Saturday, March 1
East Lansing, Mich.
2 PM
Michigan State University
21-8,11-7Big Ten
73
vs
58
Minnesota
20-10,8-10Big Ten
1
2
3
4
F
Minnesota
14
10
21
13
58
Michigan St.
13
12
21
27
73
Five in Double Figures Send Spartan Seniors Out in Style with Win over Minnesota
3/1/2025 6:58:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Three of Michigan State's four seniors reached double figures in the win.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Five Spartans hit the double-figure mark as the No. 23/22 Michigan State women's basketball team defeated Minnesota, 73-58, Saturday on Senior Day at the Breslin Center.
Following the game, Michigan State celebrated its four seniors Julia Ayrault, Nyla Hampton, Jaddan Simmons and Jocelyn Tate.
With the regular-season finale victory, Michigan State improves to 21-8 overall this season and 11-7 in Big Ten action. Minnesota falls to 20-10 overall and 8-10 in league contests.
Three of the four Spartan seniors reached double figures in scoring, while five total scored at least 10 points. Once again, Michigan State was led by 15 points and eight rebounds from junior forward Grace VanSlooten. Graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault, who tied the school record for career games played with 136, scored 13 points with nine boards. Graduate guards Jaddan Simmons and Nyla Hampton scored 11 and 10, respectively. Freshman center Inés Sotelo came up big for MSU with 13 points.
Minnesota was led by 23 points from Grace Grocholski.
Both teams started slow with the first basket coming from Sotelo at the 7:05 mark from beyond the arc. Sotelo hit another three to give the Spartans an early 8-2 lead. The Gophers used a 9-0 run to take their first lead 14-11 before a VanSlooten putback stopped the streak. Minnesota led after the first period, 14-13. Both teams were turnover prone in the low-scoring first period with five by the Gophers and three from the Spartans.
Michigan State scored the first four points of the second quarter to re-take the lead 17-14, leading to a Minnesota timeout. The Spartans went over four minutes without scoring to allow the Gophers back into the game. Minnesota ended the half without scoring in the final three minutes. Despite the scoring difficulties, the Spartans led at the half 25-24. The 25 first-half points were the second fewest by MSU after scoring 23 against Oregon on Jan. 30.
In the third quarter, both teams still struggled to find their offense rhythm. Ayrault hit her first 3-pointer at the 3:08 mark to give MSU the 39-37 advantage. Ayrault paced the Spartans in the third period with five points. Despite both teams scoring 21 points in the quarter, MSU held on to a slight 46-45, heading into the fourth.
Michigan State used 9-0 run to pull in front 57-52 with 5:38 remaining. The run extended to 13-0 after a VanSlooten basket before it was halted by a pair of Kennedy Klick free throws. The Spartans took their first double-digit lead after another VanSlooten layup, 65-54. Michigan State held Minnesota without a field goal for over six minutes, going on to out-score the Gophers 27-13 in the period. Ayrault's final shot in the Breslin Center was a 3-pointer with 21 seconds left that gave MSU its biggest lead of the game, 73-58.
The Spartans will now await the remaining games on the Big Ten schedule. The 2025 Big Ten Tournament bracket will be announced following the conclusion of all games on Sunday, March 2.
Michigan State Post-Game Notes
• Michigan State improved to 4-0 when five people score in double figures. The Spartans were led by 15 points from junior forward Grace VanSlooten, while freshman Inés Sotelo and graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault both scored 13 points. Graduate guard Jaddan Simmons and Nyla Hampton scored 11 and 10 points, respectively
• The Spartan bench out-scored the Gophers, 29-4. Inés Sotelo led the way with 13 off the bench, while Nyla Hampton added 10. Michigan State improved to 20-3 when its bench out-scored its opponents.
• Michigan State used the same starting line for the eighth 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 10th game overall this season with that starting five and MSU is now 5-5 with that starting five for the opening tip.
• Graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault played in her 136th career game at Michigan State. She is currently tied for first with Branndais Agee (2013-18), Kalisha Keane (2007-11) and Allyssa DeHaan (2006-10). With her next game, she will stand alone in first in games played with 137.
• The Spartans are just 13 steals away from tying the single-season record for steals. Through 29 games, Michigan State has 362 steals. The school record is 375 set by the 2004-05 in 37 games. This season, MSU is ninth in the nation and second in the Big Ten, averaging 10.9 spg.
Following the game, Michigan State celebrated its four seniors Julia Ayrault, Nyla Hampton, Jaddan Simmons and Jocelyn Tate.
With the regular-season finale victory, Michigan State improves to 21-8 overall this season and 11-7 in Big Ten action. Minnesota falls to 20-10 overall and 8-10 in league contests.
Three of the four Spartan seniors reached double figures in scoring, while five total scored at least 10 points. Once again, Michigan State was led by 15 points and eight rebounds from junior forward Grace VanSlooten. Graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault, who tied the school record for career games played with 136, scored 13 points with nine boards. Graduate guards Jaddan Simmons and Nyla Hampton scored 11 and 10, respectively. Freshman center Inés Sotelo came up big for MSU with 13 points.
Minnesota was led by 23 points from Grace Grocholski.
Both teams started slow with the first basket coming from Sotelo at the 7:05 mark from beyond the arc. Sotelo hit another three to give the Spartans an early 8-2 lead. The Gophers used a 9-0 run to take their first lead 14-11 before a VanSlooten putback stopped the streak. Minnesota led after the first period, 14-13. Both teams were turnover prone in the low-scoring first period with five by the Gophers and three from the Spartans.
Michigan State scored the first four points of the second quarter to re-take the lead 17-14, leading to a Minnesota timeout. The Spartans went over four minutes without scoring to allow the Gophers back into the game. Minnesota ended the half without scoring in the final three minutes. Despite the scoring difficulties, the Spartans led at the half 25-24. The 25 first-half points were the second fewest by MSU after scoring 23 against Oregon on Jan. 30.
In the third quarter, both teams still struggled to find their offense rhythm. Ayrault hit her first 3-pointer at the 3:08 mark to give MSU the 39-37 advantage. Ayrault paced the Spartans in the third period with five points. Despite both teams scoring 21 points in the quarter, MSU held on to a slight 46-45, heading into the fourth.
Michigan State used 9-0 run to pull in front 57-52 with 5:38 remaining. The run extended to 13-0 after a VanSlooten basket before it was halted by a pair of Kennedy Klick free throws. The Spartans took their first double-digit lead after another VanSlooten layup, 65-54. Michigan State held Minnesota without a field goal for over six minutes, going on to out-score the Gophers 27-13 in the period. Ayrault's final shot in the Breslin Center was a 3-pointer with 21 seconds left that gave MSU its biggest lead of the game, 73-58.
The Spartans will now await the remaining games on the Big Ten schedule. The 2025 Big Ten Tournament bracket will be announced following the conclusion of all games on Sunday, March 2.
Michigan State Post-Game Notes
• Michigan State improved to 4-0 when five people score in double figures. The Spartans were led by 15 points from junior forward Grace VanSlooten, while freshman Inés Sotelo and graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault both scored 13 points. Graduate guard Jaddan Simmons and Nyla Hampton scored 11 and 10 points, respectively
• The Spartan bench out-scored the Gophers, 29-4. Inés Sotelo led the way with 13 off the bench, while Nyla Hampton added 10. Michigan State improved to 20-3 when its bench out-scored its opponents.
• Michigan State used the same starting line for the eighth 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 10th game overall this season with that starting five and MSU is now 5-5 with that starting five for the opening tip.
• Graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault played in her 136th career game at Michigan State. She is currently tied for first with Branndais Agee (2013-18), Kalisha Keane (2007-11) and Allyssa DeHaan (2006-10). With her next game, she will stand alone in first in games played with 137.
• The Spartans are just 13 steals away from tying the single-season record for steals. Through 29 games, Michigan State has 362 steals. The school record is 375 set by the 2004-05 in 37 games. This season, MSU is ninth in the nation and second in the Big Ten, averaging 10.9 spg.
Team Stats
MINN
MSU
FG%
.392
.441
3FG%
.214
.391
FT%
.789
.600
RB
33
39
TO
17
12
STL
7
8
Game Leaders
Pts
15
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
13
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
11
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
G/F
/ Women's BasketballF
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