EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State women's basketball returns to the friendly confines of the Breslin Center to host No. 18/19 Michigan on Sunday, Feb. 5. Tip off time is set for 3 p.m. on Big Ten Plus with Brendan Schabath and Michael Markoch calling the action. Sunday is also National Girls and Women in Sports Day, where all the MSU women's teams will be celebrated at half time.
 
• The Spartans look to snap a two-game losing streak after falling to Nebraska, 71-67 on Feb. 2. MSU stands 11-11 overall this season and 3-8 in league action. Michigan improved to 18-5 overall and 8-4 in Big Ten play after a 74-57 win against Illinois at home on Thursday.

•    MSU will be playing its third-straight game without head coach Suzy Merchant on the bench after suffering a medical incident on Jan. 28. Dean Lockwood will act as interim head coach. 

•Eight of Michigan State's 11 losses have been by 10 points or less, including three of the last five losses by four points in each game.

•    Sophomore guard DeeDee Hagemann tallied 17 points against Nebraska on Feb. 2, with 15 points coming in the second half, spearheading MSU's comeback, including five-straight points in the fourth quarter in one extended possession. She also tied her career high with five steals, part of MSU's 18 steals against the Huskers.

SCOUTING MICHIGAN    
The Wolverines tote an 18-5 overall ledger and an 8-4 B1G mark into Sunday's showdown with the Spartans at the Breslin Center. U-M has won two in a row and five of its last seven games after a 74-57 home win over Illinois on Thursday night, leading from tip to final buzzer. Michigan is ranked No. 18 in the AP Top 25 Poll this week, dropping five spots from last week's rankings, and the Wolverines are No. 19 in the Coaches Poll, sliding two spots. 

In Thursday's victory over Illinois, U-M was boosted by a 15-0 scoring streak during the second quarter to pull away and Michigan's led by eight or more points the rest of the night. Fifth-year guard Leigha Brown netted 27 points, hitting 10-of-13 from the field and 7-of-7 at the free throw line. Graduate forward Emily Kiser and senior guard Maddie Nolan tallied 10 points apiece, and Kiser led U-M with six rebounds.

Michigan is second in the B1G in scoring defense, limiting the opposition to 61.3 ppg, while ranking seventh in scoring offense, netting 76.5 ppg, to rank fourth in the league and 24th in the nation in scoring margin (+15.2). U-M is third in the conference and eighth in the country in field goal percentage (.476), while ranking sixth in 3-point percentage (.344). 

On the season, Brown leads the Wolverines and ranks ninth in the B1G in scoring with 17.2 points per game, just ahead of sophomore guard Laila Phelia at 17.0 ppg, ranking 10th. Kiser is close behind with 16.4 ppg, good for 11th and also pulls down a team-best 7.0 rebounds per game, ranking eighth in the conference, in addition to leading U-M and ranking fourth in the B1G in field goal percentage (.557). 

Michigan head coach Kim Barnes Arico is in her 11th season at the helm of the Wolverine program, logging a 236-114 ledger at U-M, as well as in her 26th season overall as a head coach, amassing a 506-320 career record. 

SERIES HISTORY VS. THE WOLVERINES
Sunday's showdown between the Spartans and Wolverines is the 98th all-time meeting, with MSU leading 73-24, including 36-8 in East Lansing, as well as 28-16 at Ann Arbor and 9-0 in neutral meetings. U-M has won five of the last six after MSU won seven of the previous eight meetings, for an 8-6 Spartan lead in the last 14 meetings. In addition to Michigan State winning eight of the last 14 match-ups with U-M, the Spartans have won 11 of the last 19, as part of a palindromic 23 of the last 32 meetings. Under head coach Suzy Merchant, Michigan State is 23-10 vs. Michigan. Merchant suffered defeat in her first Spartans vs. Wolverines match-up, but then won 12-straight meetings, MSU's longest win streak in the series and longest win streak by either team. 

Last year, MSU and U-M split the two regular-season meetings, with each team winning on their home court, with the Spartans beating the then No. 4 Wolverines, 63-57 in East Lansing on Feb. 10 to snap a three-game U-M win streak in the series, before then No. 6/5 Michigan bounced back to win 62-51, in Ann Arbor two weeks later on Feb. 24. Michigan won this season's first meeting, 70-55, on Jan. 14 in Ann Arbor.

BY THE NUMBERS VS. NEBRASKA
• MSU had four players in double-figure scoring for the fourth-straight game and ninth time this season. After winning their first time games when doing so, the Spartans have lost three of the last four occurrences as they are now 6-3 when four score in double-digits.
• Senior guard Moira Joiner also swiped a career-high five steals, topping her top mark of four steals accomplished four times in her career, done once this season (vs. Florida A&M, Nov. 17) and three other times in previous seasons.

SOMETHING GOT TO GIVE AT THE CHARITY STRIPE
Michigan State enters Sunday's showdown leading the Big Ten in free throw attempts per game at 21.7, while Michigan leads the B1G in fewest fouls per game, committing just 15.3. U-M also tops the league in free throw percentage at 79.5.

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 career high with five, 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. 

UP NEXT
Following the game against the Wolverines, Michigan State will travel to Madison to take on Wisconsin on Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 7:30 p.m. ET. MSU will then return home to host 4H Day against Penn State on Sunday, Feb. 12 at 3 p.m.

DID YOU KNOW?
Against Nebraska, Senior forward Taiyier Parks posted 11 points and six rebounds off the bench. The 11 points was Parks' third game in a row in double-figures and has notched double-digits in six of the last nine games. Overall, Parks has eight double-figure scoring games this season and 31 in her career, the most of any active Spartan.

DYNAMITE DEEDEE
Against Nebraska, sophomore guard DeeDee Hagemann tallied 17 points, with 15 points coming in the second half, spearheading MSU's comeback, including five-straight points in the fourth quarter in one extended possession, making a bucket and getting fouled, then after missing the free throw, MSU collected the rebound and Hagemann was fouled while shooting a 3-pointer, making all three ensuing free throws. Hagemann ended the night 9-of-11 from the free throw line, career highs for both makes and attempts from the charity stripe. She also snagged five steals, tying her career-high, matching five swipes this season vs. Indiana (Dec. 29).

GETTING IN THE LINEUP
Thursday night's Spartan starting five of graduate guard Kamaria McDaniel, sophomore guard DeeDee Hagemann, sophomore guard/forward Matilda Ekh, senior guard Moira Joiner and sophomore forward Isaline Alexander was the third-straight game that MSU started with that line-up and are now 1-2 with that line-up to open the game. Overall, MSU has had seven different line-ups this season. McDaniel is the only Spartan to have started all 22 games. Both Ekh and Hagemann have started 21 games.

LOOKING AROUND THE LEAGUE
Passing the half-way point of the Big Ten schedule, Indiana remains atop the Big Ten standings with an 11-1 conference mark with Iowa close behind with a 10-1 record. MSU stands tied for 10th with Rutgers with a 3-8 conference record. The Spartans have had a tough first half of the season, playing all five top teams already (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland and Ohio State). Michigan State has seven Big Ten games remaining this season.

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 123 career 3-pointers, moving up to tie for No. 12 on MSU's career 3-point field goals list, passing All-American Aerial Powers (2013-16) with 121 3-pointers and tying Eileen Shea (1987-91) for No. 12. Senior guard Moira Joiner stands 16th all-time with 113 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.

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 1-7 this season against ranked foes with a loss to No. 22/22 Illinois on Jan. 29.

LAST TIME VS. MICHIGAN
In the first of two regular-season meetings this season, Michigan State women's basketball fell to No. 17/20 Michigan, 70-55, on Jan. 14 at the Crisler Center in Ann Arbor. For the first time this season, Michigan State had only one player in double figures with graduate guard Kamaria McDaniel scoring 12 points. The Spartans out-rebounded the Wolverines 38-30. MSU shot 80.0 percent from the charity stripe (12-for-15), which was its second-best of the season. Michigan was led by a game-high 17 points from Leigha Brown.

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 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 22 games this season, she has averaged 10.0 points per game. She is having her most productive season as a Spartan. She is second on the team in 3-pointers with 32. She has started seven game so far this season, including the last five.

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. Against Nebraska on Feb. 2, Joiner tossed in 13 points for her fourth-consecutive game in double-digits as part of the sixth in seven games and overall her 13th double-figure contest this season and 27th of her career. Joiner netted one 3-pointer to give her 113 for her career, closing in on the No. 15 spot on MSU's career 3-pointers list, just three shy of tying Taylor Alton (2008-12)

AROUND THE NATION
This week, Michigan State is 11th in the nation and third in the Big Ten in assists, averaging 17.9 apg, behind Iowa (20.5 apg). MSU is also ninth in the nation and second in the Big Ten in turnover margin (+6.4).
Individually, sophomore DeeDee Hagemann is 25th in the NCAA and fourth in the Big Ten in assist/turnover ratio (2.39). Sophomore guard/forward Matilda Ekh is 49th in the NCAA and third in the B1G in 3-pointers made with 54.

CLOSE CALLS
In the Spartans' 11 losses this season, eight of the 11 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.

BALANCED ATTACK
Without All-American Nia Clouden to dominate the box score this season, the Spartans are looking for a more balanced attack. In 21 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 eight times this season. Senior forward Taiyier Parks and junior guard Gabby Elliott and DeeDee Hagemann have led the team in scoring twice. 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 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 second in the B1G in turnover margin (+6.4) and third in steals (11.3 spg). MSU is also first in the league in offensive rebounds per game (14.6) and third in the conference in assists (18.1 apg). MSU currently stands sixth in the league in scoring margin (+14.4). 

Sophomore guard Matilda Ekh is first in the Big Ten in 3-point field percentage, shooting .394. She is also third in made 3-pointers per game with 2.6. Sophomore guard DeeDee Hagemann stands fourth in the Big Ten in assist/turnover ratio (2.39). Graduate guard Kamaria McDaniel is 16th in the league in scoring, averaging 14.1 ppg.

In conference games, senior forward Taiyier Parks is tied for 12th in rebounds, averaging 6.7 rpg. Hagemann stands fifth in assists in league contests, averaging 2.2 spg.

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 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 182 of their last 217 games (.839) when scoring at least 70 points, and the Spartans are 201-47 (.810) under head coach Suzy Merchant when hanging at least 70 points on the scoreboard. This season, MSU is 11-6 this season when scoring 70 points. The Spartans have losses to Oregon, Purdue Wisconsin, Maryland, Iowa and Illinois when reaching the 70-point mark.






 

Related Videos

Now Playing:

• Play Video