Spartans will continue the home game against Valparaiso on Tuesday

EAST LANSING, Mich. Michigan State women’s basketball continues with four games against Valparaiso 16. on November at 7 p.m.

• With the victory in Niagara, the Spartans improved to 2-0. This is the seventh consecutive season that Michigan State has started the season with a 2-0 record.

• Michigan State freshman DeeDee Hagemann has started the season explosively, averaging 10.5 points and 6.0 assists per game in their first two games. These strong performances earned him the Freshman of the Week award. He is the first Spartan to receive recognition since Nia Clouden in 2018.

• Sparta head coach Suzy merchant is close to a couple of milestones. His victory against Niagara 14. in November, he has a record at 298-157 at MSU and a career record at 499-277. Merchant wants to become the second Sparta women’s basketball coach to have won 300 victories at MSU. Karen Langeland is number one with an MSU record of 376-290.

• Michigan State has split the ball really well in the first two games. With 26.5 points on the match, MSU is second in the country and first in Big Ten. Purdue Fort Wayne is the nation’s first, averaging 27.0 degrees. DeeDee Hagemann (6.0 apg) and Nia Couden (5.5 apg) are two Spartans with an average of more than 5.0 apg.

SOUTING VALPARAISO

Beacons are looking for their first win of the season after starting season 0-2. At the start of the season, Valpo lost to Miami (OH), 85-60. Beacons played the first of two consecutive matches against Mitten State on Sunday and lost to Central Michigan 65-61. Last season, Valpo won on both the Purdue and Illinois highways.

So far this season, Valparaiso has averaged 60.5 points and 24.0 rebounds per match, but allows for 75.0 ppg and 44.0 rpg. Leah Earnest is the team’s top scorer, averaging 13.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per match. The Beacons have one player from Mitten State from Olivia Brown, who is from East Grand Rapids.

The Michigan State women’s basketball voice Keaton Gillogly is also a product of Valpo.

SERIES HISTORY VS. Lighthouses

This is the first meeting between Michigan State and Valparaiso.

MERCHANT RESPONSIBILITIES

Sparta head coach Suzy merchant is close to a couple of milestones. He has a record of 298-157 at MSU and a career record of 499-277 against Niagara. In his 27th season, he is just one win away from a 500 career win. Merchant earned his career’s 400th victory in a dramatic, 114-106 win over Minnesota 21. February 2016. MSU All-American Aerial Powers dropped 40 points, while Gopher star Rachel Banham scored 52 points.

Merchant also wants to become the second Spartan women’s basketball coach to have won 300 wins at MSU. Karen Langeland is number one with an MSU record of 376-290.

FRESHMEN POINTS FRENZY

The Spartans have had great production from their freshmen this season. Freshman guard DeeDee Hagemann is one of three to score a double-digit goal in both games with the junior Alyza Winston and older Nia Clouden. Hagemann averages 10.5 points and gives 6.0 assists per match. He scored 10 points vs. Morehead State and added 11 vs. Niagara. Freshman striker Mathilda Ekh scored 11 points in the season opener against Morehead State 9. November. Isaline Alexander added eight points against Niagara 14. November.

QUICK START … FACT FACTS

Young guard Alyza Winston set a new career record at six entry points while being a freshman DeeDee Hagemann set a new career mark in his seven young MSU careers against Niagara 14. November. On his birthday, the junior guard tied his career record with six entry points. He previously had six against Detroit Mercy on December 2, 2020.

SETTING POINTS

In the opening match of the season against Morehead State, the Spartans reached a high figure of six with six players. This is the first time since December 2, 2020 against Detroit Mercy that six Spartans scored a double-digit goal. Alyza Winston (20), Nia Clouden (15), Mathilda Ekh (11), Laurel Jacqmain (11), Moira Carpenter (10) and DeeDee Hagemann (10) all two digits. Against Niagara, four players achieved double-digit Winston (17), Clouden (12), Hagemann (11) and Taiyier parks (11).

OPENERS OF THE SEASON

The all-time Spartans are now 34-15 in the season opener, but 27-2 when the opener is in East Lansing. Coach Merchant is in the 12-3 season openings at MSU and has won 18 of the last 21, including his time in Eastern Michigan. This season, the Spartans won the dominant 93-31 victory over Morehead State on November 9 with six MSU players who reached double-digit numbers.

CLICKING THE MAPS

This season 27 points, senior guard Nia Clouden continues to rise in the rankings. Clouden now has 1,308 points in his career and is just 63 points ahead of Kelli Roehrigin (2001-05) in the MSU all-time top spot. Clouden now also has 335 career passes. He needs five passes to overtake Brenda Jezowski (1980-85) at the 13th all-time entry points.

MAY THREE

Spartans set a new school record with 17 three-pointers. Previous Record 15: Michigan State vs. Bowling Green on November 6, 2018 at the Breslin Center. Michigan State fired 60.7 percent of the long-range shot under the direction of a junior guard Alyza Winstons 4-7 performance. Senior guard Laurel Jacqmain lifted a new career record by 11 points, highlighted by consecutive triangles in the fourth quarter.

HAGEMANN Deserves B1G HONOR
DeeDee Hagemann was chosen as the Big Ten Freshman of the Week on Monday. A native of Detroit, Michigan, won the first freshman of the week award after a brilliant first week of action, scoring a double-digit goal in both games. During the week, he scored an average of 10.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per match, adding 6.0 assistants per race. He is the first Spartan to be named Big Ten Freshman of the Week since Nia Clouden December 31, 2018.

THE LAST TIME

A strong start to the first half was enough to cruise the Sparta women’s basketball team to win Niagara on Sunday afternoon at the Breslin Center 89-65.

For the second consecutive match at MSU, there were at least four double-digit players, again accelerated by a junior guard Alyza Winston, who led all the scorers by 17 points and gave his career record in six assists. Senior guard Nia Clouden added 12 points while a freshman guard DeeDee Hagemann and a junior striker Taiyier parks both scored 11 goals. Hagemann continues his strong start by adding seven helpers to the top of the game.

MASK UP, MICHIGAN

Currently, masks are required indoors for all individuals. Michigan State University requires all campus visitors, teachers, staff, and students to use the mask indoors, regardless of vaccination status.

CHECK OUT AGAIN

MSU will be presenting five freshmen to the team this season, featuring Miss Basketball DeeDee Hagemann (Detroit, Mich.) Brooklyn Rewers (Coeur D’Alene), Isaline Alexander (Keswick, Ontario), Mathilda Ekh (Vasteras, Sweden) and Lauren Walker (Marietta, Ga.). The Spartans also increased the degree transfer Tamara Farquhar which comes to MSU from Purdue.

KEEP THE EYE OFF

Last week a senior guard Nia Clouden added to his preseason awards. Clouden was named to the John R. Wooden Award® Women’s Preseason Top 50 Watch List and the 2022 Wade Trophy Early Watch List, as well as the Naismith Watch List. He had already been shortlisted for Lieberman and earned the preseason All-Big Ten awards.

PLAY BEST TO BE THE BEST

During the regular season, the Spartans will face eight teams that have advanced to the NCAA, including B1G enemies, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Northwestern and Rutgers. MSU opponents Florida Gulf Coast and West Virginia also reached the NCAA tournament last season.

THE GAMES END

The Spartans have been very effective in concluding matches over the last couple of years. He has won 226 of his last 239 matches (.946) in the lead after five minutes, including 176 of the last 191. During the term of Coach Merchant, Michigan State is 261-19 (.932) with five minutes left in the lead. This season, MSU will lead 2-0 with five minutes left.

CLOUDEN Deserves HONORARY HONORS

Senior guard in Michigan State women’s basketball Nia Clouden Both the coaches and the media have nominated the 2021-22 Preseason All-Big Ten Award, which will win the honor for the second season in a row.

In the 2020-21 season, Clouden was fifth in the Big Ten, making an average of 18.7 points per game. It was the Spartan with the most points per game since Tori Jankoska averaged 22.6 ppg in the 2016-17 season. A native of Owings Mills, Maryland, Clouden earned his third consecutive All-Big Ten honor after being named to the first team last season.

MAGIC NUMBERS

As head coach Suzy merchantWhen the scoreboard reached two numbers, it has typically been a sign of MSU victory. Green & White have won 159 of their last 184 matches (.864) to score at least 70 points, and Spartans is 179-32 (.848) under the head coach. Suzy merchant when the scoreboard has at least 70 points. This season, MSU is now 2-0 this season making 70 points.

CHECK OUT YOUR NEW SIGNAL

Michigan State women’s basketball head coach Suzy merchant announced the signing of two national letters of intent, including Theryn Hallock (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Forest Hills Central High School) and Abbey Kimball (Grand Rapids, Michigan / West Catholic High School).

Hallock is a 5-11 guard from Grand Rapids, Michigan, visits Forest Hills Central and is coached by Kristina Prins. As a junior, he scored an average of 23.4 points, 7.3 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 6.6 assists per match. He reached the limit of 1,000 career points as a junior last season. He also earned honorable mentions from the first team in all states. Hallock is a triple honorary award at all conferences, including the first team honors as junior. Last season, his team finished seventh in the UAA National Finals. Hallock is also the best candidate for the 2022 Miss Michigan Basketball.

Kimball is a 5-10 guard from Grand Rapids, Michigan, playing head coach at Jill VanderEnden West Catholic High School. HoopGurlz has rated him No. 80 nationally and No. 18 in his position. During his junior season, he averaged 22.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 5.0 assists per match. Kimball has won honorable mentions for the first team’s entire conference for three consecutive seasons. Kimball was selected to the first team of the Michigan Associated Press All-State and the first team of the Grand Rapids Dream Team. The three-time captain also made the 1000th point of his career as a junior last season. Last season, Kimball scored 27 points and led to the West Catholic regional final. She is also a candidate for Miss Michigan Basketball 2022. She is the daughter of Rick and Jeanne Kimball.