No. 20/21 Spartan Women's Basketball Celebrates Alumni Day with a 80-68 Win over Washington

EAST LANSING, Mich. - No. 20/21 Michigan State women's basketball used balanced scoring and solid defense to defeat RV/RV Washington, 80-68, on Alumni Day Sunday afternoon at the Breslin Center.

The Spartans returned to the winning column, improving to 13-2 overall and 3-2 in Big Ten contests. The Washington falls to 12-5 overall and 3-2 in league contests.

At the end of the first quarter, Michigan State honored members of the 2004-05 Final Four team. All-Americans Kristin Haynie, Liz Shimek and Lindsay Bowen were among the alumni in attendance.

The Spartans had four reach double figures led by graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault and junior forward Grace VanSlooten, who both scored 19 points. VanSlooten added 12 rebounds for her third double-double of the season. Freshman center Inés Sotelo and junior guard Theryn Hallock both added 11 points. Hallock and graduate guard Nyla Hampton tied for the team lead in assists with five.

The Huskies were led by a game-high 21 points from Sayvia Sellers.

Washington started the game hot, but the Spartans responded with a 7-0 run to make it a 10-9 Husky lead at the 4:55 mark. A steal and a score by Ayrault tied the score at 18-18 with less than two minutes remaining in the quarter. The Spartans used another 7-0 run to take their first lead of the game 20-18. Michigan State ended the quarter on a 9-0 run to lead 22-18 after the first 10 minutes. Sellers led all scorers with 11 points in the first period.

In the second quarter, the Huskies came out fast once again, but then went over four minutes without a field goal. Late in the period, MSU used a 6-0 run to take 34-29 lead. The second period was the only one where MSU was out-scored, 17-14. Sotelo and VanSlooten led the way with four points each. With 43 seconds left in the half, VanSlooten's second-chance layup put MSU back up at the half, 36-35.

The teams exchanged leads for the early portion of the third quarter, but the Spartans were able to force five turnovers in 2:57. MSU scored seven-straight to take a 48-42 lead at the 4:58 mark of the period. Michigan State led all of the third period, but could never completely shake the Huskies, never leading by more than seven points.

In the fourth quarter, MSU finally opened up a double-digit lead after a Hallock 3-pointer, 66-54 with 7:03 remaining. An Elle Ladine layup got that game back into single digits with under three minutes remaining, but MSU continued to find answers. Sotelo's 3-pointer with six seconds left gave the Spartans the double-digit Victory for MSU.

Both teams were solid from the charity stripe, as Washington was 18-for-19, only missing its last attempt. The Spartans went 21-for-26 from the free throw line, including 16-for-18 in the second half.

Michigan State will now hit the road for a pair of games next week. The Spartans will take on Rutgers on Wednesday, Jan. 15 at 7 p.m. MSU will close out the road swing at Illinois on Sunday, Jan. 19 at 3 p.m. ET.

Michigan State Women's Basketball Post-Game Notes
• No. 20/21 Michigan State is now 13-3 overall and 3-2 in B1G play . . . the Spartans are 9-0 overall at home and 3-0 in B1G home contests.

• Sunday afternoon was MSU's Alumni Day, with the Spartans honoring their women's basketball alums, including the 2005 Final Four team . . . the 2005 Spartans in attendance were recognized at the end of the first quarter, while all the alumni were honored at halftime, with approximately 50 former players in attendance, ranging from as recent as the class of 2022, to as far back as the class of 1965.

• The Spartans registered their 11th-consecutive Victory for MSU at home dating back to winning the last two home contests of last season and the first nine home games this season . . . over the last season-and-a-half, MSU won 22 of its last 24 home games at the Breslin Center, after starting this season 9-0 at home following logging a 13-2 ledger last season at home . . . overall, MSU has won 33 of its last 41 home games dating back to the 2022-23 season.

• Sunday's match-up between Michigan State and Washington was the first meeting as Big Ten Conference foes, and the third all-time meeting, including the first since 2009 . . . all three meetings have been in East Lansing, with the Spartans winning the last two to lead the all-time series, 2-1.

• MSU netted 80 points for the second-straight game and topped 70+ points for the third game in a row after not reaching 70 points in the previous four games . . . the Spartans are now 11-1 when scoring 70 or more points along with 6-1 when netting 80 or more points.

• The Spartans made 38.9 percent (7-of-18) from 3-point range, their highest percentage behind the arc in a B1G this season . . . it is also their highest 3-point percentage in the last seven games since making 50.0 percent (13-of-26) vs. DePaul (12/8/24).

• The seven triples is MSU's third-straight game with seven or more makes from 3-point range, as well as the Spartans' ninth total game with seven or more makes from distance, improving to 8-1 with seven or more triples, with the lone loss coming last time out with eight in the loss at Nebraska (1/8/25).

• MSU's loss at Nebraska was also its first loss when making more 3-pointers than the opposition, and the Spartans got back on track Sunday, as they had seven treys compared to holding Washington to six makes from distance . . . MSU is now 9-1 when making more 3-pointers than the opposition.

• The Spartans held the Huskies to just 30.0 percent (6-of-20) from 3-point range, as UW entered Sunday leading the B1G in 3-pointer percentage (43.0 percent), holding them 11.0 percent below their average . . . MSU held UW to just six made 3-pointers, the Huskies' fewest triples in a B1G game this season, and the 30.0 percent was also Washington's lowest percentage behind the arc in a conference game this season.

• The 20 turnovers was the 13th game this season that the Spartan defense has forced 20+ turnovers, and MSU is now 11-2 when forcing 20 or more turnovers . . . the Spartans only had 16 miscues themselves, to improve to 11-2 when having fewer turnovers than the opposition.

• Michigan State started with the same starting line-up for the third-consecutive game with graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault, graduate guard Jaddan Simmons, senior guard/forward Jocelyn Tate, junior guard Theryn Hallock and freshman center Ines Sotelo on the court for the opening tip . . . it was Sotelo's third start in a row after coming off the bench in the previous 13 games . . . Sunday's Spartan starting line-up is one of six different starting fives that MSU has utilized this season.

• Junior forward Grace VanSlooten came off the bench for the third-straight game and registered 19 points and 12 rebounds for her third double-double of the season, and was her second-highest in both points and rebounds in a double-double . . . she has 18 points and a season-high 13 rebounds at Western Michigan (11/17/24) for her first double-double and a season-high 25 points and 10 rebounds vs. Vanderbilt (11/27/24).

• Sunday was VanSlooten's 13th double-double of her collegiate career after 10 double-doubles during her time at Oregon.

• VanSlooten's 19 points was her 13th game in double-digit scoring in playing 15 of the 16 contests this season, missing the Eastern Michigan game (11/11/24) due to illness . . . the junior forward has posted double-figures in the scoring column 65 times out of 78 career games, logging double-digits in 52 games while at Oregon.

• Along with her third double-figure rebounding outing in recording a double-double in all three outings, VanSlooten posted her 13th game with five or more rebounds.

• Graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault was one rebound shy of a double-double for the second game in a row with 19 points and nine rebounds Sunday, following 21 points and nine boards last time out vs. Nebraska (1/8/25).

• Ayrault has registered double-digits in the scoring column in all 15 games played this season, after missing the Detroit Mercy game (12/20/24) with an injury . . . Ayrault has 10+ points in her last 28-straight games played, part of in 39 of her last 44 games since the start of the 2023-24 season . . . overall, Ayrault tallied 10+ points for the 55th game in her career . . . the Spartans are now a palindromic 41-14 when Ayrault nets double-figures.

• Ayrault's nine rebounds was her fourth game in a row with five or more boards as part of the 12th time this season, including 10th game with seven or more rebounds, including nine or more in the last four games.

• By posting 19 points and nine rebounds, Ayrault's scorching stretch continued, as she has averaged a double-double with 17.0 points and 10.0 rebounds per game over the last four games with 68 points and 40 rebounds in the last four games . . . over her last 12 games played, Ayrault is now averaging 18.0 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, with 217 points and 102 rebounds over that span.

• The 19 points Sunday gives Ayrault 1,162 points for her career, vaulting up from a tie for No. 24 to No. 22 on MSU's career scoring list, pulling away from a tie with Julie Polakowski (1982-86) for No. 24 with 1,143 points, as well as Becca Mills (2011-15) with 1,157 points and was in attendance Sunday for Alumni Day, along with Ayrault's former teammate Moira Joiner (2020-24) with 1,160 points for No. 22 spot . . . Ayrault needs just 19 more points to tie Rene Haynes (2003-07) at No. 21 and 20 more points to crack the Top 20, as Victoria Lucas Perry (2003-07) holds the No. 20 spot with 1,182 points.

• Ayrault's nine rebounds gives her 647 for her career, moving not just into the Top 20 on MSU's career rebounding list, but up to No. 19, passing Lil Preston (1980-83) with 639 boards and Becky Cummings (1997-2001) with 645 rebounds . . . Ayrault is just one rebound away from the No. 18 spot, with Nanette Gibson (1978-81) with 648 rebounds.

• Sunday was Ayrault's 123rd career game played, needing just four more to crack the Spartans' Top 20 career games played list, held by former teammate Nia Hollie (2016-20) and former assistant coach Kristin Haynie (2001-05), who was also in attendance Sunday, with 127 career games played.

• Ayrault has made at least one 3-pointer in her last 12 games played as part of the 13th time in her 15 games played this season, with the two games being held without a make from distance coming in the first three games, doing so in games one and three of the year.

• With her one made 3-pointer on Sunday, Ayrault now has 107 career triples and takes over sole possession of the No. 18 spot on MSU's career 3-pointers list, pulling away from a tie with former teammate DeeDee Hagemman (2022-24) with 106 3-pointers.

• Junior guard Theryn Hallock tallied 10+ points for the fifth time in the last six games with 11 points on Sunday . . . it was Hallock's 11th double-figure outing in the 16 games this season . . . she posted 10 or more points for the 28th time in her career.

• Hallock swiped a team-high and game-best tying three steals, for her 10th game this season with multiple steals . . . the three steals was one shy of her career-high four swipes, done once this season, vs. Detroit Mercy (11/20/24) as part of five total times in her career.

• The junior guard also dished out a game-high tying five assists, sharing top honors with teammate graduate guard Nyla Hampton . . . the five helpers was Hallock's first game with four or more helpers in the last five contests . . . Hallock registered her seventh game with four or more assists, and MSU is now 7-0 when she dishes out four or more helpers, compared to 6-3 when she distributes three or fewer.

• Freshman center Ines Sotelo scored 11 points for her second double-digit scoring outing in the last three games, in which she's started all three . . . she added four rebounds, three assists, two steals and one block . . . Sotelo is now averaging 11.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.7 steals, 1.3 assists and 0.7 blocks per game in her three starts ... The 11 points was Sotelo's fourth double-figure scoring outing of the season.

• Graduate guard Jaddan Simmons passed out four assists . . . it was the 10th game this season that Simmons dished out three or more helpers.

• Simmons was also denied a steal in Sunday's game, marking just the second time in the 16 games this season that she did not register at least one steal, along with the Iowa game (12/15/24).

• Junior guard Emma Shumate posted her second-straight game with two or more 3-pointers, after not doing so in the previous four games, making two behind the arc on Sunday, after also making a pair of triples last time out at Nebraska . . . it was Shumate's second spurt of consecutive games with two or more treys of the season, joining three in a row (four vs. DePaul, 12/8/24; two vs. Iowa, 12/15/24; two vs. Montana (12/19/24) . . . overall, it was Shumate's seventh game this season with multiple triples.

• Shumate finished with eight points, her most in a B1G game this season and tied for her second-highest outing of the season, behind her top mark of 12 points vs. DePaul (12/8/24) and matching eight points vs. Detroit Mercy (11/20/24).

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Team Stats

Grace VanSlooten

Julia Ayrault

Theryn Hallock

Inés Sotelo

Players Mentioned

Julia Ayrault

Theryn Hallock

Nyla Hampton

Moira Joiner

Emma Shumate

Jaddan Simmons

Jocelyn Tate

Grace VanSlooten