The Spartans say goodbye to Moira Joiner and Tory Ozment.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State women's basketball will play its final regular-season home game against Illinois on Thursday, Feb. 29 at 8 p.m. The Spartans will also celebrate its two seniors in the Leap Day game, as MSU says goodbye to Moira Joiner and Tory Ozment. Sloane Martin and Meghan McKeown will be on the call for the Big Ten Network.• The Spartans have now won three-straight games, improving to 20-7 overall and 10-6 in Big Ten action. MSU has now reached the 20-win mark for the first time since the 2018-19 season. MSU has won at least 10 B1G games since the 2015-16 season when it went 13-5.
• This is the first meeting of the season between Michigan State and Illinois. The Fighting Illini come to town with a 13-13 overall record and are 7-9 in league action. On Feb. 19, Illinois captured its biggest win of the season over Indiana, 86-66.
• MSU head coach Robyn Fralick is the third Spartan head coach to win 20 games in their first season. Karen Langeland went 23-6 in her first season (1976-77), and Suzy Merchant was 23-14 in her first year at the helm (2007-08). Merchant also went 10-8 in B1G action and there was no Big Ten schedule in 1976-77.
• 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 255 3-pointers this season, breaking the record set during the 2016-17 season.
SCOUTING ILLINOIS
In their only meeting of the regular season, the Fighting Illini come to East Lansing with a 13-13 overall record and hold a 7-9 mark in Big Ten play. Illinois has won five of its last eight games, including a marquee win against Indiana, 86-66, on Feb. 19. Last time out, the Illini lost a high scoring affair to Iowa, 101-85, in Iowa City.
Illinois is seventh in the Big Ten in scoring offense, averaging 75.0 ppg, while also standing seventh in scoring defense, allowing only 67.4 ppg. The Illini are third in turnover margin (+3.12) right behind Michigan State (+6.78).
Makira Cook is ninth in the Big Ten in scoring, averaging 15.3 ppg, while Genesis Bryant is 14th with 14.1 ppg. Kendall Bostic is third in the league in rebound, averaging 10.3 rpg.
Shauna Green is in her second season at Illinois with a 35-23 overall record, leading the Illini to the NCAA Tournament last season. Overall, she holds a career record of 191-98 with stops at Dayton and Loras before heading to Illinois.
SERIES HISTORY VS. THE FIGHTING ILLINI
Michigan State holds a 46-29 series lead over Illinois, including leading at home 25-10. MSU is 18-16 against Illinois in Champaign, while the series is tied on neutral ground 3-3. After losing 10-straight games, the Fighting Illini captured last year's meeting in Champaign on Jan. 20, 2023. The last time the team's met in East Lansing was on Dec. 9, 2021 when the Spartans came out on top 75-60.
LAST TIME VS ILLINOIS
Despite four players reaching double figures Michigan State women's basketball dropped a tough 86-76 battle to No. 22/22 Illinois at the State Farm Center on Jan. 29, 2023.
The Spartans played without former head coach Suzy Merchant who missed the game due to a medical incident.
Four Spartans reached double figures led by 23 points from graduate guard Kamaria McDaniel, which was her sixth 20-point game of the season. Sophomore guard DeeDee Hagemann was near a double-double with 10 points and eight assists, tying her season-high in helpers. Off the bench, senior forward Taiyier Parks scored 13 points with five rebounds, while senior guard Moira Joiner had 11 points and six boards.
FAMILIAR FACE
Spartan fans will see a familiar face on the Illini bench. Senior forward Kendall Bostic played her freshman season at Michigan State during the 2020-21 season. She has earned All-Big Ten honors both seasons at Illinois.
BY THE NUMBERS VS. RUTGERS
• The 93 points that Michigan State scored against Rutgers were the most since scoring 92 against Wisconsin on Jan. 24, 2021. Michigan State has scored at least 90 points in five Big Ten games this season. Overall, MSU is now 11-1 when scoring 90 or more points this season.
• The Spartans recorded 27 assists on 37 made baskets against Rutgers. It was the most helpers for MSU since recording 29 against Central Michigan on Dec. 17. MSU's season high in assists was 34 in the Spartans' 104-44 win against Detroit Mercy on Nov. 16. Junior guard DeeDee Hagemann led the way with seven assists, while junior guard/forward Jocelyn Tate tied her career high with six helpers.
• Michigan State out-rebounded Rutgers 34-29, behind seven rebounds from Jocelyn Tate and six from Julia Ayrault. The Scarlet Knights came into the game ninth in the Big Ten in rebound margin (+0.97).
NET RANKING
Through Feb. 25, Michigan State holds a NET ranking of No. 22, which is fourth-best in the Big Ten. Iowa is first at No. 6, followed by Ohio State at No. 8 and Indiana at No. 13.
LAST TIME OUT
Michigan State women's basketball celebrated 4-H Day at the Breslin Center with a dominating, 93-57, win over Rutgers in front of 7,696 fans on Saturday afternoon.
All nine Spartans that played in the game scored for MSU, as Michigan State distributed the ball well. Graduate guard Moira Joiner led the way with 22 points in only 23 minutes of action. Both sophomore guard Abbey Kimball and graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault added 17 points with Ayrault adding six rebounds. Junior guard/forward Jocelyn Tate added nine points and a team-high seven boards.
Preview courtesy of MSU Athletics.
