No. 4 Seeded MSU Opens B1G Tournament Friday

MINNEAPOLIS - No. 4-seeded Michigan State women's basketball will open action in the TIAA Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals on Friday, March 8 at 3 p.m. ET at the Target Center. The Spartans will now face No. 5-seeded Nebraska. Sloane Martin and Christy Winters Scott will be on the call for the Big Ten Network.

• The Spartans ended the regular season with a 22-7 overall record were 12-6 in Big Ten games, winning five straight. This is the first time since the 2015-16 season that MSU has exceeded the 10-win mark in league play, finishing 13-5 that season. This is the first time that Michigan State has surpassed 21 wins since the 2015-16 season. That year, the Spartans went 25-9, reaching the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

• This is only the second time that the Spartans have been the No. 4 seed. Michigan State was also the No. 4 seed in the 2013 tournament in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. MSU reached the finals that season losing to Purdue in the championship game.

• Theryn Hallock is only the second Spartan to earn Big Ten Sixth Player of the Year honors. All-American Kalisha Keane was voted Sixth Player of the Year during the 2009-10 season.

• During MSU's five-game winning streak, the Spartans have out-scored its opponents 79.2-60.8 ppg. Moira Joiner is leading the Spartans during this span, averaging 15.4 ppg.

MICHIGAN STATE POSSIBLE OPPONENTS

SCOUTING NEBRASKA
After losing its regular-season finale to Illinois, Nebraska earned the No. 5 seed in the Big Ten Tournament. The Cornhuskers come into the tournament with 19-10 overall record and were 11-7 in B1G play.

Alexis Markowski earned first-team All-Big Ten honors, while Jaz Shelley earned second-team honors by both the coaches and the media. Natalie Potts was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year by the coaches. The Huskers are first in the league in rebound margin (+9.0).

Amy Williams is in her eighth season with Nebraska, holding a 134-109 mark with the Huskers. Overall, she holds a 327-218 record in 17 season as a head coach.

SERIES HISTORY VS. THE CORNHUSKERS
Nebraska holds the series lead with Michigan State, 11-6. The Spartans earned their first-ever win against the Huskers in the Big Ten Tournament last season 67-64 in Minneapolis. At the Breslin Center, the Spartans have a slight 5-4 advantage. In Lincoln, the Huskers lead 6-0, while on neutral ground the series is tied 1-1.

MSU has won three of the last six meetings with Nebraska, including the win in the tournament last season. Earlier this season, the Huskers defeated the Spartans 80-74 on Dec. 9 in East Lansing. Nebraska handed MSU one of its only two losses at home this season.

AGAINST NEBRASKA IN B1G TOURNEY
The Spartans and the Huskers have only met twice in the Big Ten Tournament with the series tied 1-1. Nebraska coming out on top, 86-58, on March 8, 2014. Annalise Pickrel started that game, while Branndaia Agee scored 18 points off the bench.

Last season, it was the Spartans who came out on top in the second round on March 3, 2023. DeeDee Hagemann led the Spartans with 18 points, while Moira Joiner added 16.

SCOUTING PURDUE
Purdue out-scored Northwestern by 16 points over the final 15 minutes to capture a 78-72 win in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament on Wednesday night. Abbey Eillis recorded her first double-double of her career with 25 points and 10 rebounds.

The Boilermakers will now take on Nebraska on Thursday, March 7 at 3 p.m. ET.

Head coach Katie Gearlds is in her third season at Purdue, leading the Boilermakers to back-to-back postseason bids, including the first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2017. She holds and overall record of 277-93. During her three seasons at Purdue she has a record of 49-43.

SERIES HISTORY VS. THE BOILERMAKERS
Purdue leads the overall series with Michigan State 44-39. The Spartans are on top of the series in the Breslin Center 25-16, while the Boilermakers lead 23-12 in West Lafayette. On neutral ground, Purdue leads 5-2. Michigan State has won four of the last six meetings between the teams. The Spartans have won four-straight games in West Lafayette with their last win coming on Feb. 21, 68-59.

AGAINST PURDUE IN B1G TOURNEY
Purdue leads the series in the Big Ten Tournament, 5-2. The Boilermakers won the first four meetings, including winning 62-47 in the 2013 B1G Championship game. MSU earned its first win in 2016, edging Purdue 65-64.

In 2022, MSU won its second game against Purdue in the second round with a 73-69 victory. In that game, All-American Nia Clouden led the way with 23 points.

TOURNEY NOTES
This is only the second time that the Spartans have been the No. 4 seed. Michigan State was also the No. 4 seed in the 2013 tournament in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. MSU reached the finals that season losing to Purdue in the championship game.

Last season, No. 9-seeded MSU reached the quarterfinals of the B1G Tournament in Minneapolis, before falling to No. 1 Indiana, 94-85. MSU beat No. 8 Nebraska in the second round, 67-64.

After last season's Big Ten Tournament, MSU stands 26-27 in the tournament.

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES
Sophomore guard Theryn Hallock became just the second Spartan to earn Big Ten Sixth Player of the Year honors. She follows in the footsteps of Kalisha Keane who earned the award in 2009. Hallock did it by averaging 11.2 ppg compared to 2.6 ppg last season. Graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault was also named first-team All-Big Ten. She also had a huge increase in offensive output. Last season, she only averaged 3.6 ppg during the 2022-23 season, and it now leading the team with 15.1 ppg.

LOOKING AT THE LAST FIVE
During MSU's five-game winning streak, the Spartans are averaging 79.2 ppg, while allowing only 60.8 ppg. The most points that MSU has allowed is 70 against Illinois on Feb. 29. They have kept their opponents to under 60 points twice. During this span, the Spartans are shooting 50.3 percent from the field and 40.2 percent from beyond the arc. Graduate guard Moira Joiner leads the team in scoring the last five outings, averaging 15.4 ppg. Graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault is right behind her with 15.0 ppg and 6.8 rpg. During the streak, MSU is beating teams by an average of 18.4 ppg.

BY THE NUMBERS VS. WISCONSIN
• For the second-straight game, sophomore guard Theryn Hallock tied her career high with four steals. She has registered four steals five times in her career.

• Michigan State recorded 14 steals against Wisconsin on March 3, which was its third-straight game reaching in double figures. This was the most steals MSU has had in a game since recording 14 against Minnesota on Feb. 5. Michigan State has had at least 10 steals 15 times this season.

• Graduate guard Moira Joiner out-scored the Badgers in the second quarter 15-12. She was a perfect 5-for-5 from the field, including making three treys in the quarter. For the game, she led all scorers with 20 points. It was her sixth 20-point game of the season and her eighth of her career. The Spartans are 6-0 this season when Joiner reaches 20 points.

SPARTAN QUARTET EARN POSTSEASON HONORS
Four Michigan State women's basketball players honored with postseason accolades.

Graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault was named to the first team by both the coaches and the media. Graduate guard Moira Joiner captured second-team honors by both the coaches and the media, while junior guard DeeDee Hagemann was named second team by the coaches and honorable mention by the media. Sophomore guard Theryn Hallock was also named the Big Ten Sixth Player of the Year.

Hallock is only the second Spartan to earn Big Ten Sixth Player of the Year honors. All-American Kalisha Keane was voted Sixth Player of the Year during the 2009-10 season. The Grand Rapids native is fourth on the team in scoring, averaging 11.2 ppg.

Ayrault, a native of Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan, earned her first All-Big Ten honor during her breakout season. She leads the team and is 11th in the Big Ten in scoring, averaging 15.1 points per game. She also ninth in the B1G in rebounding, averaging 7.3 rpg. She stands fourth in field goal percentage (.417) and second in blocks (2.1 bpg).

Hagemann, who hails from Detroit, Michigan, earned her third-straight all-Big Ten honor. This is the first time that she has captured second-team honors, as she was named to the honorable mention squad the last two years. She is averaging 12.6 ppg this season. She leads the team with a 143 assists. Her 5.1 assists per game average is seventh in the conference. Hagemann also stands first in the Big Ten in assist/turnover ratio (2.90).

Joiner, a guard from Saginaw, Michigan captured her first All-Big Ten honor when she was named to the second team. She is second on the team in scoring, averaging 15.0 ppg which is good for 12th in the league. The guard is also second in the B1G in 3-point shooting percentage (.428). Joiner was also named Michigan State's Big Ten Sportsmanship Award honoree.

SETTING NEW STANDARDS
The Spartans improve to 22-7 overall and 12-6 in Big Ten games, winning five straight. This is the first time since the 2015-16 season that MSU has exceeded the 10-win mark in league play, finishing 13-5 that season. This is the first time that Michigan State has reach 21 wins since the 2018-19 season. That year, the Spartans went 21-12, reaching the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

HAGEMANN'S HELPERS
Junior guard DeeDee Hagemann recorded two assists against Wisconsin on March 3 to reach 142 for the season. She has had at least 140 steals in all three seasons at Michigan State. With two more assists, she will tie herself from the 2021-22 season and Spartan All-American Kristin Haynie (2002-03) with 144 assists. Her career high is 146 assists which she achieved last season, which stands eight in the MSU single-season records.

RE-WRITING HISTORY
The Spartans also broke the single-season school record for 3-pointers in a season against the Scarlet Knights on Feb. 24. MSU came into the game needing 11 to break the record and hit 14 in the game. The Spartans have now recorded 264 3-pointers this season, breaking the record set during the 2016-17 season. Graduate guard Moira Joiner leads the team with 70 3-pointers. The single-season record for individual treys was 122 by All-American Tori Jankoska during the 2016-17 season.

LOOKING TO BEAT THE BEST
Michigan State is still looking for its first win over a ranked team this season. The Spartans are 0-4 this year with losses to then-No. 4/3 Iowa and then-No. 17-16 Ohio State. On Feb. 8, Michigan State lost another close battle to No. 14/14 Indiana, 94-91, before falling to No. 5/5 Ohio State on Feb. 11. Three of the Spartans' four losses to ranked teams have come by five points or less. MSU's last win against a ranked team came against Indiana. On Dec. 29, 2022, the Spartans upset No. 3/3 Indiana, 83-78 in East Lansing.

AMONG THE BEST IN THE LAND
The Spartans are ninth in the nation field goal percentage, shooting 48.5 percent from the field. Michigan State is also 10th in the country in assists per game, averaging 19.1 apg. They are second in the nation in assist/turnover ratio (1.63). The Spartans high-flying offense currently stands sixth in the nation in scoring offense, as well (84.5 ppg). MSU is currently ninth in the nation in 3-pointers made (9.3/game).

Individually, Julia Ayrault is 22nd in the nation in blocks with 61 and 25th in blocks per game (2.1 bpg). DeeDee Hagemann is sixth in the country assist/turnover ratio (2.90).

NET RANKING
Through March 4, Michigan State holds a NET ranking of No. 21, which is fourth-best in the Big Ten. Iowa is first at No. 5, followed by Ohio State at No. 7 and Indiana at No. 12.

BREAKING RECORDS
Junior guard DeeDee Hagemann is looking to break her own single-season school record for assist-to-turnover ration. Through 29 games this season, she has a 2.90 assist-to-turnover ration, which is ahead of the current single-season record she set last season of 2.67.

Assist-to-Turnover Ratio (min. 2.0 APG)
1.   DeeDee Hagemann   2.90   2023-24
1.   DeeDee Hagemann   2.67   2022-23
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

GETTING IN THE LINEUP
Michigan State's starting five for Sunday's game made up of junior guard DeeDee Hagemann, sophomore guard Abbey Kimball junior guard/forward Jocelyn Tate, graduate guard Moira Joiner and graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault was MSU's 20th-consecutive game with those five Spartans on the court for tip-off. Michigan State has started a total of 26 games this season with that starting five, improving to 19-7 on the season. The only other two Spartans to start this season are sophomore guard Theryn Hallock and junior forward Isaline Alexander.

NEW KID ON THE BLOCK... RECORD BOOK
Julia Ayrault's one block against Wisconsin on March 3 gives her 61 rejections this season, which are the most by a Spartan in a single-season since 2009-10 when Allyssa DeHaan had 101 rejections. With the 61 blocks, Ayrault remains in the No. 5 spot on MSU's single-season blocks list, passing No. 6 with Kristen Rasmussen (1999-2000), who was at the No. 5 spot with 57 in the 1998-98 season.

Blocked Shots
1.   Allyssa DeHaan       150   2007-08
2.   Allyssa DeHaan       145   2006-07
3.   Allyssa DeHaan       107   2008-09
4.   Allyssa DeHaan       101   2009-10
5.   Julia Ayrault          61   2023-24
6.   Kristen Rasmussen   57   1998-99
7.   Kristen Rasmussen   53   1999-00
8.   Kelli Roehrig 50   2004-05
9.   Kristen Rasmussen   45   1997-98
10. Lykendra Johnson 44   2010-11

OH WHAT A NIGHT
Graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault had the hot hand against No. 14/13 Indiana on Feb. 8. Ayrault netted a B1G season-high 25 points topping her previous B1G season-high of 20 points vs. Maryland (1/9/24). She netted a career-high five 3-pointers, bettering her previous top mark of four triples vs. Coastal Carolina (12/21/23). The five triples was her third game in the last four with multiple triples as part of the eighth game this season with more than one 3-pointer. Ayrault ended the game 9-for-11 from the field.

DID YOU KNOW?
With the win against Wisconsin, the Spartans improve to 22-7 overall and 12-6 in Big Ten games, winning five-straight games. This is the first time since the 2015-16 season that MSU has exceeded the 10-win mark in league play, finishing 13-5 that season.

MOVIN' ON UP
Several Spartans are moving up the MSU record books. Graduate guard Moira Joiner now has 201 made 3-pointers. She is one of only five Spartans to reach 200 3-pointers. Even though she is just a junior, guard DeeDee Hagemann already has 432 career assists. Hagemann dished out a two assists against Wisconsin on March 3. She is just the ninth player in MSU program history to reach the 400-career assists plateau, standing alone for No. 7 in the MSU career record books. Deb Traxinger is No. 6 with 443 (1978-82) career assists.

JULIA AYRAULT... SCORING MACHINE
Graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault has now scored in double figures for 11-straight games, including scoring 19 against Wisconsin on March 3. She is second on the team in double-figure games with 24 just behind Moira Joiner's 26. The Spartans are 20-4 when she scores in double figures this season. For her career, she has 38 double-digit scoring games with MSU standing 29-9 in those games. She leads the team in scoring, averaging 15.1ppg after only averaging 3.6 ppg last season.

With the 438 points, graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault has now passed the combined sum of her previous three seasons in a Spartan uniform, as she had a combined 434 points in the 2019-23 seasons.

IF YOU CAN'T BEAT HER...JOINER
Graduate guard Moira Joiner topped the 1,000 career point mark with a 3-pointer at the 6:39 mark for her fifth point of the game against Purdue on Jan. 24. She becomes the 30th Spartan women's basketball player to join the MSU 1,000-Point Club and the first since All-American Nia Clouden hit her 1,000th point on Jan. 7, 2021 vs. Maryland. Clouden finished her career in 2022 with 1,882 points. Joiner now has scored 1,152 career points which puts her 23rd all-time in the MSU record books. She is six points away from passing Becca Mills (2011-15), who stands 22nd with 1,157 points.

AROUND THE BIG TEN
This season, Michigan State is second in the Big Ten in scoring margin (+17.4) and second in assists (19.1 apg). The Spartans are also second in the league in 3-point field goals made, averaging 9.31 per game. MSU is second in turnover margin (+6.79) and first in assist/turnover ratio (1.63).
Graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault leads the Spartans in scoring, averaging 15.1 points per game, which is 11th in the conference, while graduate guard Moira Joiner is 12th with 15.0 ppg. Ayrault is also ninth in rebounding with 7.3 rpg and fourth in field goal percentage (.517). Junior guard DeeDee Hagemann is seventh in the league in assists, averaging 5.1 apg and first in assist/turnover ratio (2.90). Ayrault is also second in the conference in blocks, averaging 2.1 bpg, behind Wisconsin's Serah Williams. Joiner stands second in the league in 3-points field goal percentage (.422).

COMING NEXT YEAR
MSU head coach Robyn Fralick announced the signing of four National Letters of Intent, including Sinai Douglas, Helen Holley, Juliann Woodard (North Vernon, Indiana/Jennings County High School) and Inés Sotelo.

Douglas is a 5-4 guard, who is a native of Toledo, Ohio. She attends Toledo Start High School and is coached by Dane Franklin. Douglas is currently ranked No. 87 in the ESPNW HoopGurlz Recruiting Rankings.

Holley is a 6-1 forward, who is a native of Cleveland Ohio, plays for head coach Kevin Byrne at the Gilmour Academy. As a junior, she averaged 14.7 points and 11.7 rebounds per game.

Woodard is a 6-0 forward, who is a native of North Vernon, Indiana, plays for head coach Kristi Sigler at Jennings County High School. Woodard is currently ranked No. 58 in the ESPNW HoopGurlz Recruiting Rankings.

Sotelo Miguez is a 6-3 forward, who is a native of Ourense, Spain. She has extensive international experience, including playing with the U18 Spanish National Team last summer in Konya, Turkey at the Eurobasket Tournament.

O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN!
Michigan State head coach Robyn Fralick has announced guard/forward Julia Ayrault and guard Moira Joiner as team captains, as voted on by the players on the 2023-24 women's basketball team. The duo are the first captains that Michigan State has had since the 2019-20 season, when Victoria Gaines and Taryn McCutcheon were tabbed team leaders.

LAST TIME OUT
Michigan State women's basketball completed the regular season with a 78-52 victory over Wisconsin on Sunday afternoon in the Kohl Center.

Michigan State had four players in double figures led by 20 from graduate guard Moira Joiner, who scored 15 in the second quarter alone. Graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault was close to her second-straight double-double with 19 points and nine board. Junior guard DeeDee Hagemann added 12 points, while sophomore guard scored 11.The 22 wins were also the most since MSU went 25-9 during the 2015-16 season.

The Spartan defense was stellar forcing 25 Wisconsin turnovers. MSU also ended the game with 14 steals, which was the most since having 14 against Minnesota on Feb. 5. It was also the Spartans' third-straight game with double-digit steals.

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Players Mentioned

Isaline Alexander

Julia Ayrault

DeeDee Hagemann

Theryn Hallock

Moira Joiner

Abbey Kimball

Jocelyn Tate