Wednesday, February 12
East Lansing, Mich.
6:30 PM
Michigan State University
vs
Wisconsin
Photo by: Matthew Mitchell Photography
No. 22 Spartans Close Homestand against Wisconsin Wednesday
2/11/2025 5:13:00 PM | Women's Basketball
MSU has won six of the last seven games in the series.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - No. 22/22 Michigan State women's basketball concludes its two-game homestand, taking on Wisconsin on Wednesday, Feb. 12. Tipoff time is set for 6:30 p.m. at the Breslin Center. The game will be streamed on the B1G+ with Marin Klein and Jack Stager on the call.
• Last time out, Michigan State fell to in-state rival Michigan, 71-61 on Feb. 9. The Spartans now stand 18-5 overall and 8-4 in Big Ten action. MSU has only three regular-season home games remaining.
• Wisconsin comes to East Lansing having lost three-straight games. Last time out, the Badgers fell to Illinois, 74-51, in Madison on Feb. 9. Overall, Wisconsin stands 11-13 overall and 2-11 in Big Ten play.
• Sunday's attendance against Michigan of 11,043 was the 18th-best in MSU women's basketball history, including the sixth-best when playing the Wolverines. It was the largest crowd since Feb. 23, 2020 vs. Michigan when 11,462 were in attendance.
• Junior forward Grace VanSlooten registered her fourth double-double as a Spartan with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Overall, it was VanSlooten's 14th double-double of her collegiate career after 10 double-doubles during her time at Oregon.
SCOUTING WISCONSIN
Wisconsin comes to the Breslin Center in the midst of a three-game losing streak with losses to Illinois, USC and Purdue. The Badgers last win came against Michigan on Jan. 29. Overall, Wisconsin holds a 11-13 overall record and stands 2-11 in Big Ten play.
Wisconsin is seventh in the Big Ten in 3-point field goal percentage (.338). The Badgers are also 11th in total 3-pointers made with 148. Serah Williams is third in the league in scoring, averaging 18.9 ppg. She is also second in rebounding with 10.3 ppg. Williams also stands second in the conference in blocks, averaging 2.4 bpg.
Wisconsin head coach Marisa Moseley is in her fourth season leading the Badgers with a record of 45-71 record. Overall, she is in her seventh season as a head coach also spending three seasons at her alma mater Boston University. She has an overall coaching record of 90-100 in seven seasons.
SERIES HISTORY VS. THE BADGERS
Michigan State holds the series lead over Wisconsin, 50-27. The Spartans have won six of the last seven meetings, including the last two. The last time the teams met in East Lansing, the Badgers came away with an 84-80 overtime win on Jan. 11, 2023.
In East Lansing, the Spartans lead the series 27-7. In Madison, the series is much tighter with MSU on top 20-19. On neutral ground, MSU leads 3-1. Last season, MSU ended the regular season with a commanding 78-52 win in Madison.
LAST TIME VS. WISCONSIN
Michigan State completed the regular season with a 78-52 victory over Wisconsin on March 3, 2024 at the Kohl Center.
Michigan State had four players in double figures led by 20 from graduate guard Moira Joiner, who scored 15 in the second quarter alone. Graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault was close to her second-straight double-double with 19 points and nine board. Junior guard DeeDee Hagemann added 12 points, while sophomore guard scored 11. The 22 wins were also the most since MSU went 25-9 during the 2015-16 season.
The Spartan defense was stellar forcing 25 Wisconsin turnovers. MSU also ended the game with 14 steals, which was the most since having 14 against Minnesota on Feb. 5. It was also the Spartans' third-straight game with double-digit steals.
QUITE THE TRIO
With 1,258 points, 698 rebounds and 169 blocks, graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault joins a very small club. She is one of only three Spartans with over 1,250 points, 650 rebounds and 150 blocks. All-American Allysa DeHaan ended her Spartan career with 1,649 points, 919 rebounds and 504 blocks. Kristen Rasmussen finished with 1,493 points, 964 rebounds and 194 blocks.
PACKING THE BREZ
Sunday's attendance of 11,043 against Michigan was the 18th-best in MSU women's basketball history, including the sixth-best when playing Michigan. It was the largest crowd since Feb. 23, 2020 vs. Michigan when 11,462 were in attendance.
PUTTING IN THE MINUTES
Julia Ayrault started for the 22nd game in 22 games played this season, missing one with an injury, and made the 66th start of her career. Theryn Hallock starting for the 19th time in 23 games played this season and 20th career start. Jaddan Simmons made her 18th start of the season in playing her 23rd game as a Spartan as part of her 125th career start in 131 career collegiate games played. Grace VanSlooten started for the 14th time as a Spartan in her 22nd game at MSU, missing the game vs. Eastern Michigan; it was VanSlooten's 75th collegiate career start in her 85th collegiate career game.
NET RANKINGS
In the current women's basketball NET ranking, the Spartans stand No. 20. They are fourth among Big Ten schools behind No. 5 UCLA, No. 6 USC and No. 15 Ohio State. South Carolina stands No. 1. The Big Ten has five schools in the top 25 in NET rankings with Maryland standing No. 23.
RANKED BIG TEN TEAMS
Five different Big Ten teams are ranked or receiving votes in the AP top 25 poll. UCLA leads the way at No. 1, followed by No. 6 USC, No. 9 Ohio State, No. 17 Maryland and No. 22 Michigan State. Illinois and Michigan are also receiving votes in this week's poll.
AYRAULT ASCENDS THE CHARTS
Julia Ayrault's 10 points against Michigan on Feb. 9 give her 1,258 career points, moving from No. 15 on MSU's career scoring list to No. 14, passing Branndais Agee (2013-18) with 1,250 points. Next up at No. 13 is Kelli Roehrig (2001-05) with 1,370 points.
With the six rebounds Sunday, Ayrault now has 698 career boards, pulling away from a tie at No. 13 with Jill Prudden (1975-78) with 692, and Ayrault not only takes over sole possession of the No. 13 spot, but she is just two rebounds shy of becoming the 13th player in Spartan women's basketball history with 700 career rebounds. Ayrault's one block gives her 165 blocks for her career, holding steady at her spot at No. 3 on the Spartans' career blocks list.
She has now played in 130 career games, moving up to tie for No. 15 on MSU's career games played list, now tied with a pair of former teammates Tory Ozment (2019-24) and Jenna Allen (2015-19) with 130 career games played. In her next game played, Ayrault will move up to be part of a seven-way tie for No. 9 with 131 games.
BY THE NUMBERS VS. MICHIGAN
• Grace VanSlooten has logged 10+ points in each of the last 10 games as part of posting double-digit points in 20 of her 22 games played, missing the Eastern Michigan game (11/11/24) due to illness. VanSlooten has now registered double-digit points 72 times out of 85 career games, logging double-digits in 52 games while at Oregon.
• Nyla Hampton also swiped a team-high and game-best tying four steals for her third game in a row with multiple steals as part of the fifth time in the last six games with two or more steals. It is Hampton's 13th game this season with two or more steals, as part of the fourth game with four or more steals, as her season-high is five steals, done three times this season, including the first meeting with Michigan (1/25/25), giving her nine steals in the two match-ups with U-M.
BALANCED ATTACK
Seven different Spartans have led the team in scoring. Julia Ayrault has led the team in scoring nine times, while Grace VanSlooten is second with eight. Theryn Hallock has been the leading scorer five, while Jocelyn Tate, Jaddan Simmons, Emma Shumate and Juliann Woodard have led once.
YOUR STARTING FIVE
Michigan State used the same starting line for the second game in a row, with graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault, graduate guard Jaddan Simmons, senior guard/forward Jocelyn Tate, junior guard Theryn Hallock and junior forward Grace VanSlooten. Sunday was the fourth game overall this season with that starting five and MSU is now 2-2 with that starting five for the opening tip.
AROUND THE BIG TEN
Michigan State is second in the Big Ten in scoring offense, averaging 81.1 points per game. The Spartans are also third in scoring margin (+20.0). MSU is second in the league in blocks (5.6 bpg). MSU is second in steals with 13.1 spg and second in assists with 18.7 apg. The Spartans are second in turnover margin (+8.3).
Individually, graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault is 13th in the league in scoring (15.8 ppg). Junior forward Grace VanSlooten is fifth in the league in field goal percentage (.528). Senior guard/forward Jocelyn Tate is third in the league in steals (2.26). Graduate guard Nyla Hampton is tied for sixth in steals (2.00 spg).
AROUND THE NATION
After 24 games, the Spartans are 16th in the nation scoring margin, winning games by 20.0 points. Michigan State is seventh in the NCAA and second in the Big Ten in steals per game with 13.1 spg. MSU is 10th in the nation in assists with 18.7 apg and 11th in turnover margin (+8.3).
JOINING THE 1K CLUB
Michigan State currently has four players who have scored at least 1,000 points in their collegiate careers. Most recently junior forward Grace VanSlooten joined the club against Vanderbilt on Nov. 27. She currently has 1,205 career points between Oregon and MSU. Graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault reached the 1,000-point club against Cal on Nov. 26. During her five years at MSU, she has scored 1,258 points. Graduate guard Nyla Hampton has scored 1,283 points during her time at Bowling Green, Ball State and Michigan State. Fellow graduate guard Jaddan Simmons also has 1,286 points during four seasons at Arizona State her time at MSU. Senior guard/forward Jocelyn Tate is looking to be the next member with 973 points between her two seasons at Bowling Green and two at MSU.
BRINGING THE BOOM
For the 2024-25 season, Michigan State women's introduced its new student section - the Breslin Boom. First introduced by Coach Fralick at Michigan State Madness, Spartan students will be encouraged to yell "BOOM" on any big MSU plays.
WHAT A QUARTER!
The Spartans' 31-point third quarter against Michigan on Jan. 25 tied for the third-most in any quarter, behind 33 points in both the fourth quarter vs. Vanderbilt (11/27/24) and the fourth quarter vs. Yale (11/8/24), and 32 in the first quarter vs. Detroit Mercy (11/20/24), while matching 31 points in the first frame in the season-opener vs. Oakland (11/5/24). It's the eighth quarter this season with 30+ points, and MSU has now scored 30 points at least once in every quarter except the second quarter.
COMEBACK KIDS
MSU's 16-point deficit and rally for win on the Nov. 26 win against Cal was the Spartans' largest comeback win since being down 19 points vs. Penn State on Feb. 22, 2017, rallying from down 46-27 with 7:55 left in the third quarter and rallying for a 73-64 Victory for MSU. In that game, All-American Tori Jankoska was held scoreless in the first half, she rallied with 21 second-half points, for a palindromic double-double of 21 points and 12 rebounds.
LOCKED IN DEFENSE
Senior guard/forward Jocelyn Tate is third in the Big Ten in steals, averaging 2.26 spg. Graduate guard Nyla Hampton is tied for sixth (2.00 spg), while graduate guard Jaddan Simmons is ninth in the Big Ten in steals, averaging 1.91 spg. The MSU defense has been tough all season. Twice this year the Spartans have tallied 22 steals in a game: against Detroit Mercy on Nov. 20 and against Oakland on Nov. 5. The only team in the Big Ten with more steals in a game is USC with 28 against CSUN on Nov. 12. The Spartans are second in the B1G in steals, averaging 13.1 spg. MSU is second in the Big Ten with 301 steals this season, behind Ohio State's 302.
LAST TIME OUT
No. 20/20 Michigan State split the season series with Michigan after falling to the Wolverines, 71-61 on National Girls and Women in Sports Day on Sunday afternoon at the Breslin Center. MSU won the meeting in Ann Arbor on Jan. 25, 88-58.
MSU had a season-high crowd of 11,043 packed into the Breslin Center, which was 18th-best in school history.
The Spartans had three players in double figures led by junior forward Grace VanSlooten who scored 15 points with 12 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the season. Graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault scored 10 points, adding six boards. For the second-straight game, graduate guard Nyla Hampton reached double figures off the bench, scoring 11 points with four steals.
Michigan was led by 19 points from Syla Swords.
O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN!
Michigan State head coach Robyn Fralick has announced guard/forward Julia Ayrault and guard Nyla Hampton as team captains, as voted on by the players on the 2024-25 women's basketball team.
This is Ayrault's second season as a captain for the Spartans. She is the first Spartan to be a captain in back-to-back seasons since Jenna Allen during the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons. Hampton is in her first season with the Spartans, but is familiar with head coach Robyn Fralick. She played three seasons with Bowling Green before transferring to Ball State last season.
AYRAULT NAMED TO ANN MEYERS DRYSDALE AWARD WATCH LIST Graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault has been named to the 2024 Ann Meyers Drysdale Award Midseason Watch, as selected by members of the U.S. Basketball Writers Association.
She was one of 50 players named to the midseason watch list. Ayrault is one of seven players from the Big Ten, including Destiny Adams (Rutgers), Lauren Betts (UCLA), Jaloni Cambridge (Ohio State), Cotie McMahon (Ohio State), Kaylene Smikle (Maryland) and JuJu Watkins (USC).
Ayrault is first on the team in scoring, averaging 16.0 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. She is 11th in the Big Ten in scoring and 12th in rebounding.
VANSLOOTEN NAMED TO WATCH LIST
Michigan State Women's Basketball junior forward Grace VanSlooten was named one of the top 10 candidates for the Cheryl Miller Award, as announced by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) on Wednesday.
She is one of three Big Ten players on the list along with Indiana's Yarden Garzon and Ohio State's Cotie McMahon. The award honors the nation's top small forwards.
VanSlooten is in her first season at Michigan State after transferring from Oregon. She is second on the team in scoring, averaging 14.4 points per game. She is fifth in the Big Ten in field goal percentage (.529).
WELCOME TO SPARTAN NATION
Michigan State women's basketball head coach Robyn Fralick announced the signing of three signees on Wednesday, including Jordan Ode (Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove High School), Anna Terrian (Pewaukee, Wis./Pewaukee High School) and Amy Terrian (Pewaukee, Wis./Pewaukee High School).
Ode is a 6-0 guard, who is a native of Maple Grove, Minn. She attends Maple Grove High School and is coached by Mark Cook. Ode is currently ranked No. 33 in the ESPNW HoopGurlz Recruiting Rankings.
Anna Terrian is a 5-8 guard, who is a native of Pewaukee, Wis., and plays for head coach Jim Reuter at Pewaukee High School. As a junior, she averaged 9.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.
Amy Terrian is a 5-8 guard, who is a native of Pewaukee, Wis., plays for head coach Jim Reuter at Pewaukee High School. Terrian is currently ranked No. 89 in the ESPNW HoopGurlz Recruiting Rankings. As a junior, she averaged 18.4 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game.
• Last time out, Michigan State fell to in-state rival Michigan, 71-61 on Feb. 9. The Spartans now stand 18-5 overall and 8-4 in Big Ten action. MSU has only three regular-season home games remaining.
• Wisconsin comes to East Lansing having lost three-straight games. Last time out, the Badgers fell to Illinois, 74-51, in Madison on Feb. 9. Overall, Wisconsin stands 11-13 overall and 2-11 in Big Ten play.
• Sunday's attendance against Michigan of 11,043 was the 18th-best in MSU women's basketball history, including the sixth-best when playing the Wolverines. It was the largest crowd since Feb. 23, 2020 vs. Michigan when 11,462 were in attendance.
• Junior forward Grace VanSlooten registered her fourth double-double as a Spartan with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Overall, it was VanSlooten's 14th double-double of her collegiate career after 10 double-doubles during her time at Oregon.
SCOUTING WISCONSIN
Wisconsin comes to the Breslin Center in the midst of a three-game losing streak with losses to Illinois, USC and Purdue. The Badgers last win came against Michigan on Jan. 29. Overall, Wisconsin holds a 11-13 overall record and stands 2-11 in Big Ten play.
Wisconsin is seventh in the Big Ten in 3-point field goal percentage (.338). The Badgers are also 11th in total 3-pointers made with 148. Serah Williams is third in the league in scoring, averaging 18.9 ppg. She is also second in rebounding with 10.3 ppg. Williams also stands second in the conference in blocks, averaging 2.4 bpg.
Wisconsin head coach Marisa Moseley is in her fourth season leading the Badgers with a record of 45-71 record. Overall, she is in her seventh season as a head coach also spending three seasons at her alma mater Boston University. She has an overall coaching record of 90-100 in seven seasons.
SERIES HISTORY VS. THE BADGERS
Michigan State holds the series lead over Wisconsin, 50-27. The Spartans have won six of the last seven meetings, including the last two. The last time the teams met in East Lansing, the Badgers came away with an 84-80 overtime win on Jan. 11, 2023.
In East Lansing, the Spartans lead the series 27-7. In Madison, the series is much tighter with MSU on top 20-19. On neutral ground, MSU leads 3-1. Last season, MSU ended the regular season with a commanding 78-52 win in Madison.
LAST TIME VS. WISCONSIN
Michigan State completed the regular season with a 78-52 victory over Wisconsin on March 3, 2024 at the Kohl Center.
Michigan State had four players in double figures led by 20 from graduate guard Moira Joiner, who scored 15 in the second quarter alone. Graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault was close to her second-straight double-double with 19 points and nine board. Junior guard DeeDee Hagemann added 12 points, while sophomore guard scored 11. The 22 wins were also the most since MSU went 25-9 during the 2015-16 season.
The Spartan defense was stellar forcing 25 Wisconsin turnovers. MSU also ended the game with 14 steals, which was the most since having 14 against Minnesota on Feb. 5. It was also the Spartans' third-straight game with double-digit steals.
QUITE THE TRIO
With 1,258 points, 698 rebounds and 169 blocks, graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault joins a very small club. She is one of only three Spartans with over 1,250 points, 650 rebounds and 150 blocks. All-American Allysa DeHaan ended her Spartan career with 1,649 points, 919 rebounds and 504 blocks. Kristen Rasmussen finished with 1,493 points, 964 rebounds and 194 blocks.
PACKING THE BREZ
Sunday's attendance of 11,043 against Michigan was the 18th-best in MSU women's basketball history, including the sixth-best when playing Michigan. It was the largest crowd since Feb. 23, 2020 vs. Michigan when 11,462 were in attendance.
PUTTING IN THE MINUTES
Julia Ayrault started for the 22nd game in 22 games played this season, missing one with an injury, and made the 66th start of her career. Theryn Hallock starting for the 19th time in 23 games played this season and 20th career start. Jaddan Simmons made her 18th start of the season in playing her 23rd game as a Spartan as part of her 125th career start in 131 career collegiate games played. Grace VanSlooten started for the 14th time as a Spartan in her 22nd game at MSU, missing the game vs. Eastern Michigan; it was VanSlooten's 75th collegiate career start in her 85th collegiate career game.
NET RANKINGS
In the current women's basketball NET ranking, the Spartans stand No. 20. They are fourth among Big Ten schools behind No. 5 UCLA, No. 6 USC and No. 15 Ohio State. South Carolina stands No. 1. The Big Ten has five schools in the top 25 in NET rankings with Maryland standing No. 23.
RANKED BIG TEN TEAMS
Five different Big Ten teams are ranked or receiving votes in the AP top 25 poll. UCLA leads the way at No. 1, followed by No. 6 USC, No. 9 Ohio State, No. 17 Maryland and No. 22 Michigan State. Illinois and Michigan are also receiving votes in this week's poll.
AYRAULT ASCENDS THE CHARTS
Julia Ayrault's 10 points against Michigan on Feb. 9 give her 1,258 career points, moving from No. 15 on MSU's career scoring list to No. 14, passing Branndais Agee (2013-18) with 1,250 points. Next up at No. 13 is Kelli Roehrig (2001-05) with 1,370 points.
With the six rebounds Sunday, Ayrault now has 698 career boards, pulling away from a tie at No. 13 with Jill Prudden (1975-78) with 692, and Ayrault not only takes over sole possession of the No. 13 spot, but she is just two rebounds shy of becoming the 13th player in Spartan women's basketball history with 700 career rebounds. Ayrault's one block gives her 165 blocks for her career, holding steady at her spot at No. 3 on the Spartans' career blocks list.
She has now played in 130 career games, moving up to tie for No. 15 on MSU's career games played list, now tied with a pair of former teammates Tory Ozment (2019-24) and Jenna Allen (2015-19) with 130 career games played. In her next game played, Ayrault will move up to be part of a seven-way tie for No. 9 with 131 games.
BY THE NUMBERS VS. MICHIGAN
• Grace VanSlooten has logged 10+ points in each of the last 10 games as part of posting double-digit points in 20 of her 22 games played, missing the Eastern Michigan game (11/11/24) due to illness. VanSlooten has now registered double-digit points 72 times out of 85 career games, logging double-digits in 52 games while at Oregon.
• Nyla Hampton also swiped a team-high and game-best tying four steals for her third game in a row with multiple steals as part of the fifth time in the last six games with two or more steals. It is Hampton's 13th game this season with two or more steals, as part of the fourth game with four or more steals, as her season-high is five steals, done three times this season, including the first meeting with Michigan (1/25/25), giving her nine steals in the two match-ups with U-M.
BALANCED ATTACK
Seven different Spartans have led the team in scoring. Julia Ayrault has led the team in scoring nine times, while Grace VanSlooten is second with eight. Theryn Hallock has been the leading scorer five, while Jocelyn Tate, Jaddan Simmons, Emma Shumate and Juliann Woodard have led once.
YOUR STARTING FIVE
Michigan State used the same starting line for the second game in a row, with graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault, graduate guard Jaddan Simmons, senior guard/forward Jocelyn Tate, junior guard Theryn Hallock and junior forward Grace VanSlooten. Sunday was the fourth game overall this season with that starting five and MSU is now 2-2 with that starting five for the opening tip.
AROUND THE BIG TEN
Michigan State is second in the Big Ten in scoring offense, averaging 81.1 points per game. The Spartans are also third in scoring margin (+20.0). MSU is second in the league in blocks (5.6 bpg). MSU is second in steals with 13.1 spg and second in assists with 18.7 apg. The Spartans are second in turnover margin (+8.3).
Individually, graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault is 13th in the league in scoring (15.8 ppg). Junior forward Grace VanSlooten is fifth in the league in field goal percentage (.528). Senior guard/forward Jocelyn Tate is third in the league in steals (2.26). Graduate guard Nyla Hampton is tied for sixth in steals (2.00 spg).
AROUND THE NATION
After 24 games, the Spartans are 16th in the nation scoring margin, winning games by 20.0 points. Michigan State is seventh in the NCAA and second in the Big Ten in steals per game with 13.1 spg. MSU is 10th in the nation in assists with 18.7 apg and 11th in turnover margin (+8.3).
JOINING THE 1K CLUB
Michigan State currently has four players who have scored at least 1,000 points in their collegiate careers. Most recently junior forward Grace VanSlooten joined the club against Vanderbilt on Nov. 27. She currently has 1,205 career points between Oregon and MSU. Graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault reached the 1,000-point club against Cal on Nov. 26. During her five years at MSU, she has scored 1,258 points. Graduate guard Nyla Hampton has scored 1,283 points during her time at Bowling Green, Ball State and Michigan State. Fellow graduate guard Jaddan Simmons also has 1,286 points during four seasons at Arizona State her time at MSU. Senior guard/forward Jocelyn Tate is looking to be the next member with 973 points between her two seasons at Bowling Green and two at MSU.
BRINGING THE BOOM
For the 2024-25 season, Michigan State women's introduced its new student section - the Breslin Boom. First introduced by Coach Fralick at Michigan State Madness, Spartan students will be encouraged to yell "BOOM" on any big MSU plays.
WHAT A QUARTER!
The Spartans' 31-point third quarter against Michigan on Jan. 25 tied for the third-most in any quarter, behind 33 points in both the fourth quarter vs. Vanderbilt (11/27/24) and the fourth quarter vs. Yale (11/8/24), and 32 in the first quarter vs. Detroit Mercy (11/20/24), while matching 31 points in the first frame in the season-opener vs. Oakland (11/5/24). It's the eighth quarter this season with 30+ points, and MSU has now scored 30 points at least once in every quarter except the second quarter.
COMEBACK KIDS
MSU's 16-point deficit and rally for win on the Nov. 26 win against Cal was the Spartans' largest comeback win since being down 19 points vs. Penn State on Feb. 22, 2017, rallying from down 46-27 with 7:55 left in the third quarter and rallying for a 73-64 Victory for MSU. In that game, All-American Tori Jankoska was held scoreless in the first half, she rallied with 21 second-half points, for a palindromic double-double of 21 points and 12 rebounds.
LOCKED IN DEFENSE
Senior guard/forward Jocelyn Tate is third in the Big Ten in steals, averaging 2.26 spg. Graduate guard Nyla Hampton is tied for sixth (2.00 spg), while graduate guard Jaddan Simmons is ninth in the Big Ten in steals, averaging 1.91 spg. The MSU defense has been tough all season. Twice this year the Spartans have tallied 22 steals in a game: against Detroit Mercy on Nov. 20 and against Oakland on Nov. 5. The only team in the Big Ten with more steals in a game is USC with 28 against CSUN on Nov. 12. The Spartans are second in the B1G in steals, averaging 13.1 spg. MSU is second in the Big Ten with 301 steals this season, behind Ohio State's 302.
LAST TIME OUT
No. 20/20 Michigan State split the season series with Michigan after falling to the Wolverines, 71-61 on National Girls and Women in Sports Day on Sunday afternoon at the Breslin Center. MSU won the meeting in Ann Arbor on Jan. 25, 88-58.
MSU had a season-high crowd of 11,043 packed into the Breslin Center, which was 18th-best in school history.
The Spartans had three players in double figures led by junior forward Grace VanSlooten who scored 15 points with 12 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the season. Graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault scored 10 points, adding six boards. For the second-straight game, graduate guard Nyla Hampton reached double figures off the bench, scoring 11 points with four steals.
Michigan was led by 19 points from Syla Swords.
O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN!
Michigan State head coach Robyn Fralick has announced guard/forward Julia Ayrault and guard Nyla Hampton as team captains, as voted on by the players on the 2024-25 women's basketball team.
This is Ayrault's second season as a captain for the Spartans. She is the first Spartan to be a captain in back-to-back seasons since Jenna Allen during the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons. Hampton is in her first season with the Spartans, but is familiar with head coach Robyn Fralick. She played three seasons with Bowling Green before transferring to Ball State last season.
AYRAULT NAMED TO ANN MEYERS DRYSDALE AWARD WATCH LIST Graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault has been named to the 2024 Ann Meyers Drysdale Award Midseason Watch, as selected by members of the U.S. Basketball Writers Association.
She was one of 50 players named to the midseason watch list. Ayrault is one of seven players from the Big Ten, including Destiny Adams (Rutgers), Lauren Betts (UCLA), Jaloni Cambridge (Ohio State), Cotie McMahon (Ohio State), Kaylene Smikle (Maryland) and JuJu Watkins (USC).
Ayrault is first on the team in scoring, averaging 16.0 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. She is 11th in the Big Ten in scoring and 12th in rebounding.
VANSLOOTEN NAMED TO WATCH LIST
Michigan State Women's Basketball junior forward Grace VanSlooten was named one of the top 10 candidates for the Cheryl Miller Award, as announced by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) on Wednesday.
She is one of three Big Ten players on the list along with Indiana's Yarden Garzon and Ohio State's Cotie McMahon. The award honors the nation's top small forwards.
VanSlooten is in her first season at Michigan State after transferring from Oregon. She is second on the team in scoring, averaging 14.4 points per game. She is fifth in the Big Ten in field goal percentage (.529).
WELCOME TO SPARTAN NATION
Michigan State women's basketball head coach Robyn Fralick announced the signing of three signees on Wednesday, including Jordan Ode (Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove High School), Anna Terrian (Pewaukee, Wis./Pewaukee High School) and Amy Terrian (Pewaukee, Wis./Pewaukee High School).
Ode is a 6-0 guard, who is a native of Maple Grove, Minn. She attends Maple Grove High School and is coached by Mark Cook. Ode is currently ranked No. 33 in the ESPNW HoopGurlz Recruiting Rankings.
Anna Terrian is a 5-8 guard, who is a native of Pewaukee, Wis., and plays for head coach Jim Reuter at Pewaukee High School. As a junior, she averaged 9.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.
Amy Terrian is a 5-8 guard, who is a native of Pewaukee, Wis., plays for head coach Jim Reuter at Pewaukee High School. Terrian is currently ranked No. 89 in the ESPNW HoopGurlz Recruiting Rankings. As a junior, she averaged 18.4 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game.
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/ Women's BasketballRobyn Fralick | Women's Basketball Selection Show Press Conference | March 16, 2025
Sunday, March 16
Robyn Fralick | Women's Basketball Press Conference | Mar. 04 2025
Tuesday, March 04
Michigan State Women's Basketball vs Minnosta | Cinematic Highlight
Sunday, March 02
Coach Fralick Post Game Comments | MINN | Mar. 1 2025
Saturday, March 01