Wednesday, February 26
Columbus, Ohio
7 PM
Michigan State University
20-8,10-7Big Ten
78
at
89
#12/12 Ohio State
24-4,13-4Big Ten
1
2
3
4
F
Michigan St.
24
17
18
19
78
Ohio St.
31
23
25
10
89
No. 23/22 Spartan Women's Basketball Drops Hard-Fought Road Finale to No. 12/12 Ohio State
2/26/2025 9:47:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Junior guard Theryn Hallock sets a new career high with 29 points.
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Despite a career high from junior guard Theryn Hallock, the No. 23/22 Spartan women's basketball team couldn't slow down the potent offense from No. 12/12 Ohio State, falling 89-78 at Value City Arena on Wednesday night.
With the loss, Michigan State falls to 20-8 overall this season and 10-7 in Big Ten action. Ohio State improves to 24-4 overall and 13-5 in league contests, in addition to improving to 15-0 at home.
Hallock was one of four Spartans in double figures, setting a new career high with 29 points. She was a perfect 5-for-5 from beyond the arc to lead MSU and also a new career-best. Junior forward Grace VanSlooten scored 19 points, adding nine rebounds. Graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault scored 11 points with four assists, while graduate guard Jaddan Simmons added 10 points, going a perfect 10-for-10 from the free throw line. For the game, MSU shot 92.6 percent from the charity stripe, going 25-for-27.
Ohio State was led by a game-high 33 points from Jaloni Cambridge, while Ajae Petty added a double-double with 23 points and 15 rebounds.
The Buckeyes jumped out to an early 13-6 lead due in part to eight quick points from Petty. Both teams were hot from the field early on leading to a 23-16 Ohio State lead. The sharp shooting put the Buckeyes up 31-24 at the end of the first quarter. Hallock led the way with nine points in the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Ohio State took a double-digit lead after a 3-point play by Petty, 42-32. A Cotie McMahon trey put the Buckeyes up 45-32, leading to an MSU timeout at the 5:19 mark. In the high-scoring first half, both teams shot at least 50.0 percent from the field with OSU shooting 57.0 percent and MSU right at 50.0 percent. Hallock led all scorers with 18 points in the first half going a perfect 4-for-4 from beyond the arc. Despite MSU's offensive success, OSU led at the break, 54-41.
As MSU looked to chip away at the deficit, it was held without a field goal for over six minutes in the third quarter. The Spartans did take advantage of the charity stripe in the third period going 11-for-13. Hallock snapped a 6-0 Buckeye run with a pair of free throws to make it a 73-59 game.
An early 7-0 Spartan run cut the MSU deficit to 81-68 at the 6:54 mark. The MSU spurt rose to 11-0 as OSU went nearly five minutes without scoring. Michigan State got as close as nine points, but the Buckeyes continued to find an answer. The Spartans out-scored the Buckeyes, 19-10, in the final 10 minutes, but key buckets from Cambridge and Petty prevented Michigan State from closing the gap.
The Spartans will now return for their regular-season finale on Saturday, March 1 against Minnesota at 2 p.m. Following the game, Michigan State will celebrate its four seniors Julia Ayrault, Nyla Hampton, Jaddan Simmons and Jocelyn Tate.
Michigan State Women's Basketball Post-Game Notes
• No. 23/22 Michigan State is 20-8 overall and 10-6 in B1G action after the hard-fought 89-78 loss at No. 12/12 Ohio State.
• Wednesday's battle with No. 12/12 Ohio State was the Spartans' third ranked opponent in their last four games as well as all in the Top 12 and all three on the road, along with at No. 1/1 UCLA (2/16/25) and at No. 4/4 USC (2/19/25) ... overall it was MSU's seventh game against a Big Ten foe that was ranked or receiving votes, as part of the ninth overall game this season against a ranked opponent, and MSU is 3-5 against the eight ranked/receiving votes opponents and 3-6 overall against ranked/receiving votes opponents.
• The Spartans are now 8-6 away from home, including 5-5 in true road games overall, going 4-5 in B1G road games, while Ohio State improved to 15-0 at home.
• MSU is now 9-5 in games at night with Wednesday's loss . . . the Spartans are now 5-3 in games played on a Wednesday . . . MSU finished February games with a 3-4 record for the month, the Spartans' first losing month of the season after going 8-0 in November, 3-2 in December and 6-2 in January.
• Michigan State's 78 points Wednesday marks just its third loss this season when scoring 70+ points, including second-straight loss after scoring 75 in the 83-75 loss at No. 4/4 USC (2/19/25) ... MSU is now 17-3 when netting 70 or more points, compared to 2-5 when scoring under 70 all three losses have come on the road, as the Spartans' other previous loss when netting over 70 points was an 85-80 loss at Nebraska.
• MSU was dealt defeat in the seventh-straight match-up with OSU and the Buckeyes now lead the all-time series, 63-29, including 28-11 in Columbus ... the Spartans' 78 points were their most scored against Ohio State since 83 in an 89-83 loss on Jan. 12, 2022 in Columbus.
• Michigan State trailed at halftime for the third road game in a row and the fourth time in last six outings, and the Spartans are now 4-8 when trailing at intermission, compared to 14-0 when leading at the break and 2-0 when tied at halftime.
• Junior guard Theryn Hallock netted a career-high 29 points, netting a career-best 5-of-5 from 3-point range . . . the 29 points topped her previous career-high 26 points earlier this season at Illinois (1/19/25) . . . the 29 points was also her third game with 25+ points in the last 11 games and all three have come on the road, as she added 25 points at Michigan (1/25/25), but Wednesday was her first time with 25+ points in a loss.
• It was Hallock's fourth game with 20+ points this season and sixth of her career.
• The 29 points was also Hallock's fifth game in a row in double-figures as part of her 21st double-figure scoring outing this season and 40th of her career, as MSU is now 14-7 and 29-11 in her career when Hallock posts double-digits.
• Hallock's five 3-pointers topped her previous season-best of three done four times this season, lastly at UCLA (2/16/25), while bettering her previous career-high of four triples done twice before, last done last year at Purdue (2/21/24).
• Wednesday's five treys was also Hallock's 13th game with multiple 3-pointers.
• MSU used the same starting line for the seventh-straight game, starting the game with graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault, graduate guard Jaddan Simmons, senior guard/forward Jocelyn Tate, junior guard Theryn Hallock and junior forward Grace VanSlooten on the court . . . Wednesday was MSU's ninth game this season with that starting five and the Green & White is now 4-5 with that starting quintet on the court.
• Tate extended her streak of being the only Spartan to start all 28 games this season, and made her 59th start in 59 games played at MSU, along with her 96th collegiate career start in her 129th career game played.
• Ayrault made her 27th start in 27 games played this season, missing one with an injury, and made the 71st start of her career . . . Hallock started for the 24th time in 28 games played this season and 25th start of career . . . Simmons made her 23rd start of the season in playing her 28th game as a Spartan as part of her 130th career start in 136 career collegiate games played . . . VanSlooten started for the 19th game as a Spartan in her 27th MSU contest this season, missing the game vs. Eastern Michigan; it was VanSlooten's 80th collegiate career start in her 90th collegiate career game.
• Wednesday was Ayrault's 135th career game, and is now part of a four-way tie for No. 4 on MSU's career games played, joining Rene Haynes (2003-07), Lauren Aitch (2005-10) and Cetera Washington (2007-11) with 135 career games played.
• With her next game played, Ayrault will tie the MSU career record for games played with 136, sharing the record with Allyssa DeHaan (2006-10), Kalisha Keane (2007-11) and Branndais Agee (2013-18).
• Junior forward Grace VanSlooten tallied 19 points and was one rebound shy of a double-double with nine rebounds . . . VanSlooten has registered 10+ points in each of the last 15 games as part of posting double-digit points in 25 of her 27 games played at MSU, missing the Eastern Michigan game (11/11/24) due to illness and held to single digits twice . . . VanSlooten has now registered double-digit points 77 times out of 90 career games, logging double-digits in 52 games while at Oregon.
• The nine rebounds was VanSlooten's seventh-straight game with five or more rebounds, as part of the ninth time in the last 10 games played . . . overall, the junior forward has snared 5+ boards in 23 of her 27 games played this season.
• Graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault added 11 points and has scored in double-figures in 25 of the 27 games played this season, missing the Detroit Mercy game (12/20/24) with an injury, and scoring single digits vs. Wisconsin (2/12/25) and Indiana (2/23/25).
• Ayrault has posted double-figure points in 49 of her last 56 games played since the 2023-24 season-opener . . . overall, the graduate forward has 10+ points in 65 career games . . . the Spartans are now 46-19 when Ayault registers double-figure points.
• With her 11 points Wednesday, Ayrualy now has 1,310 career points, becoming the 14th MSU women's basketball player in program history to reach 1,300 career points . . . Ayrault is holding solid at No. 14 on MSU's career scoring list . . . next up at the No. 13 spot is Kelli Roehrig (2013-18) with 1,370 points.
• After having her streak of at least one 3-pointer in her last 22 games played snapped last time out vs. Indiana (2/23/25), Ayrault made one 3-pointer Wednesday, as she now has hit one triple in 24 of the 27 games played this season, behind held without a trey in the season-opener vs. Oakland (11/5/24) and game three vs. Eastern Michigan (11/11/24).
• With one triple Wednesday, Ayrault now has 125 career 3-pointers, pulling away from a tie at the No. 13 spot on MSU's career 3-pointers list with Branndais Agee (2013-18), and now has sole possession of the No. 13 spot on the list, where she will have solid hold on for awhile, as next up is a tie for the No. 11 spot with 138 3-pointers by former teammate Matilda Ekh (2022-23) and former strength & conditioning coach and former Spartan Annalise Pickrel (2010-14).
• With the three rebounds Wednesday, Ayrault now has 729 career rebounds, holding solid at the No. 11 spot on MSU's career rebounding list.
• Ayrault dished out a team-high four assists, posting her 11th game with three or more helpers this season.
• Graduate guard Jaddan Simmons logged 11 points for the second game in a row, also with 11 points last time out vs. Indiana (2/23/25) for post double-figures for the second-straight game and the fifth time this season.
• Simmons was a career-best 10-of-10 at the free throw line, making an MSU career-best 10 free throws, tying her collegiate career best of 10 makes during her time at Arizona State of 10 makes vs. Pacific (12/1/23) and the 10 makes was just shy of her career-best 14 attempts in same game vs. Pacific (12/1/23).
• Graduate guard Nyla Hampton swiped a game-high four steals, matching Ohio State's entire team total for steals . . . the four swipes was Hampton's fourth-straight game with multiple steals, as part of the 18th total time this season with two or more swipes . . . Hampton's four steals Wednesday was one shy of her season-best five steals, done three times before, most recently vs. Montana (12/19/24).
With the loss, Michigan State falls to 20-8 overall this season and 10-7 in Big Ten action. Ohio State improves to 24-4 overall and 13-5 in league contests, in addition to improving to 15-0 at home.
Hallock was one of four Spartans in double figures, setting a new career high with 29 points. She was a perfect 5-for-5 from beyond the arc to lead MSU and also a new career-best. Junior forward Grace VanSlooten scored 19 points, adding nine rebounds. Graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault scored 11 points with four assists, while graduate guard Jaddan Simmons added 10 points, going a perfect 10-for-10 from the free throw line. For the game, MSU shot 92.6 percent from the charity stripe, going 25-for-27.
Ohio State was led by a game-high 33 points from Jaloni Cambridge, while Ajae Petty added a double-double with 23 points and 15 rebounds.
The Buckeyes jumped out to an early 13-6 lead due in part to eight quick points from Petty. Both teams were hot from the field early on leading to a 23-16 Ohio State lead. The sharp shooting put the Buckeyes up 31-24 at the end of the first quarter. Hallock led the way with nine points in the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Ohio State took a double-digit lead after a 3-point play by Petty, 42-32. A Cotie McMahon trey put the Buckeyes up 45-32, leading to an MSU timeout at the 5:19 mark. In the high-scoring first half, both teams shot at least 50.0 percent from the field with OSU shooting 57.0 percent and MSU right at 50.0 percent. Hallock led all scorers with 18 points in the first half going a perfect 4-for-4 from beyond the arc. Despite MSU's offensive success, OSU led at the break, 54-41.
As MSU looked to chip away at the deficit, it was held without a field goal for over six minutes in the third quarter. The Spartans did take advantage of the charity stripe in the third period going 11-for-13. Hallock snapped a 6-0 Buckeye run with a pair of free throws to make it a 73-59 game.
An early 7-0 Spartan run cut the MSU deficit to 81-68 at the 6:54 mark. The MSU spurt rose to 11-0 as OSU went nearly five minutes without scoring. Michigan State got as close as nine points, but the Buckeyes continued to find an answer. The Spartans out-scored the Buckeyes, 19-10, in the final 10 minutes, but key buckets from Cambridge and Petty prevented Michigan State from closing the gap.
The Spartans will now return for their regular-season finale on Saturday, March 1 against Minnesota at 2 p.m. Following the game, Michigan State will celebrate its four seniors Julia Ayrault, Nyla Hampton, Jaddan Simmons and Jocelyn Tate.
Michigan State Women's Basketball Post-Game Notes
• No. 23/22 Michigan State is 20-8 overall and 10-6 in B1G action after the hard-fought 89-78 loss at No. 12/12 Ohio State.
• Wednesday's battle with No. 12/12 Ohio State was the Spartans' third ranked opponent in their last four games as well as all in the Top 12 and all three on the road, along with at No. 1/1 UCLA (2/16/25) and at No. 4/4 USC (2/19/25) ... overall it was MSU's seventh game against a Big Ten foe that was ranked or receiving votes, as part of the ninth overall game this season against a ranked opponent, and MSU is 3-5 against the eight ranked/receiving votes opponents and 3-6 overall against ranked/receiving votes opponents.
• The Spartans are now 8-6 away from home, including 5-5 in true road games overall, going 4-5 in B1G road games, while Ohio State improved to 15-0 at home.
• MSU is now 9-5 in games at night with Wednesday's loss . . . the Spartans are now 5-3 in games played on a Wednesday . . . MSU finished February games with a 3-4 record for the month, the Spartans' first losing month of the season after going 8-0 in November, 3-2 in December and 6-2 in January.
• Michigan State's 78 points Wednesday marks just its third loss this season when scoring 70+ points, including second-straight loss after scoring 75 in the 83-75 loss at No. 4/4 USC (2/19/25) ... MSU is now 17-3 when netting 70 or more points, compared to 2-5 when scoring under 70 all three losses have come on the road, as the Spartans' other previous loss when netting over 70 points was an 85-80 loss at Nebraska.
• MSU was dealt defeat in the seventh-straight match-up with OSU and the Buckeyes now lead the all-time series, 63-29, including 28-11 in Columbus ... the Spartans' 78 points were their most scored against Ohio State since 83 in an 89-83 loss on Jan. 12, 2022 in Columbus.
• Michigan State trailed at halftime for the third road game in a row and the fourth time in last six outings, and the Spartans are now 4-8 when trailing at intermission, compared to 14-0 when leading at the break and 2-0 when tied at halftime.
• Junior guard Theryn Hallock netted a career-high 29 points, netting a career-best 5-of-5 from 3-point range . . . the 29 points topped her previous career-high 26 points earlier this season at Illinois (1/19/25) . . . the 29 points was also her third game with 25+ points in the last 11 games and all three have come on the road, as she added 25 points at Michigan (1/25/25), but Wednesday was her first time with 25+ points in a loss.
• It was Hallock's fourth game with 20+ points this season and sixth of her career.
• The 29 points was also Hallock's fifth game in a row in double-figures as part of her 21st double-figure scoring outing this season and 40th of her career, as MSU is now 14-7 and 29-11 in her career when Hallock posts double-digits.
• Hallock's five 3-pointers topped her previous season-best of three done four times this season, lastly at UCLA (2/16/25), while bettering her previous career-high of four triples done twice before, last done last year at Purdue (2/21/24).
• Wednesday's five treys was also Hallock's 13th game with multiple 3-pointers.
• MSU used the same starting line for the seventh-straight game, starting the game with graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault, graduate guard Jaddan Simmons, senior guard/forward Jocelyn Tate, junior guard Theryn Hallock and junior forward Grace VanSlooten on the court . . . Wednesday was MSU's ninth game this season with that starting five and the Green & White is now 4-5 with that starting quintet on the court.
• Tate extended her streak of being the only Spartan to start all 28 games this season, and made her 59th start in 59 games played at MSU, along with her 96th collegiate career start in her 129th career game played.
• Ayrault made her 27th start in 27 games played this season, missing one with an injury, and made the 71st start of her career . . . Hallock started for the 24th time in 28 games played this season and 25th start of career . . . Simmons made her 23rd start of the season in playing her 28th game as a Spartan as part of her 130th career start in 136 career collegiate games played . . . VanSlooten started for the 19th game as a Spartan in her 27th MSU contest this season, missing the game vs. Eastern Michigan; it was VanSlooten's 80th collegiate career start in her 90th collegiate career game.
• Wednesday was Ayrault's 135th career game, and is now part of a four-way tie for No. 4 on MSU's career games played, joining Rene Haynes (2003-07), Lauren Aitch (2005-10) and Cetera Washington (2007-11) with 135 career games played.
• With her next game played, Ayrault will tie the MSU career record for games played with 136, sharing the record with Allyssa DeHaan (2006-10), Kalisha Keane (2007-11) and Branndais Agee (2013-18).
• Junior forward Grace VanSlooten tallied 19 points and was one rebound shy of a double-double with nine rebounds . . . VanSlooten has registered 10+ points in each of the last 15 games as part of posting double-digit points in 25 of her 27 games played at MSU, missing the Eastern Michigan game (11/11/24) due to illness and held to single digits twice . . . VanSlooten has now registered double-digit points 77 times out of 90 career games, logging double-digits in 52 games while at Oregon.
• The nine rebounds was VanSlooten's seventh-straight game with five or more rebounds, as part of the ninth time in the last 10 games played . . . overall, the junior forward has snared 5+ boards in 23 of her 27 games played this season.
• Graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault added 11 points and has scored in double-figures in 25 of the 27 games played this season, missing the Detroit Mercy game (12/20/24) with an injury, and scoring single digits vs. Wisconsin (2/12/25) and Indiana (2/23/25).
• Ayrault has posted double-figure points in 49 of her last 56 games played since the 2023-24 season-opener . . . overall, the graduate forward has 10+ points in 65 career games . . . the Spartans are now 46-19 when Ayault registers double-figure points.
• With her 11 points Wednesday, Ayrualy now has 1,310 career points, becoming the 14th MSU women's basketball player in program history to reach 1,300 career points . . . Ayrault is holding solid at No. 14 on MSU's career scoring list . . . next up at the No. 13 spot is Kelli Roehrig (2013-18) with 1,370 points.
• After having her streak of at least one 3-pointer in her last 22 games played snapped last time out vs. Indiana (2/23/25), Ayrault made one 3-pointer Wednesday, as she now has hit one triple in 24 of the 27 games played this season, behind held without a trey in the season-opener vs. Oakland (11/5/24) and game three vs. Eastern Michigan (11/11/24).
• With one triple Wednesday, Ayrault now has 125 career 3-pointers, pulling away from a tie at the No. 13 spot on MSU's career 3-pointers list with Branndais Agee (2013-18), and now has sole possession of the No. 13 spot on the list, where she will have solid hold on for awhile, as next up is a tie for the No. 11 spot with 138 3-pointers by former teammate Matilda Ekh (2022-23) and former strength & conditioning coach and former Spartan Annalise Pickrel (2010-14).
• With the three rebounds Wednesday, Ayrault now has 729 career rebounds, holding solid at the No. 11 spot on MSU's career rebounding list.
• Ayrault dished out a team-high four assists, posting her 11th game with three or more helpers this season.
• Graduate guard Jaddan Simmons logged 11 points for the second game in a row, also with 11 points last time out vs. Indiana (2/23/25) for post double-figures for the second-straight game and the fifth time this season.
• Simmons was a career-best 10-of-10 at the free throw line, making an MSU career-best 10 free throws, tying her collegiate career best of 10 makes during her time at Arizona State of 10 makes vs. Pacific (12/1/23) and the 10 makes was just shy of her career-best 14 attempts in same game vs. Pacific (12/1/23).
• Graduate guard Nyla Hampton swiped a game-high four steals, matching Ohio State's entire team total for steals . . . the four swipes was Hampton's fourth-straight game with multiple steals, as part of the 18th total time this season with two or more swipes . . . Hampton's four steals Wednesday was one shy of her season-best five steals, done three times before, most recently vs. Montana (12/19/24).
Team Stats
MSU
OSU
FG%
.426
.548
3FG%
.636
.478
FT%
.926
.588
RB
28
35
TO
10
14
STL
8
4
Game Leaders
Pts
29
FGM
9
3FGM
5
FTM
6
Pts
19
FGM
8
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
11
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Pts
10
FGM
0
3FGM
0
FTM
10
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
G/F
/ Women's BasketballF
/ 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