward Taiyier Parks is tied for 13th in rebounds, averaging 6.5 rpg. Hagemann stands third in steals in league contests, averaging 2.5 spg and fifth in assists with 5.7 apg.

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.
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. 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.

CLOSING OUT THE GAMES
The Spartans have been extremely effective closing out games over the last couple years, winning 253 of its last 267 games (.948) when leading with five minutes left, including 203 of their last 219. In Coach Merchant's tenure, Michigan State is 287-22 (.929) when holding a lead with five minutes left. This season, MSU is 15-1 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 186 of their last 221 games (.842) when scoring at least 70 points, and the Spartans are 205-47 (.813) under head coach Suzy Merchant when hanging at least 70 points on the scoreboard. This season, MSU is 15-6 this season when scoring 70 points. The Spartans have losses to Oregon, Purdue Wisconsin, Maryland, Iowa and Illinois when reaching the 70-point mark.

Players Mentioned

Isaline Alexander

Julia Ayrault

Nia Clouden

Matilda Ekh

Gabby Elliott

DeeDee Hagemann

Theryn Hallock

Moira Joiner

Kamaria McDaniel

Tory Ozment

Taiyier Parks

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