SPARTAN WOMEN RETURN HOME AGAINST INDIANA SATURDAY

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State returns to the friendly confines of the Breslin Center to take on Indiana on Saturday, Jan. 20 at 4 p.m. The game is MSU’s fourth-straight game broadcast on the Big Ten Network with Mike Monaco and Christy Winters Scott on the call. The Spartans are currently 14-5 this season and 4-2 in league play. The Hoosiers are 8-12 overall and 1-6 in Big Ten action.

STARTING LINEUP

• In the last five games, the Spartans have been solid from the charity stripe, shooting .758 from the free throw line. Overall this season, MSU is shooting .722. Branndais Agee (1.000), Jenna Allen (.909), Shay Colley (.857) and Sidney Cooks (.833) are all shooting over .800.

• Freshman forward Sidney Cooks continues to have a stellar rookie campaign, averaging 10.6 ppg. She has started 16 of MSU’s 19 games this season and has scored in double figures 10 times. Cooks is fifth in scoring (10.6 ppg) and fourth in rebounding (5.2 rpg) in the Big Ten among freshman. She is second in field goal percentage (.506).

• Nine different Spartans have led the team in scoring in the first 19 games of the season. Shay Colley, Branndais Agee and Sidney Cooks have both led the team in scoring four times, while Taryn McCutcheon has led the team twice. Taya Reimer, Kennedy Johnson, Mardrekia Cook, Jenna Allen and Victoria Gaines have all led the team in scoring.

• Sophomore guard Taryn McCutcheon became the first Spartan this season to earn Big Ten Player of the Week honors, sharing the award with Iowa’s Megan Gustafson. She is the first MSU player since Tori Jankoska on Feb. 20, 2017 to earn the honor.

STARTING FIVE

MSU’s starting line-up of sophomore guard Taryn McCutcheon, redshirt-sophomore guard Shay Colley, sophomore guard/forward Nia Hollie, freshman forward Sidney Cooks and junior forward Jenna Allen is now 2-0. The Spartans have had seven different combinations so far this season. The lineup of Colley, McCutcheon, Lexi Gussert, Mardrekia Cook and Allen is 5-0. McCutcheon is the only Spartan to have started all 19 games. 

Redshirt-senior guard Branndais Agee has the most career starts in the Green and White with 71 career starts. McCutcheon has started every game during her two-year Spartan career with 52 starts.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

Michigan State ended its recent three-game road swing with a 2-1 record. During that stretch, three Spartans have averaged in double figures, led by sophomore guard Taryn McCutcheon who averaged 13.0 points and 4.3 assists per game. Freshman forward Sidney Cooks scored 12.0 ppg, while redshirt-sophomore guard has scored 10.3 ppg.

After one game at home, MSU will return to the road for a pair of tough games. Michigan State will travel to Ann Arbor to take on No. 19 Michigan on Jan. 23. The Spartans will then travel to Columbus to take on No. 8 Ohio State on Jan. 27. 

ANATOMY OF AN UPSET

On Jan. 11, Michigan State earned its first-ever win against Maryland. The Spartans are now 1-10 against the Terps. MSU is just the second team to earn a Big Ten win against Maryland, along with Ohio State which has three wins against UMD. Maryland joined the league in 2015.

DID YOU KNOW?

Michigan State has faced four ranked teams, standing 2-2 in those contests. The Spartans have risen to the occasion with several players setting career highs against ranked foes. Against No. 2 Notre Dame, junior center Jenna Allen set a new career high with 28 points, the most on the team this season. Against No. 22 South Florida, redshirt-sophomore guard Shay Colley added a career-high with 27 points. Finally, against No. 11 Maryland, sophomore guard Taryn McCutcheon set a new high with 25 points.

BREAKING INTO THE RECORD BOOK

Sophomore guard Taryn McCutcheon has cracked the top 20 in career assists after only 52 games in the Spartan uniform. McCutcheon has 268 career assists for an average of 5.2 assists per game. She passed Jasmine Thomas (2009-13) for 20th on the all-time MSU career list with 268 assists. She is just eight assists away from tying All-American Aerial Powers (2014-16) for 19th in career assists with 276.

DOUBLE-DIGIT SCORING

For the first time this season, six Spartans scored in double figures against Minnesota on Jan. 7, led by a career-high 14 points from sophomore forward Nia Hollie. Junior center Jenna Allen and sophomores Shay Colley and Taryn McCutcheon both scored 12 points. Freshman forward Sidney Cooks scored 11, while redshirt-sophomore forward Victoria Gaines added 10. This was the first times since Feb. 20, 2014 that six scored in double figures when MSU defeated Wisconsin, 76-66.

HOOSIER STATE SPARTANS

Michigan State has three players, who hail from the Indiana. Jenna Allen hails from Bedford, Indiana and scored 14 points in front of family in Bloomington on Dec. 28. Victoria Gaines is a native of Merrilliville, Indiana. Taya Reimer comes to Michigan State from Fishers, Indiana. She also spent two seasons at Notre Dame.

GETTING THE TAKEAWAYS

With 10 steals against Maryland on Jan. 11, the Spartans have had three-straight games in double-digits. This was the ninth time this season that Michigan State has had at least 10 steals. McCutcheon led the way with four takeaways, while Nia Hollie and Shay Colley added two.

Last season, the Spartans had only three games with double-digit steals. During 2016-17, MSU’s season-high in steals was 12 against Wyoming on Nov. 13 and Quinnipiac on Dec. 6.

LEADING THE STAT LINE

Nine different Spartans have led the team in scoring in the first 19 games of the season. Shay Colley, Branndais Agee and Sidney Cooks have both led the team in scoring four times. Taryn McCutcheon was the top scorer two times. Taya Reimer, Kennedy Johnson, Mardrekia Cook, Jenna Allen and Victoria Gaines have all led the team in scoring.

RISING THE CHARTS

Junior center Jenna Allen has increased her scoring every season that she has been at Michigan State. This season, she is tied for first in scoring, averaging 10.6 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. As a freshman, Allen scored 4.5 points in 34 games as a rookie. During her sophomore campaign, she averaged 6.9 ppg in an injury-plagued season. Allen has scored in double figures eight times in 18 games this season.

AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTS

Under Coach Merchant, Michigan State is 29-48 against ranked teams, including 18-14 at home, 7-19 on the road and 4-15 on a neutral court. As a ranked team against fellow ranked team, MSU is 15-22 versus ranked teams. This season, MSU is 2-2 against ranked teams with a loss to No. 1 UConn, 96-62, and a defeat against Notre Dame, 90-59. MSU defeated No. 22 South Florida, 83-73, on Dec. 21 and upset No. 11 Maryland on the road, 82-68.

SCOUTING THE HOOSIERS

Indiana comes to East Lansing with an 8-12 record overall and a 1-6 mark in league contests. The Hoosiers have lost three-straight games with a close loss to No. 14/14 Maryland on the road on Jan. 16, 74-70. IU’s Big Ten win came on Jan. 6 with a home win against Purdue, 72-54.

Senior Tyra Buss is tied for fifth in the league in scoring, averaging 19.6 points per game. Amanda Cahill is tied for 16th in scoring with 14.0 ppg. Cahill is also tied for ninth in rebounding with 8.3 boards per game. Kim Royster is seventh in the Big Ten in field goal percentage (.560). The multi-talented Buss is also seventh in assists (4.3 apg) and steals (2.1 spg).

As a team, Indiana is 10th in scoring offense, averaging 68.2 ppg. The Hoosiers stands 11th in scoring defense, allowing 69.3 ppg. In league contests, Indiana is fourth in field goal percentage (.440) and ninth in assists (13.3 apg).

LAST TIME VS. INDIANA

Michigan State women’s basketball captured its Big Ten opener with a convincing, 68-46, win over Indiana in Bloomington on Thursday. MSU improves to 18-18 in B1G openers.

Michigan State was led by a season-high 21 points from redshirt-senior guard Branndais Agee. She also added six boards. Junior center Jenna Allen, a native of nearby Bedford, Indiana, added 14 points and five boards, while fellow Indiana native senior forward Taya Reimer scored 12.

SERIES HISTORY 

Michigan State leads the all-time series with Indiana, 47-25. In the Big Ten opener on Dec. 28, the Spartans captured an impressive, 68-46, win over the Hoosiers. Michigan State was led by a season-high 21 points from redshirt-senior guard Branndais Agee. She also added six boards. Junior center Jenna Allen, a native of nearby Bedford, Indiana, added 14 points and five boards, while fellow Indiana native senior forward Taya Reimer scored 12. MSU has won the last two meetings, and 11 of the last 13. The last time that the teams met in East Lansing when MSU won, 69-60.

BIG TEN OPENERS

Michigan State is 23-13 in home Big Ten openers in 36 years in the league. This season, the Spartans fell to Rutgers on Dec. 31, 61-58. 

Michigan State is 18-18 all-time in Big Ten openers, having won its last five of its last seven ... Under Coach Merchant, the Spartans are 7-4 in Big Ten openers ... MSU earned a dominating 68-46 win over Indiana in Bloomington, 68-46 on Dec. 28 ... This was the first time since the 2011-12 season that the Spartans have opened B1G play with the Hoosiers. MSU captured that game in Bloomington, 63-49. 

CAREER VS. THE INDIANA

Redshirt-senior guard Branndais Agee has played four games against Indiana, starting three. She has averaged 10.5 points and 5.0 rebounds per game in those contests. Junior center Jenna Allen has played IU three times, averaging 7.0 points and 3.7 rpg. The Bedford, Indiana native scored 14 in Bloomington on Dec. 28. 

MCCUTCHEON EARNS B1G HONOR

Michigan State sophomore guard Taryn McCutcheon was named Big Ten Women’s Basketball Co-Player of the Week after guiding the Spartans to their first-ever win over No. 11 Maryland last week. She shares the honor with Iowa’s Megan Gustafson, who scored a career-high 37 points on 17-of-23 field goals against Purdue.

McCutcheon collected her first career Player of the Week award. She is the first Spartan honored this season and the first since All-American Tori Jankoska was honored on Feb. 20, 2017.

The East Lansing, Michigan native, registered a career-high 25 points, including 6-of-10 from beyond the arc. She also added five assists, four rebounds and four steals in the Spartans’ win at No. 11 Maryland last Thursday. Her six three-pointers tied for seventh in school history and were the most by an MSU player since Jankoska made eight treys against Ohio State on Jan. 10, 2017.

REACHING A MILESTONE

Senior forward Taya Reimer reached a milestone, passing the 1,000-career point plateau against UConn on Nov. 25. Between her two seasons at Notre Dame and her two at Michigan State, she now has 1,102 career points. She is currently fifth in scoring for the Spartans, averaging 8.4 points per game.

BOUNCE BACK ABILITY

In Coach Merchant’s first 11 seasons, the Spartans are 72-26 (73.5%) following a loss.

TAKING ON THE BEST

In the first 19 games of the season, the Spartans have taken on both the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the country. MSU has already faced top-ranked UConn and took on No. 2 Notre Dame on Dec. 6. Last season, Michigan State faced both No. 2 Notre Dame and No. 3 Maryland in one season. The Spartans have never faced the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the country in the same season.

AROUND THE BIG TEN

Freshman Sidney Cooks is tied for first on the team in scoring, she also is 13th in the Big Ten in field goal percentage (.506). 

Sophomore Taryn McCutcheon is fourth in assists behind Minnesota’s Kenisha Bell, Iowa’s Kathleen Doyle and Nebraska’s Hannah Whitish, averaging 5.2 apg. She tied a career high with 12 against Notre Dame on Dec. 6 and added 10 assists in overtime against ETSU on Dec. 16. Redshirt-sophomore guard Shay Colley is tied for eighth in assists with 4.3 per game. Colley is also sixth in the B1G in steals, averaging 2.2 spg. McCutcheon is tied for 11th with 1.8 spg.

MSU is second in the league assists, averaging 18.6 apg. Iowa is first in the conference in assists with 21.9 apg. Michigan State is also second in rebound margin (+9.4) and third in steals (9.9 spg). The Spartans are second in the B1G in both defensive rebounding percentage (.710) and offensive rebounding percentage (.406).

AROUND THE NATION

The Spartans are 10th in the nation in assists with 353 and 13th in assists per game, averaging 18.6. The Spartans are also 14th in rebounds with 821. Michigan State is 26th in the nation in rebounds per game (43.2) and 15th in rebound margin (+9.4). MSU is ranks 20th in the nation in free throws made with 280. This week, Taryn McCutcheon is 48th in the nation in assists per game (5.2 apg).

1K AGEE

Redshirt-senior guard Branndais Agee became the 26th MSU women’s basketball player to reach 1,000 points with 10 points against No. 1 UConn on Nov. 25. Agee started the week by scoring a season-high 17 points in her hometown against Detroit, bringing her career point total to 991 and going over 1,000 against UConn. She now has 1,090 career points in the Green and White. Agee is averaging 10.4 points through the first 18 games of the season, which is fourth on the team. Tori Jankoska was the last Spartan to reach 1,000 points doing so on Nov. 27, 2015.

CLOSING IT OUT

The Spartans have been extremely effective closing out games over the last couple years, winning 170 of their last 177 games (.960) when leading with five minutes left, including 121 of their last 129. In Coach Merchant’s tenure, Michigan State is 205-12 (.945) when holding a lead with five minutes left. This season, the Spartans are 13-1.

FANS CONTINUE TO PACK THE BRESLIN 

Michigan State women’s basketball continues to pack the Breslin Center, finishing the 2016-17 season ninth in the nation and first in the Big Ten home attendance. The Spartans averaged 6,011 fans in 14 home games this season. MSU had a total of 84,152 fans pass through the gates. This is the 13th-straight season that the Spartans have been ranked in the top 15 nationally in attendance. MSU has had a total attendance of at least 80,000 since 2005-06.

This season, Michigan State is 12th in attendance, averaging 5,304 fans per game. They are third in the Big Ten behind Purdue (5,843) and Ohio State (5,428).

LAST TIME OUT

Three Spartans scored in double figures as the Michigan State women’s basketball team captured its second-straight win with a 67-55 victory over Illinois Tuesday at the State Farm Center.

With the win, MSU improves to 14-5 overall and 4-2 in Big Ten action. Illinois falls to 9-11 overall and 0-6 in league play.

The Spartans were led by 18 points from redshirt-senior Branndais Agee, who also added five rebounds and two steals. Off the bench, senior forward Taya Reimer added 12 points, two rebounds and two blocks. Freshman forward Sidney Cooks scored 15 points and added six boards.

Michigan State took advantage of 17 Illini turnovers, scoring 23 points off of Illinois miscues. The Spartan bench was also a catalyst in the win, out-scoring Illinois, 38-10.

AGEE NAMED TO WATCH LIST

Michigan State redshirt-senior Branndais Agee was named to the watch list for the inaugural Cheryl Miller Award, which will be awarded to the top small forward women’s basketball; it was announced by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association.

She is one of five players from the Big Ten to be named to the watch list along with Indiana’s Amanda Cahill, Maryland’s Brianna Fraser, Ohio State’s Stephanie Mavunga and Wisconsin’s Cayla McMorris. Agee has already garnered preseason All-Big Ten honors by the coaches. Last season, Agee earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors along with fellow senior Taya Reimer and sophomore Taryn McCutcheon. 

FAMILIAR FACES

The Spartans welcome to their staff three former Michigan State players. Former Big Ten Player of the Year Kalisha Keane and All-Big Ten honorees Jasmine Hines and Annalise Pickrel are all graduate assistants with the Spartans this season.

UP NEXT 

After a grueling three-game road swing, Michigan State returns home for Alumni Day against Indiana on Saturday, Jan. 20 at 4 p.m. The game will be televised on the Big Ten Network. The Spartan then return to the road at Michigan on Jan. 23 and at Ohio State on Jan. 27.

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. Overall, MSU has scored at least 70 points 12 times overall this season. MSU has won 117 of its last 128 games when scoring at least 70 points, and MSU is 134-18 under head coach Suzy Merchant when hanging at least 70 points on the scoreboard. This year, MSU is 11-1 when scoring at least 70.

PK80 INVITATIONAL RECAP

Michigan State celebrated Thanksgiving weekend at the PK80 Invitational in honor of Phil Knight’s 80th birthday. The Spartans attended a Nike event before watching the MSU men’s team take on DePaul on Thanksgiving day. Michigan State fell to No. 1 UConn, 96-62, on Saturday, Nov. 25 in Eugene at Matthew Knight Arena. In the other game, Oregon defeated Oklahoma.

AGEE EARNS PRESEASON HONOR

The Big Ten Conference released the Preseason Coaches and Media Polls, in addition to the 10-member preseason All-Big Ten team on Monday. Michigan State redshirt-senior guard Branndais Agee was named to the Preseason All-Big Ten team by the coaches. Reigning Big Ten co-champion Ohio State, which was the No. 1 pick in both the coaches and the media poll. Ohio State’s Kelsey Mitchell was named Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year in both polls. 

MEET THE 2018-19 SIGNEES

Michigan State women’s basketball head coach Suzy Merchant announced the signing of three National Letters of Intent on Wednesday, including Nia Clouden (Owing Mills, Maryland/St. Frances), Tory Ozment (Buford, Georgia/Buford) and Kayla Belles (Ithaca, Michigan/Ithaca).

Clouden is a 5-8 point guard who plays for head coach Jerome Shelton at St. Frances Academy. She is currently ranked No. 43 overall and No. 13 at her position by ESPN HoopGurlz. Last March, Clouden was named Maryland Gatorade Girls Basketball Player of the Year, becoming the third Baltimore-area player to win the award in 11 years. She was also the USA Today Maryland Player of the Year last season. She is a two-time captain, who averaged 14.2 points and 4.7 assists per game as a junior. 

Ozment is a 6-1 guard/forward who plays for head coach Gene Durden at Buford High School. Durden has captured five state championships during time at Buford. She is currently ranked No. 14 at her position by ESPN HoopGurlz. Last season, Ozment was named the AAAAA State Player of the Year as well as being named to the Georgia Athletic Coaches Associations All-State squad. Ozment earned Atlanta Tipoff Club and Atlanta Journal Constitution All-Metro team. Last season, she averaged 13.4 points and 3.8 assists per game, leading Buford on a run to the Class AAAAA State Championship. 

Belles is a 6-3 forward who plays for head coach Ty Warczinksy at Ithaca High School. As a junior, Belles averaged 19.4 points, 12.2 rebounds, 3.4 blocked shots and 2.6 steals per game, earning Associated Press Class B all-state honors. She led the Yellowjackets to three-straight Tri-Valley Conference West Division titles, which included a run to the Class C Final Four during her sophomore campaign. She garnered first-team all-state honors three-straight seasons, averaging a double-double the last two seasons. 

BIG TEN/ACC CHALLENGE

Michigan State played in the 11th annual Big Ten/ACC Challenge, falling to Miami, 67-57. The ACC captured this year’s Challenge title by a 10-4 count. Last season, Maryland, Michigan, Northwestern, Penn State and Purdue registered wins for the Big Ten. Michigan State lost to Syracuse in the Carrier Dome last season, 75-64. Overall, MSU is 5-6 in the Challenge.

B1G/ACC Challenge History

2017 - Miami 67, MSU 57

2016 - Syracuse 75, MSU 64

2015 - Louisville 85, MSU 78

2014 - MSU 79, Georgia Tech 73 (OT)

2013 - Florida State 60, MSU 58

2012 - MSU 68, N.C. State 51

2011 - Miami 76, MSU 60

2010 - MSU 72, Florida State 64

2009 - MSU 72, North Carolina 66

2008 - Georgia Tech 57, MSU 50

2007 - MSU 68, Clemson 51

Bold = home games