Clouden, No. 17 Michigan St. women beat E. Michigan 85-50
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Nia Clouden scored 23 points and No. 17 Michigan State scored the first 28 second-half points to pull away as the Spartans beat Eastern Michigan 85-50 on Tuesday in the season opener for both teams.
Freshman Alyza Winston had 12 points and Taryn McCutcheon and Tory Ozment scored 10 apiece for Michigan State.
The Spartans missed 20 of their first 25 field-goal attempts, including eight in a row to open the game, and Rayjon Harris' layup gave Eastern Michigan its biggest lead of the game at 23-14 with six minutes left in the second quarter. But Clouden hit a 3-pointer, the first of six consecutive made field goals by Michigan State, to spark a 17-2 run before back-to-back baskets by the Eagles trimmed their deficit to 31-29 at halftime. The Spartans then scored the first 28 second-half points and outscored Eastern Michigan 32-3 in the third quarter. The Eagles went 0 for 14 from the field in the period and missed 15 in a row to open the second half.
Corrione Cardwell had 13 points for the Eagles and was the lone Eastern Michigan player to score in double figures.
The Spartans are 16-1 all-time against EMU.