The 2009–10 Michigan State Spartans women's basketball team represented Michigan State University in the 2009–2010 NCAA Division I basketball season. The Spartans were coached by Suzy Merchant and played their home games at the Breslin Center. The Spartans are a member of the Big Ten Conference and advanced to the NCAA tournament, where they lost in the second round to Kentucky.
Offseason
May 5: The Big Ten Conference office announced today that the Michigan State women's basketball team will face North Carolina in the third-annual Big Ten/ACC Challenge. The Spartans and Tar Heels are scheduled for a Thursday, Dec. 3 matchup at the Breslin Center.[1]
May 19: Michigan State head coach Suzy Merchant completed her first experience with USA Basketball. Merchant, Charli Turner Thorne and fellow assistant Julie Rousseau, took part in the three-day trials at the U.S. Olympic training center in Colorado Springs, Colo.[2]
Junior Kalisha Keane is representing Canada at the 2009 World University Games on July 1–12 in Belgrade, Serbia. Keane is one of 11 student-athletes on the squad. In addition to Keane, two other NCAA student-athletes made the team: Vermont's Courtney Pilypaitis and Delaware's Vanessa Kabongo.[3]
July 30: The Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), on behalf of the Wade Coalition, announced the 2009-2010 preseason "Wade Watch" list for The State Farm Wade Trophy Division I Player of the Year. Michigan State’s Allyssa DeHaan has been named to the 2009-10 preseason "Wade Watch" list,[4] which is made up of top NCAA Division I student-athletes who best embody the spirit of Lily Margaret Wade. This is based on the following criteria: game and season statistics, leadership, character, effect on their team and overall playing ability.
August 21: The 2009-10 preseason candidates list for the Women’s Wooden Award was released, naming 31 student athletes. Allyssa DeHaan from Michigan State was one of the candidates.[5]
Exhibition
Date
Opponent
Location
Time
Score
11/05/09
vs. Wayne State (Exh.)
East Lansing, Mich.
6:30 p.m.
MSU, 79-47
11/08/09
vs. Grand Valley State (Exh.)
East Lansing, Mich.
2:00 p.m.
MSU, 88-53
Regular season
The Spartans will participate in the Junkanoo Jam from November 27 to 28.