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The Michigan State Spartans got some exciting schedule news just before boarding the flight to State College, Pennsylvania this afternoon. The game in East Lansing against the Michigan Wolverines that was previously postponed following the shutdown in Ann Arbor has been rescheduled for next Tuesday, Feb. 16 at 4:30 p.m. EST.
Schedule Update: We will play at Michigan this Tuesday at 4:30! #GoGreen pic.twitter.com/9YveIL5B1d
— Spartan Basketball (@MSU_WBasketball) February 12, 2021
As for the Spartans this weekend, the team is in Happy Valley tomorrow to take on the Penn State Nittany Lions at noon eastern time on the Big Ten Network.
And we’re off! ✈️✌️ Catch us take on Penn State tomorrow at Noon on BTN! #GoGreen pic.twitter.com/0VwGKnpLE4
— Spartan Basketball (@MSU_WBasketball) February 12, 2021
Penn State currently sits at 8-8 overall and is 5-7 in the Big Ten. Despite the losing record, PSU did just go on a four-game winning streak that featured victories over Illinois, Purdue, Nebraska, and Wisconsin before seeing the streak snapped Wednesday by Indiana in a 90-65 loss.
The Lady Lions are averaging 76.1 points per game this season, good for eighth in the league just one spot being the Spartans. PSU defensively is giving up just 75 points per game to opponents, which is good for 11th in the Big Ten. Statistically for the rest of the major categories they rank in the bottom half of the league, including dead last in blocked shots.
Penn State’s roster is relatively new this season, in particular two former teammates play for MSU this year after all. Kelly Jekot, who has only played in nine games so far, leads the team in scoring with 15.9 points per game.
Johnasia Cash is second on the team (and 22nd in the Big Ten) with 14.8 points per game, and Makenna Marisa rounds out the double-digit scorers with 14.5 points per game. Cash also ranks fourth in the Big Ten in rebounds and falls just shy of averaging a double-double with 9.3 rebounds per game, while Marisa leads the team in assists with 4.6 per game, which is good for seventh in the Big Ten.
The game marks the 49th all-time meeting between the two programs with Penn State holding the overall series lead 30-19. The Lady Lions also hold the advantage in State College 17-7. MSU has been on a hot streak in the series of late, winning six of the last 10, however. The teams split the games last season with MSU falling 86-73 at Penn State and winning on senior day in East Lansing 99-80.
Sophomore guard Jayla James and junior forward Alisia Smith will be playing against their old team as both transferred this past offseason from Penn State to MSU.
The game tips off at noon on the Big Ten Network.