EAST LANSING, Mich. – No. 12/13 Michigan State ladies’s basketball celebrates National Girls and Women in Sports Day on Wednesday, Feb. 4 in opposition to No. 22/19 Maryland. Tipoff time is ready for 6:30 p.m. Jack Steger and Joe Dez will likely be on the decision for B1G+. For NGWSD, fellow Michigan State Athletics ladies’s groups will likely be interacting with followers pre-game on the concourse.
• Michigan State dropped a heartbreaking 94-91 time beyond regulation sport to No. 9 Michigan on Feb. 1 to fall to 18-3 general and 8-3 in Big Ten play. MSU closes out the house swing in opposition to the Terps on Wednesday.
• Maryland involves city with a 17-6 general document and a 5-6 mark in Big Ten contests. The Terrapins have misplaced four-straight video games with a gauntlet of a schedule. Last outing, Maryland misplaced to Oregon at dwelling 68-61 after time beyond regulation losses to Iowa and Washington.
• Michigan State is wanting for its second-straight win in opposition to the Terrapins at dwelling. On Jan. 9, 2024, MSU defeated Maryland, 74-69 on the Breslin Center. The Terrapins lead the general collection 19-3.
• The 11,635 followers that packed into the Breslin Center in opposition to Michigan have been essentially the most throughout the three seasons of the Robyn Fralick period. It was essentially the most since Feb. 23, 2020 in opposition to Michigan. Overall, it was No. 15 all-time at MSU.
SCOUTING MARYLAND
The Terrapins tote an general ledger of 17-6 and a 5-6 Big Ten document to East Lansing to tangle with the Spartans on Wednesday. Maryland has misplaced its final 4 video games, most not too long ago an 83-80 2OT thriller to Washington final Wednesday and a 68-61 battle with Oregon on Saturday.
In the loss to Oregon, junior guard Oluchi Okananwa netted a game-high 27 factors, together with 23 in the primary half, en route to listen to ninth 20+ level outing of the season. Freshman guard Addi Mack added 17 factors for her 14th double-figure contest of the season. Senior guard Yarden Garzon netted one 3-pointer for her sixty fourth triple of the season which leads the B1G, in addition to topping the 1,500 profession factors plateau.
Okananwa leads a quintet of Terps in double-figures at 17.0 ppg, which ranks tenth in the B1G and 72nd in the NCAA. She is also seventh in the league in steals (2.0 spg). Senior guard Kaylene Smikle provides 13.1 ppg, however has been out with a knee damage since Dec. 7, whereas Garzon nets 12.9 ppg, Mack provides 11.3 ppg and senior guard Saylor Poffenbarger rounds out the 5 in double-figures at 10.3 ppg. Garzon’s 64 3-pointers not solely tops the B1G, but in addition ranks 18th in the NCAA. She can also be tops in the league and twenty seventh in the nation with 3.2 treys per sport, in addition to eighth in the convention and fiftieth in the nation in 3-point share (.400). Redshirt-junior ahead Isimenme Ozzy-Momodu tops the Terps, in addition to rating twelfth in the B1G in rebounds per sport (7.0).
Maryland head coach Brenda Frese is the dean of B1G ladies’s basketball coaches, in her twenty fourth 12 months at Maryland, registering a 624-175 document. Overall, Frese is in her twenty seventh season as a collegiate head coach, logging a 681-205 ledger.
SERIES HISTORY VS. THE TERRAPINS
Maryland holds the general collection lead over Michigan State 19-3. The Spartans are 2-6 in opposition to the Terrapins on the Breslin Center. MSU is 1-8 in opposition to UMD in College Park. Michigan State is wanting for its first win on impartial floor standing 0-5.
One of MSU’s wins got here the final time the groups met in East Lansing on Jan. 9, 2024. With the 74-69 win, MSU earned its first win over Maryland since 2019. Michigan State had 4 gamers in double figures led by Julia Ayrault, who earned her third double-double of the season with 20 factors and 10 rebounds. Last season in College Park, No. 8 Maryland got here out on prime 72-66 on Jan. 1. MSU trailed by as many as 17 factors in the primary half.
DID YOU KNOW?
Lilly Williams turned the primary future Spartan since Sidney Cooks in 2017 to be named a McDonald’s All-American. Williams performs at Howell highschool for her senior season after profitable National HomeSchool Christian National Championships.
NEEDING EXTRA TIME
The time beyond regulation sport in opposition to Michigan was the primary for Michigan State since 2/12/23 in opposition to Penn State, when the Spartans received 81-75 East Lansing, Mich. Michigan State has misplaced 5 of their final six time beyond regulation video games.
ROBYN’S NEST
The Breslin Center has develop into dwelling straight away for head coach Robyn Fralick. She boasts a 36-5 document at dwelling in three seasons at Michigan State. In her first season in 2023-24, the Spartans went 13-2 with their solely losses coming to Nebraska and Ohio State. In 2024-25, MSU was additionally 13-2 with losses to Oregon and Michigan. So far this season, the Spartans are 10-1 on the Breslin Center.
PACKING THE HOUSE
The 11,635 followers that packed into the Breslin Center have been essentially the most throughout the three seasons of the Robyn Fralick period. It was essentially the most since Feb. 23, 2020 in opposition to Michigan. Overall, it was No. 15 all-time at MSU.
JONES EARNING HER FLOWERS
Michigan State ladies’s basketball junior guard Rashunda Jones was named to the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Watch List. She was one in all 25 gamers named to the watch listing that honors the highest defensive gamers in Division I.
Jones is one in all 4 Big Ten gamers named to the watch listing, together with UCLA’s Lauren Betts, Ohio State’s Kennedy Cambridge and USC’s Jazzy Davidson.
In her first season with the Spartans, the South Bend, Indiana native is one in all three Spartans to have began all 21 video games to date this season. Jones is second in the Big Ten in steals, averaging 2.57 spg.
GRACE IS A MODEL OF CONSISTENCY
Senior ahead Grace VanSlooten tallied 12 factors and 6 rebounds in Sunday’s loss to Michigan. VanSlooten now has 150 factors and 73 rebounds in the final 9 contests, since being held to eight factors and 4 rebounds vs. Rutgers (12/28/25). VanSlooten is averaging 16.7 factors and eight.1 rebounds per sport over the past 9 outings.
She has posted double-digit factors for the twentieth outing of the 22 video games this season. She now has tallied 10+ factors in 39 of the final 42 video games. VanSlooten now has logged double-digits in 49 of 53 complete video games performed as a Spartans, being held to single digits twice this season and twice final season, and in addition lacking one sport final season attributable to sickness.
BY THE NUMBERS vs. MICHIGAN
Michigan State had 5 gamers in double figures in opposition to Michigan on Sunday. MSU suffered its first loss when 5 gamers attain double digits and now maintain a 4-1 document when 5 attain double figures. Kennedy Blair and (*12*) led the best way with 21 factors every. Inés Sotelo added 15 factors, whereas Rashunda Jones scored 13 factors. Grace VanSlooten added 12 factors.
The Spartans misplaced for the primary time this season in the Breslin Center, having received their first 10. During the Robyn Fralick Era, Michigan State is now 36-5.
FRALICK REACHES A MILESTONE
Michigan State head coach Robyn Fralick reached a profession milestone in opposition to Illinois on Jan. 4. With the win, she earned her 250th profession win. She now holds a 255-98 document in 11 seasons as a head coach. She has received 64 video games at MSU.
GETTING IN THE STARTING LINEUP
After utilizing the identical beginning lineup for seven video games, Michigan State used a special beginning lineup in opposition to Clemson on Nov. 30. After an damage to Theryn Hallock, MSU went with the lineup for senior ahead Grace VanSlooten, senior ahead Marah Dykstra, senior guard Emma Shumate, junior guard Rashunda Jones and redshirt-sophomore guard Kennedy Blair. MSU is 2-1 with that lineup. MSU rolled out its third lineup in opposition to Indiana State with Blair, Jones, Van Slooten, Inés Sotelo and Sara Sambolić, which is now 1-0. The Spartans modified it up for a fourth time in opposition to No. 15 Ole Miss and Rutgers with VanSlooten, Jones, Blair, Sotelo and Isaline Alexander making the beginning 5.
Yet one other lineup was debuted in opposition to Indiana in Blair, Jones, VanSlooten, Sotelo and (*12*) with that group bettering to 7-1 after defeating Purdue on Jan. 29. Overall, MSU has had 5 completely different beginning lineups. VanSlooten, Blair and Jones are the one three Spartans to begin all 21 video games.
LOOKING AT THE NET
In the present ladies’s basketball NET rating, the Spartans stand No. 8. They are third amongst Big Ten colleges behind No. 2 UCLA and No. 6 Michigan. UConn stands No. 1.
STUFFING THE STAT SHEET
Redshirt-sophomore guard Kennedy Blair did a bit of little bit of all the things in opposition to Michigan on Feb. 1. She tied for the workforce lead in scoring with 21 factors and lead the workforce with 10 rebounds. She additionally had 4 assists and three steals. She now leads the workforce with 5 double-doubles.
TAKING DOWN THE BEST
No. 24/23 Michigan State knocked off No. 15/15 Ole Miss on Dec. 22 for the Spartans’ highest ranked win beneath head coach Robyn Fralick. It was the Spartans’ third general win over an AP Top 25 workforce in their three seasons beneath Coach Fralick, with all three coming in final two years after beating No. 21 Iowa (68-66, 12/15/24) and No. 24 Michigan (88-58, 1/25/25). Michigan State now stands 3-1 in opposition to ranked groups this season after an 82-67 street victory over No. 23 Washington on Jan. 8 and a 73-71 win over No. 24 Nebraska on Jan. 15. MSU has misplaced its final two video games to ranked opponents to No. 11/13 Iowa and No. 9.9 Michigan. MSU is now 3-2 in opposition to ranked foes this season.
SPARTANS VS. THE NCAA
After 22 video games, Michigan State stands seventh in the nation in help/turnover ratio (1.51). The Spartans are eighth in the NCAA and second in the Big Ten in turnover margin (+9.14). MSU is sixth in the nation in subject objective share, 49.4 % and thirteenth in 3-point capturing share (37.4 %). Redshirt-sophomore guard Kennedy Blair is twenty fourth in the NCAA in assists per sport (5.4 apg). Emma Shumate is eleventh in the nation in 3-point subject objective share (44.8 %).
STRONG BENCH
The Spartans’ 59 factors scored by their bench was greater than Eastern Illinois’ complete workforce scoring of 53 factors on Nov. 20. Against DePaul on Dec. 14, the Spartan bench scored 44 of 90 factors. MSU saved that development up in opposition to Indiana State with 64 bench factors. This season, the MSU bench has out-scored opponents 615-379. The Spartans are 14-1 this season when their bench out-scored their opponent.
MITTEN RAISED
Michigan State has a various roster with gamers from 4 completely different international locations, however the Spartans have three gamers that hail from the Mitten State. Seniors Theryn Hallock and Abbey Kimball each hail from Grand Rapids, Michigan. Redshirt-sophomore Kennedy Blair hails from Dearborn, Michigan.
NO NIGHTS OFF IN THE BIG TEN
The Big Ten continues to be one of many hardest conferences in the nation with 5 groups in the highest 15 in the rankings. In the AP ballot, UCLA is No. 2, whereas Michigan is No. 8. Ohio State and Iowa are No. 9. No. 10, respectively. Michigan State (No. 12), Maryland (No. 12) and Washington (No. 24) are additionally in the highest 25. Nebraska, Minnesota, Illinois and USC are all receiving votes.
SHORTENING THE BENCH
Michigan State has been a workforce recognized for taking part in numerous gamers and is 14th in the nation in bench scoring with 28.0 factors per sport. Against No. 9 Michigan, the Spartans performed solely eight gamers with six gamers logging in no less than half-hour of motion. Kennedy Blair performed a career-high 41 minutes of motion.
BIG TIME BIG TEN NUMBERS
The Spartans are third in the Big Ten in scoring offense, averaging 86.2 ppg and third in scoring margin (+24.3). Michigan State can also be third in 3-point subject objective subject share (.374). The Spartans stand fourth in assists per sport, averaging 18.7 apg and second in steals per sport with 12.4 spg.
Individually, Rashunda Jones is tied for second in the league in steals per sport, averaging 2.59 spg, whereas Kennedy Blair is fourth (2.23 spg). Kennedy Blair can also be fourth in assists with 5.41 apg. Emma Shumate is fifth in the league in 3-point subject objective share (.448).
RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT TIME
Sophomore ahead Juliann Woodard netted three 3-pointers on Jan. 11 in opposition to Oregon, all coming at pivotal moments in the sport. The three triples have been Woodard’s most in a Big Ten sport this season and her second-most in a sport this season behind her career-high 5 triples vs. Eastern Illinois (11/20/25). She continued her development of being in the fitting place on the proper time in opposition to Nebraska on Jan. 15. Woodard obtained an offensive rebound and drew a foul with 5 seconds left, hitting 2-of-2 free throws for the game-winning factors. She continued her sharp-shooting, scoring 14 factors off the bench, going 4-for-6 from past the arc in opposition to Iowa on Jan. 18.
FINDING THE MAGIC NUMBER
Michigan State’s 102 factors in opposition to Oakland on Nov. 23 marked the Spartans’ sixth outing of six video games scoring 90+ factors. MSU’s 90 factors in opposition to DePaul on Dec. 14 was the primary time reaching 90 in the final 4 video games, after the Spartans had scored 90 or extra factors in every of the primary six video games of the season. MSU is now 7-0 when scoring 90+ factors.
The Spartans’ 115 factors in the win in opposition to Indiana State on Dec. 21 was MSU’s second-most of the season, behind the season-high 125 factors in the season-opener vs. Mercyhurst (11/4/25). It was Michigan State’s fourth 100-point sport, transferring to 4-0.
ADDING UP THE ACCOLADES
Senior ahead Grace VanSlooten was named to the 2025-26 Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy Women’s College Player of the Year Watch List Presented by AXIA Time. She was one in all 50 gamers named to the watch listing that honors the most effective gamers in the nation.
VanSlooten is one in all 13 Big Ten gamers named to the watch listing, together with her workforce USA teammate Hannah Stuelke from Iowa. VanSlooten was additionally named to the Preseason All-Big Ten workforce as effectively the Cheryl Miller Award Watch List.
BRINGING HOME THE HARDWARE
By profitable the 2025 Cherokee Invitational crown, Michigan State not solely defended its 2023 Cherokee Invitational championship, but in addition collected its second event title of the season after profitable the Baha Mar Hoops Nassau Championship of the Junkanoo Division in the Bahamas on Nov. 30. It can also be MSU’s fourth event title in the final three seasons after profitable the 2023 Cherokee Invitational and the 2024 Acrisure Classic crown final season in Palm Springs, Calif.
HOLDING ON TO THE BALL
The Spartans solely had three turnovers on Nov. 4 in opposition to Mercyhurst, additionally setting a faculty document for fewest turnovers, bettering the earlier document of 5 achieved three earlier instances, first achieved in a 56-55 win at Northwestern on Jan. 22, 1989, then once more in a 76-69 win vs. Stanford on March 29, 2005 and most not too long ago in a 68-66 win over Toledo on March 18, 2018. Against Illinois, MSU had solely six turnovers, which was the fifth time this season that the Spartans had single-digit turnovers.
BRINGING HOME THE GOLD
Three gamers earned gold medals for their dwelling international locations this summer season. Grace VanSlooten received the FIBA Women’s Americup for Team USA. Marah Dykstra received gold for Canada in the FIBA 3×3 Junior Pan American Games. Inés Sotelo and Spain received a gold medal in the 2025 FIBA Eurobasket.
O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN!
Michigan State head coach Robyn Fralick has introduced senior ahead Grace VanSlooten and senior guard Abbey Kimball as workforce captains, as voted on by the gamers on the 2025-26 ladies’s basketball workforce. This is the primary time that both has been named a captain for Michigan State. VanSlooten is in her second season with MSU after transferring from Oregon. Kimball is in her fourth season as a Spartan.
ROBYN FRALICK RADIO SHOW
Michigan State ladies’s basketball head coach Robyn Fralick began her weekly radio call-in present, the Robyn Fralick Radio Show, on Nov. 18 at One North Kitchen and Bar. Coach Fralick joins host Dalton Shetler, the Spartans’ play-by-play voice, from 12-1 p.m., for an in-depth look into the MSU ladies’s basketball program.
Radio Show Dates
Tuesday Feb. 10
Tuesday, Feb. 17
Tuesday, Feb. 24
• Michigan State dropped a heartbreaking 94-91 time beyond regulation sport to No. 9 Michigan on Feb. 1 to fall to 18-3 general and 8-3 in Big Ten play. MSU closes out the house swing in opposition to the Terps on Wednesday.
• Maryland involves city with a 17-6 general document and a 5-6 mark in Big Ten contests. The Terrapins have misplaced four-straight video games with a gauntlet of a schedule. Last outing, Maryland misplaced to Oregon at dwelling 68-61 after time beyond regulation losses to Iowa and Washington.
• Michigan State is wanting for its second-straight win in opposition to the Terrapins at dwelling. On Jan. 9, 2024, MSU defeated Maryland, 74-69 on the Breslin Center. The Terrapins lead the general collection 19-3.
• The 11,635 followers that packed into the Breslin Center in opposition to Michigan have been essentially the most throughout the three seasons of the Robyn Fralick period. It was essentially the most since Feb. 23, 2020 in opposition to Michigan. Overall, it was No. 15 all-time at MSU.
SCOUTING MARYLAND
The Terrapins tote an general ledger of 17-6 and a 5-6 Big Ten document to East Lansing to tangle with the Spartans on Wednesday. Maryland has misplaced its final 4 video games, most not too long ago an 83-80 2OT thriller to Washington final Wednesday and a 68-61 battle with Oregon on Saturday.
In the loss to Oregon, junior guard Oluchi Okananwa netted a game-high 27 factors, together with 23 in the primary half, en route to listen to ninth 20+ level outing of the season. Freshman guard Addi Mack added 17 factors for her 14th double-figure contest of the season. Senior guard Yarden Garzon netted one 3-pointer for her sixty fourth triple of the season which leads the B1G, in addition to topping the 1,500 profession factors plateau.
Okananwa leads a quintet of Terps in double-figures at 17.0 ppg, which ranks tenth in the B1G and 72nd in the NCAA. She is also seventh in the league in steals (2.0 spg). Senior guard Kaylene Smikle provides 13.1 ppg, however has been out with a knee damage since Dec. 7, whereas Garzon nets 12.9 ppg, Mack provides 11.3 ppg and senior guard Saylor Poffenbarger rounds out the 5 in double-figures at 10.3 ppg. Garzon’s 64 3-pointers not solely tops the B1G, but in addition ranks 18th in the NCAA. She can also be tops in the league and twenty seventh in the nation with 3.2 treys per sport, in addition to eighth in the convention and fiftieth in the nation in 3-point share (.400). Redshirt-junior ahead Isimenme Ozzy-Momodu tops the Terps, in addition to rating twelfth in the B1G in rebounds per sport (7.0).
Maryland head coach Brenda Frese is the dean of B1G ladies’s basketball coaches, in her twenty fourth 12 months at Maryland, registering a 624-175 document. Overall, Frese is in her twenty seventh season as a collegiate head coach, logging a 681-205 ledger.
SERIES HISTORY VS. THE TERRAPINS
Maryland holds the general collection lead over Michigan State 19-3. The Spartans are 2-6 in opposition to the Terrapins on the Breslin Center. MSU is 1-8 in opposition to UMD in College Park. Michigan State is wanting for its first win on impartial floor standing 0-5.
One of MSU’s wins got here the final time the groups met in East Lansing on Jan. 9, 2024. With the 74-69 win, MSU earned its first win over Maryland since 2019. Michigan State had 4 gamers in double figures led by Julia Ayrault, who earned her third double-double of the season with 20 factors and 10 rebounds. Last season in College Park, No. 8 Maryland got here out on prime 72-66 on Jan. 1. MSU trailed by as many as 17 factors in the primary half.
DID YOU KNOW?
Lilly Williams turned the primary future Spartan since Sidney Cooks in 2017 to be named a McDonald’s All-American. Williams performs at Howell highschool for her senior season after profitable National HomeSchool Christian National Championships.
NEEDING EXTRA TIME
The time beyond regulation sport in opposition to Michigan was the primary for Michigan State since 2/12/23 in opposition to Penn State, when the Spartans received 81-75 East Lansing, Mich. Michigan State has misplaced 5 of their final six time beyond regulation video games.
ROBYN’S NEST
The Breslin Center has develop into dwelling straight away for head coach Robyn Fralick. She boasts a 36-5 document at dwelling in three seasons at Michigan State. In her first season in 2023-24, the Spartans went 13-2 with their solely losses coming to Nebraska and Ohio State. In 2024-25, MSU was additionally 13-2 with losses to Oregon and Michigan. So far this season, the Spartans are 10-1 on the Breslin Center.
PACKING THE HOUSE
The 11,635 followers that packed into the Breslin Center have been essentially the most throughout the three seasons of the Robyn Fralick period. It was essentially the most since Feb. 23, 2020 in opposition to Michigan. Overall, it was No. 15 all-time at MSU.
JONES EARNING HER FLOWERS
Michigan State ladies’s basketball junior guard Rashunda Jones was named to the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Watch List. She was one in all 25 gamers named to the watch listing that honors the highest defensive gamers in Division I.
Jones is one in all 4 Big Ten gamers named to the watch listing, together with UCLA’s Lauren Betts, Ohio State’s Kennedy Cambridge and USC’s Jazzy Davidson.
In her first season with the Spartans, the South Bend, Indiana native is one in all three Spartans to have began all 21 video games to date this season. Jones is second in the Big Ten in steals, averaging 2.57 spg.
GRACE IS A MODEL OF CONSISTENCY
Senior ahead Grace VanSlooten tallied 12 factors and 6 rebounds in Sunday’s loss to Michigan. VanSlooten now has 150 factors and 73 rebounds in the final 9 contests, since being held to eight factors and 4 rebounds vs. Rutgers (12/28/25). VanSlooten is averaging 16.7 factors and eight.1 rebounds per sport over the past 9 outings.
She has posted double-digit factors for the twentieth outing of the 22 video games this season. She now has tallied 10+ factors in 39 of the final 42 video games. VanSlooten now has logged double-digits in 49 of 53 complete video games performed as a Spartans, being held to single digits twice this season and twice final season, and in addition lacking one sport final season attributable to sickness.
BY THE NUMBERS vs. MICHIGAN
Michigan State had 5 gamers in double figures in opposition to Michigan on Sunday. MSU suffered its first loss when 5 gamers attain double digits and now maintain a 4-1 document when 5 attain double figures. Kennedy Blair and (*12*) led the best way with 21 factors every. Inés Sotelo added 15 factors, whereas Rashunda Jones scored 13 factors. Grace VanSlooten added 12 factors.
The Spartans misplaced for the primary time this season in the Breslin Center, having received their first 10. During the Robyn Fralick Era, Michigan State is now 36-5.
FRALICK REACHES A MILESTONE
Michigan State head coach Robyn Fralick reached a profession milestone in opposition to Illinois on Jan. 4. With the win, she earned her 250th profession win. She now holds a 255-98 document in 11 seasons as a head coach. She has received 64 video games at MSU.
GETTING IN THE STARTING LINEUP
After utilizing the identical beginning lineup for seven video games, Michigan State used a special beginning lineup in opposition to Clemson on Nov. 30. After an damage to Theryn Hallock, MSU went with the lineup for senior ahead Grace VanSlooten, senior ahead Marah Dykstra, senior guard Emma Shumate, junior guard Rashunda Jones and redshirt-sophomore guard Kennedy Blair. MSU is 2-1 with that lineup. MSU rolled out its third lineup in opposition to Indiana State with Blair, Jones, Van Slooten, Inés Sotelo and Sara Sambolić, which is now 1-0. The Spartans modified it up for a fourth time in opposition to No. 15 Ole Miss and Rutgers with VanSlooten, Jones, Blair, Sotelo and Isaline Alexander making the beginning 5.
Yet one other lineup was debuted in opposition to Indiana in Blair, Jones, VanSlooten, Sotelo and (*12*) with that group bettering to 7-1 after defeating Purdue on Jan. 29. Overall, MSU has had 5 completely different beginning lineups. VanSlooten, Blair and Jones are the one three Spartans to begin all 21 video games.
LOOKING AT THE NET
In the present ladies’s basketball NET rating, the Spartans stand No. 8. They are third amongst Big Ten colleges behind No. 2 UCLA and No. 6 Michigan. UConn stands No. 1.
STUFFING THE STAT SHEET
Redshirt-sophomore guard Kennedy Blair did a bit of little bit of all the things in opposition to Michigan on Feb. 1. She tied for the workforce lead in scoring with 21 factors and lead the workforce with 10 rebounds. She additionally had 4 assists and three steals. She now leads the workforce with 5 double-doubles.
TAKING DOWN THE BEST
No. 24/23 Michigan State knocked off No. 15/15 Ole Miss on Dec. 22 for the Spartans’ highest ranked win beneath head coach Robyn Fralick. It was the Spartans’ third general win over an AP Top 25 workforce in their three seasons beneath Coach Fralick, with all three coming in final two years after beating No. 21 Iowa (68-66, 12/15/24) and No. 24 Michigan (88-58, 1/25/25). Michigan State now stands 3-1 in opposition to ranked groups this season after an 82-67 street victory over No. 23 Washington on Jan. 8 and a 73-71 win over No. 24 Nebraska on Jan. 15. MSU has misplaced its final two video games to ranked opponents to No. 11/13 Iowa and No. 9.9 Michigan. MSU is now 3-2 in opposition to ranked foes this season.
SPARTANS VS. THE NCAA
After 22 video games, Michigan State stands seventh in the nation in help/turnover ratio (1.51). The Spartans are eighth in the NCAA and second in the Big Ten in turnover margin (+9.14). MSU is sixth in the nation in subject objective share, 49.4 % and thirteenth in 3-point capturing share (37.4 %). Redshirt-sophomore guard Kennedy Blair is twenty fourth in the NCAA in assists per sport (5.4 apg). Emma Shumate is eleventh in the nation in 3-point subject objective share (44.8 %).
STRONG BENCH
The Spartans’ 59 factors scored by their bench was greater than Eastern Illinois’ complete workforce scoring of 53 factors on Nov. 20. Against DePaul on Dec. 14, the Spartan bench scored 44 of 90 factors. MSU saved that development up in opposition to Indiana State with 64 bench factors. This season, the MSU bench has out-scored opponents 615-379. The Spartans are 14-1 this season when their bench out-scored their opponent.
MITTEN RAISED
Michigan State has a various roster with gamers from 4 completely different international locations, however the Spartans have three gamers that hail from the Mitten State. Seniors Theryn Hallock and Abbey Kimball each hail from Grand Rapids, Michigan. Redshirt-sophomore Kennedy Blair hails from Dearborn, Michigan.
NO NIGHTS OFF IN THE BIG TEN
The Big Ten continues to be one of many hardest conferences in the nation with 5 groups in the highest 15 in the rankings. In the AP ballot, UCLA is No. 2, whereas Michigan is No. 8. Ohio State and Iowa are No. 9. No. 10, respectively. Michigan State (No. 12), Maryland (No. 12) and Washington (No. 24) are additionally in the highest 25. Nebraska, Minnesota, Illinois and USC are all receiving votes.
SHORTENING THE BENCH
Michigan State has been a workforce recognized for taking part in numerous gamers and is 14th in the nation in bench scoring with 28.0 factors per sport. Against No. 9 Michigan, the Spartans performed solely eight gamers with six gamers logging in no less than half-hour of motion. Kennedy Blair performed a career-high 41 minutes of motion.
BIG TIME BIG TEN NUMBERS
The Spartans are third in the Big Ten in scoring offense, averaging 86.2 ppg and third in scoring margin (+24.3). Michigan State can also be third in 3-point subject objective subject share (.374). The Spartans stand fourth in assists per sport, averaging 18.7 apg and second in steals per sport with 12.4 spg.
Individually, Rashunda Jones is tied for second in the league in steals per sport, averaging 2.59 spg, whereas Kennedy Blair is fourth (2.23 spg). Kennedy Blair can also be fourth in assists with 5.41 apg. Emma Shumate is fifth in the league in 3-point subject objective share (.448).
RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT TIME
Sophomore ahead Juliann Woodard netted three 3-pointers on Jan. 11 in opposition to Oregon, all coming at pivotal moments in the sport. The three triples have been Woodard’s most in a Big Ten sport this season and her second-most in a sport this season behind her career-high 5 triples vs. Eastern Illinois (11/20/25). She continued her development of being in the fitting place on the proper time in opposition to Nebraska on Jan. 15. Woodard obtained an offensive rebound and drew a foul with 5 seconds left, hitting 2-of-2 free throws for the game-winning factors. She continued her sharp-shooting, scoring 14 factors off the bench, going 4-for-6 from past the arc in opposition to Iowa on Jan. 18.
FINDING THE MAGIC NUMBER
Michigan State’s 102 factors in opposition to Oakland on Nov. 23 marked the Spartans’ sixth outing of six video games scoring 90+ factors. MSU’s 90 factors in opposition to DePaul on Dec. 14 was the primary time reaching 90 in the final 4 video games, after the Spartans had scored 90 or extra factors in every of the primary six video games of the season. MSU is now 7-0 when scoring 90+ factors.
The Spartans’ 115 factors in the win in opposition to Indiana State on Dec. 21 was MSU’s second-most of the season, behind the season-high 125 factors in the season-opener vs. Mercyhurst (11/4/25). It was Michigan State’s fourth 100-point sport, transferring to 4-0.
ADDING UP THE ACCOLADES
Senior ahead Grace VanSlooten was named to the 2025-26 Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy Women’s College Player of the Year Watch List Presented by AXIA Time. She was one in all 50 gamers named to the watch listing that honors the most effective gamers in the nation.
VanSlooten is one in all 13 Big Ten gamers named to the watch listing, together with her workforce USA teammate Hannah Stuelke from Iowa. VanSlooten was additionally named to the Preseason All-Big Ten workforce as effectively the Cheryl Miller Award Watch List.
BRINGING HOME THE HARDWARE
By profitable the 2025 Cherokee Invitational crown, Michigan State not solely defended its 2023 Cherokee Invitational championship, but in addition collected its second event title of the season after profitable the Baha Mar Hoops Nassau Championship of the Junkanoo Division in the Bahamas on Nov. 30. It can also be MSU’s fourth event title in the final three seasons after profitable the 2023 Cherokee Invitational and the 2024 Acrisure Classic crown final season in Palm Springs, Calif.
HOLDING ON TO THE BALL
The Spartans solely had three turnovers on Nov. 4 in opposition to Mercyhurst, additionally setting a faculty document for fewest turnovers, bettering the earlier document of 5 achieved three earlier instances, first achieved in a 56-55 win at Northwestern on Jan. 22, 1989, then once more in a 76-69 win vs. Stanford on March 29, 2005 and most not too long ago in a 68-66 win over Toledo on March 18, 2018. Against Illinois, MSU had solely six turnovers, which was the fifth time this season that the Spartans had single-digit turnovers.
BRINGING HOME THE GOLD
Three gamers earned gold medals for their dwelling international locations this summer season. Grace VanSlooten received the FIBA Women’s Americup for Team USA. Marah Dykstra received gold for Canada in the FIBA 3×3 Junior Pan American Games. Inés Sotelo and Spain received a gold medal in the 2025 FIBA Eurobasket.
O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN!
Michigan State head coach Robyn Fralick has introduced senior ahead Grace VanSlooten and senior guard Abbey Kimball as workforce captains, as voted on by the gamers on the 2025-26 ladies’s basketball workforce. This is the primary time that both has been named a captain for Michigan State. VanSlooten is in her second season with MSU after transferring from Oregon. Kimball is in her fourth season as a Spartan.
ROBYN FRALICK RADIO SHOW
Michigan State ladies’s basketball head coach Robyn Fralick began her weekly radio call-in present, the Robyn Fralick Radio Show, on Nov. 18 at One North Kitchen and Bar. Coach Fralick joins host Dalton Shetler, the Spartans’ play-by-play voice, from 12-1 p.m., for an in-depth look into the MSU ladies’s basketball program.
Radio Show Dates
Tuesday Feb. 10
Tuesday, Feb. 17
Tuesday, Feb. 24