Jennifer Smith Deputy Athletic Director/Senior Women's Administrator/Compliance | Michigan State Spartan Athletics Website
Jennifer Smith Deputy Athletic Director/Senior Women's Administrator/Compliance | Michigan State Spartan Athletics Website
The Michigan State women's basketball team achieved a decisive victory over Northwestern, with five players scoring in double figures. The Spartans, ranked No. 16/17, defeated the Wildcats 89-75 at Welsh-Ryan Arena. This win improved Michigan State's record to 18-4 overall and 8-3 in Big Ten play, while Northwestern fell to 7-13 overall and remains winless in league contests.
Grace VanSlooten led the Spartans with 20 points, marking her third game this season scoring at least 20 points. Nyla Hampton contributed a season-high of 16 points off the bench, tying her season-best with two three-pointers. Julia Ayrault added 14 points and tied a season-high with four blocks. Theryn Hallock scored 13 points, and Emma Shumate added another 12 points, matching her season-high with four three-pointers.
For Northwestern, Taylor Williams achieved a double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds.
The game began evenly matched as both teams traded baskets early on. MSU took an initial lead before Northwestern responded to end the first quarter ahead by five points. In the second quarter, Shumate's three-pointer helped regain MSU's lead briefly before ending the half tied at 40-40.
Michigan State established control in the third quarter with a nine-point run that extended their lead to eight points. The Spartans maintained defensive pressure throughout this period, outscoring Northwestern by ten points.
In the final quarter, Michigan State secured their victory by extending their lead further to an eighteen-point margin after a layup from VanSlooten. Hallock closed out strong for MSU with eight additional points.
Looking ahead, Michigan State will face off against Michigan on February 9th at home in a game that will celebrate Black History Month and National Girls and Women in Sports Day.
Post-game notes highlighted that Michigan State recorded double-digit steals for the fifth consecutive game this season and scored more than eighty-five points against Northwestern for two straight seasons under head coach Robyn Fralick's leadership.
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