Michigan State women’s basketball team lost in double overtime to Florida Gulf Coast 85-84. But the game’s story was Michigan State’s guard Nia Clouden scored 50 points.
“It’s a huge accomplishment to me. I haven’t had that many points ever,” Clouden said. “It wouldn’t have happened without my teammates and coaches. Definitely, they played a big part in it.”
Clouden broke MSU’s women’s basketball single-game scoring record, which Tori Jankoska set in 2017, scoring 42 points against Ohio State. Clouden also tied the men’s basketball record with 50 points scored by Terry Furlow in 1976 against Iowa.
Nia started the game off strong, scoring 12 points in the first quarter but only was able to score two points in the second. Clouden picked it up in the second half, scoring 21 points. She followed up with 15 points total in both overtimes. The Michigan State played scored all eight points for the Spartans in the second overtime.
Clouden shot 17-of-28 from the field and 15-of-17 from the charity stripe. However, surprisingly she only shot 1-of-4 from beyond the arc. Usually, when a player scores 50 points, there are many three-pint shots made, but that was not the case in this game. But Clouden did a great job getting to the free-throw line and hitting mid-range jumpers.
“To be in the same category as the great players who have gone on to great things is awesome and a great honor,” said Clouden, who was 17-for-28 from the field and made 15 of her 17 free throw attempts in the game.
The senior previous career high was 34 points, which she scored last season, and her season-high was 24 points this season.
So far this season, Clouden is averaging 21.8 points per game while shooting 50% from the field and 41.7& the three-point line. She is also shooting 90.8% from the charity stripe; the star player is on pace for a 50-40-90 season. Clouden is also averaging 4.5 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.3 steals.
Clouden can really score the basketball at a high level, if she keeps this up there will be a place for her in the WNBA.
Follow me on Twitter: @raiderway83 and read other amazing articles on Beyond Women’s Sports.
