2015–16 Michigan State Spartans women's basketball team
{{short description|Intercollegiate basketball season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox NCAA team season
|mode=Women's basketball
|year=2015–16
|team=Michigan State Spartans
|image= Michigan State Spartans script.svg
|image_size=100
|conference=Big Ten Conference
|division=
|short_conf=Big Ten
|CoachRank= 21
|APRank= 16
|record= 25–9
|conf_record= 13–5
|head_coach=Suzy Merchant
|hc_year = 9th
|asst_coach1=Amaka Agugua
|asst_coach2=NcKell Copeland
|asst_coach3=Mark Simons
|stadium=Breslin Center
|champion=
|bowl= NCAA Women's Tournament
|bowl_result = second round
}}
{{2015–16 Big Ten women's basketball standings}}
The 2015–16 Michigan State Spartans women's basketball team represented Michigan State University during the 2015–16 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Spartans, led by ninth year head coach Suzy Merchant, played their home games at the Breslin Center and were members of the Big Ten Conference. They finished with a record of 25–9, 13–5 in Big Ten play to finish in third place. They advanced to the championship game of the Big Ten women's tournament, where they lost to Maryland. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA women's tournament, where they defeated Belmont in the first round before losing to Mississippi State in the second round.
Roster
{{CBB roster/Header|sex=w|year=2015|team=Michigan State Spartans|teamcolors=y|high_school=y}}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Tori|last=Jankoska|link=y|num=1|pos=G|ft=5|in=8|class=JR|rs=|home=Freeland, MI|high_school=Freeland}}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Cara|last=Miller|link=n|num=2|pos=G|ft=6|in=1|class=SR|rs=|home=Farmington Hills, MI|high_school=Divine Child}}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Kalabryah|last=Gondrezick|link=n|num=3|pos=G|ft=5|in=8|class=FR|rs=|home=Benton Harbor, MI|high_school=Benton Harbor}}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Jasmine|last=Hines|link=n|num=4|pos=C|ft=6|in=3|class=SR|rs=y|home=Central Lake, MI|high_school=Central Lake}}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Octavia|last=Barnes|link=n|num=5|pos=F|ft=5|in=10|class=FR|rs=|home=Jackson, MS|high_school=Raymond}}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Brannadais|last=Agee|link=n|num=10|pos=G|ft=5|in=11|class=JR|rs=y|home=Detroit, MI|high_school=Cass Technical}}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Nahty|last=Dambo|link=n|num=12|pos=F|ft=6|in=3|class=FR|rs=|home=Fort-de-France, Martinique|high_school=Junípero Serra}}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Morgan|last=Green|link=n|num=13|pos=G|ft=5|in=8|class=SO|rs=|home=San Jose, CA|high_school=Pacific Collegiate
Chabot College}}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Victoria|last=Gaines|link=n|num=15|pos=F|ft=6|in=1|class=FR|rs=|home=Merrillville, IN|high_school=Merrillville}}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Hana|last=Vesela|link=n|num=21|pos=C|ft=6|in=4|class=FR|rs=|home=Příbor, Czech Republic|high_school=Brimley}}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Kiara|last=Carter|link=n|num=22|pos=G|ft=5|in=1|class=SO|rs=|home=Homewood, IL|high_school=Homewood Flossmoor}}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Aerial|last=Powers|link=y|num=23|pos=G|ft=6|in=0|class=JR|rs=y|home=Detroit, MI|high_school=Detroit Country Day}}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Lexi|last=Gussert|link=n|num=24|pos=G/F|ft=6|in=0|class=SO|rs=|home=Crystal Falls, MI|high_school=Forest Park}}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Jenna|last=Allen|link=n|num=33|pos=C|ft=6|in=3|class=FR|rs=|home=Bedford, IN|high_school=North Lawrence}}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Kennedy|last=Johnson|link=n|num=55|pos=F|ft=6|in=2|class=FR|rs=|home=Galloway, NJ|high_school=Wildwood Catholic}}
{{CBB roster/Footer|head_coach=Suzy Merchant ({{college|Central Michigan}})|asst_coach=Amaka Agugua ({{college|Hofstra}})
NcKell Copeland ({{college|Jacksonville State}})
Mark Simons ({{college|Michigan State}})|roster_url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/w-baskbl/mtt/msu-w-baskbl-mtt.html|accessdate=}}
Schedule
{{CBB schedule start|time=|rank=yes|ranklink=2015-16 NCAA Division I women's basketball rankings|rankyear=2014|tv=|record=yes|attend=yes}}
|-
!colspan=9 style="background:#18453b; color:#FFFFFF;"| Exhibition
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 11/08/2015
| time = 2:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = 24
| opponent = Michigan Tech
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Breslin Center
| site_cityst = East Lansing, MI
| gamename =
| attend = 5,252
| tv =
| score = 74–43
| overtime =
| record =
}}
|-
!colspan=9 style="background:#18453b; color:#FFFFFF;"| Non-conference regular season
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 11/15/2015
| time = 2:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = 24
| opponent = Western Michigan
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Breslin Center
| site_cityst = East Lansing, MI
| gamename =
| attend = 6,270
| tv =
| score = 78–40
| overtime =
| record = 1–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 11/18/2015
| time = 7:30 pm
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = 23
| opponent = Georgia
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Breslin Center
| site_cityst = East Lansing, MI
| gamename =
| attend = 5,117
| tv =
| score = 66–45
| overtime =
| record = 2–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 11/21/2015
| time = 12:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = 23
| opponent = Idaho State
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Breslin Center
| site_cityst = East Lansing, MI
| gamename =
| attend = 4,984
| tv =
| score = 79–60
| overtime =
| record = 3–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 11/27/2015
| time = 5:45 pm
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank = 20
| opponent = Cincinnati
| opprank =
| site_stadium = St. George HS Gymnasium
| site_cityst = Freeport, BAH
| gamename = Junkanoo Jam Lucaya Division
| attend = 328
| tv =
| score = 103–63
| overtime =
| record = 4–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 11/28/2015
| time = 5:45 pm
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank = 20
| opponent = Baylor
| opprank = 5
| site_stadium = St. George HS Gymnasium
| site_cityst = Freeport, BAH
| gamename = Junkanoo Jam Lucaya Division
| attend = 684
| tv =
| score = 76–84
| overtime =
| record = 4–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 12/03/2015
| time = 7:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = 19
| opponent = Louisville
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Breslin Center
| site_cityst = East Lansing, MI
| gamename = ACC–Big Ten Women's Challenge
| attend = 5,721
| tv = ESPN2
| score = 78–85
| overtime =
| record = 4–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 12/06/2015
| time = 2:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = 19
| opponent = Loyola–Chicago
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Breslin Center
| site_cityst = East Lansing, MI
| gamename =
| attend = 5,706
| tv =
| score = 76–47
| overtime =
| record = 5–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 12/09/2015
| time = 6:30 pm
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank = 25
| opponent = Davidson
| opprank =
| site_stadium = John M. Belk Arena
| site_cityst = Davidson, NC
| gamename =
| attend = 3,714
| tv =
| score = 73–44
| overtime =
| record = 6–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 12/13/2015
| time = 3:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank = 25
| opponent = Oakland
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Athletics Center O'rena
| site_cityst = Rochester, MI
| gamename =
| attend = 1,837
| tv = ESPN3
| score = 82–62
| overtime =
| record = 7–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 12/18/2015
| time = 8:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank = 24
| opponent = Northeastern
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Matthews Arena
| site_cityst = Boston, MA
| gamename = Northeastern Winter Showdown
| attend = 1,869
| tv = ASN
| score = 77–52
| overtime =
| record = 8–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 12/21/2015
| time = 7:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = 24
| opponent = Detroit
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Breslin Center
| site_cityst = East Lansing, MI
| gamename =
| attend = 6,540
| tv =
| score = 81–42
| overtime =
| record = 9–2
}}
|-
!colspan=9 style="background:#18453b; color:#FFFFFF;"| Big Ten regular season
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 12/31/2015
| time = 12:00 pm
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank = 24
| opponent = Ohio State
| opprank = 9
| site_stadium = Value City Arena
| site_cityst = Columbus, OH
| gamename =
| attend = 5,631
| tv = BTN
| score = 80–85
| overtime =
| record = 9–3 (0–1)
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 01/03/2016
| time = 2:00 pm
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = 24
| opponent = Wisconsin
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Breslin Center
| site_cityst = East Lansing, MI
| gamename =
| attend = 6,950
| tv =
| score = 77–67
| overtime =
| record = 10–3 (1–1)
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 01/07/2016
| time = 7:00 pm
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank = 23
| opponent = Penn State
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Bryce Jordan Center
| site_cityst = University Park, PA
| gamename =
| attend = 2,885
| tv =
| score = 71–55
| overtime =
| record = 11–3 (2–1)
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 01/10/2016
| time = 2:00 pm
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = 23
| opponent = Northwestern
| opprank = 16
| site_stadium = Breslin Center
| site_cityst = East Lansing, MI
| gamename =
| attend = 6,272
| tv = BTN
| score = 74–51
| overtime =
| record = 12–3 (3–1)
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 01/13/2016
| time = 7:00 pm
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank = 18
| opponent = Indiana
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Assembly Hall
| site_cityst = Bloomington, IN
| gamename =
| attend = 2,507
| tv =
| score = 65–81
| overtime =
| record = 12–4 (3–2)
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 01/16/2016
| time = 4:30 pm
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = 18
| opponent = Iowa
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Breslin Center
| site_cityst = East Lansing, MI
| gamename =
| attend = 9,017
| tv = BTN
| score = 80–73
| overtime =
| record = 13–4 (4–2)
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 01/19/2016
| time = 6:00 pm
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = 21
| opponent = Rutgers
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Breslin Center
| site_cityst = East Lansing, MI
| gamename =
| attend = 4,911
| tv = BTN
| score = 59–48
| overtime =
| record = 14–4 (5–2)
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 01/27/2016
| time = 7:00 pm
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = 18
| opponent = Purdue
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Breslin Center
| site_cityst = East Lansing, MI
| gamename =
| attend = 5,272
| tv =
| score = 68–56
| overtime =
| record = 15–4 (6–2)
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 01/31/2016
| time = 4:00 pm
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank = 18
| opponent = Wisconsin
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Kohl Center
| site_cityst = Madison, WI
| gamename =
| attend = 9,436
| tv =
| score = 77–54
| overtime =
| record = 16–4 (7–2)
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 02/03/2016
| time = 7:00 pm
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = 17
| opponent = Michigan
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Breslin Center
| site_cityst = East Lansing, MI
| gamename = Rivalry
| attend = 8,003
| tv =
| score = 85–64
| overtime =
| record = 17–4 (8–2)
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 02/05/2016
| time = 7:00 pm
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank = 17
| opponent = Maryland
| opprank = 5
| site_stadium = Xfinity Center
| site_cityst = College Park, MD
| gamename =
| attend = 5,738
| tv =
| score = 76–85
| overtime =
| record = 17–5 (8–3)
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 02/07/2016
| time = 3:00 pm
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank = 17
| opponent = Iowa
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Carver–Hawkeye Arena
| site_cityst = Iowa City, IA
| gamename =
| attend = 6,255
| tv =
| score = 74–69
| overtime =
| record = 18–5 (9–3)
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 02/11/2016
| time = 6:30 pm
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = 17
| opponent = Penn State
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Breslin Center
| site_cityst = East Lansing, MI
| gamename =
| attend = 5,588
| tv = BTN
| score = 61–65
| overtime =
| record = 18–6 (9–4)
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 02/14/2016
| time = 4:00 pm
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank = 17
| opponent = Nebraska
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Pinnacle Bank Arena
| site_cityst = Lincoln, NE
| gamename =
| attend = 8,338
| tv = BTN
| score = 66–73
| overtime =
| record = 18–7 (9–5)
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 02/18/2016
| time = 7:00 pm
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank = 25
| opponent = Rutgers
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Louis Brown Athletic Center
| site_cityst = Piscataway, NJ
| gamename =
| attend = 2,156
| tv =
| score = 70–67
| overtime =
| record = 19–7 (10–5)
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 02/21/2016
| time = 1:00 pm
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = 25
| opponent = Minnesota
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Breslin Center
| site_cityst = East Lansing, MI
| gamename =
| attend = 9,436
| tv = BTN
| score = 114–106
| overtime =
| record = 20–7 (11–5)
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 02/24/2016
| time = 8:00 pm
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank = 20
| opponent = Illinois
| opprank =
| site_stadium = State Farm Center
| site_cityst = Champaign, IL
| gamename =
| attend = 1,395
| tv =
| score = 71–43
| overtime =
| record = 21–7 (12–5)
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 02/27/2016
| time = 2:00 pm
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = 20
| opponent = Ohio State
| opprank = 5
| site_stadium = Breslin Center
| site_cityst = East Lansing, MI
| gamename =
| attend = 8,631
| tv = BTN
| score = 107–105
| overtime = 3OT
| record = 22–7 (13–5)
}}
|-
!colspan=9 style="text-align: center; background:#18453b"|Big Ten Women's Tournament
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 03/04/2016
| time = 9:00 pm
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank = 19
| seed = 3
| opponent = Purdue
| opprank =
| oppseed = 6
| site_stadium = Bankers Life Fieldhouse
| site_cityst = Indianapolis, IN
| gamename = Quarterfinals
| attend =
| tv = BTN
| score = 65–64
| overtime =
| record = 23–7
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 03/05/2016
| time = 5:30 pm
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank = 19
| seed = 3
| opponent = Ohio State
| opprank = 9
| oppseed = 2
| site_stadium = Bankers Life Fieldhouse
| site_cityst = Indianapolis, IN
| gamename = Semifinals
| attend =
| tv = BTN
| score = 82–63
| overtime =
| record = 24–7
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 03/06/2016
| time = 7:00 pm
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank = 19
| seed = 3
| opponent = Maryland
| opprank = 5
| oppseed = 1
| site_stadium = Bankers Life Fieldhouse
| site_cityst = Indianapolis, IN
| gamename = Championship Game
| attend = 5,109
| tv = ESPN
| score = 44–60
| overtime =
| record = 24–8
}}
|-
!colspan=9 style="text-align: center; background:#18453b"|NCAA Women's Tournament
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 03/18/2016
| time = 12:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank = 16
| seed = 4 B
| opponent = Belmont
| opprank =
| oppseed = 13 B
| site_stadium = Humphrey Coliseum
| site_cityst = Starkville, MS
| gamename = First Round
| attend =
| tv = ESPN2
| score = 74–60
| overtime =
| record = 25–8
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 03/20/2016
| time = 2:30 pm
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank = 16
| seed = 4 B
| opponent = Mississippi State
| opprank = 15
| oppseed = 5 B
| site_stadium = Humphrey Coliseum
| site_cityst = Starkville, MS
| gamename = Second Round
| attend = 7,094
| tv = ESPN2
| score = 72–74
| overtime =
| record = 25–9
}}
{{CBB schedule end|rank=| poll=AP Poll|timezone=Eastern Time |region=B |regionname=Bridgeport Region}}
Rankings
{{main|2015–16 NCAA Division I women's basketball rankings}}
| class="wikitable" style="white-space:nowrap;font-size:90%" |
| + Regular Season Polls
!Poll !! Pre- |
| style="text-align:center;"
! AP | style="background:#FFF;" | 24 | style="background:#D8FFEB;" | 23 | style="background:#D8FFEB;" | 20 | style="background:#D8FFEB;" | 19 | style="background:#FFE6E6;" | 25 | style="background:#D8FFEB;" | 24 | style="background:#FFF;" | 24 | style="background:#FFF;" | 24 | style="background:#D8FFEB;" | 23 | style="background:#D8FFEB;" | 18 | style="background:#FFE6E6;" | 21 | style="background:#D8FFEB;" | 18 | style="background:#D8FFEB;" | 17 | style="background:#FFF;" | 17 | style="background:#FFE6E6;" | 25 | style="background:#D8FFEB;" | 20 | style="background:#D8FFEB;" | 19 | style="background:#D8FFEB;" | 16 | style="background:#FFF;" | 16 | style="background:#FFF;" | N/A |
| style="text-align:center;"
! Coaches | style="background:#FFF;" | RV | style="background:#FFF;" | RV | style="background:#D8FFEB;" | 22 | style="background:#D8FFEB;" | 20 | style="background:#FFE6E6;" | 23 | style="background:#D8FFEB;" | 22 | style="background:#FFF;" | 22 | style="background:#FFF;" | 22 | style="background:#FFF;" | 22 | style="background:#D8FFEB;" | 18 | style="background:#FFF;" | 18 | style="background:#D8FFEB;" | 15 | style="background:#D8FFEB;" | 14 | style="background:#FFE6E6;" | 15 | style="background:#FFE6E6;" | 22 | style="background:#D8FFEB;" | 21 | style="background:#D8FFEB;" | 19 | style="background:#D8FFEB;" | 17 | style="background:#FFF;" | 17 | style="background:#FFE6E6;" | 21 |
| style="border:1px solid black;"
|+ Legend | style="background:#D8FFEB; width:20px;" | | | Increase in ranking |
| style="background:#FFE6E6; width:20px;" |
| | Decrease in ranking |
| style="background:#FFFFE6; width:20px;" |
| | Not ranked previous week |
| (RV)
| | Received Votes |
See also
References
{{reflist}}
{{Michigan State Spartans women's basketball navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:2015-16 Michigan State Spartans women's basketball team}}