No. 23/22 Spartans Celebrate Senior Day Against Minnesota Saturday
MSU will celebrate its four seniors following the game.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - No. 23/22 Michigan State women's basketball will conclude the regular season against Minnesota on Saturday, March 1 at 2 p.m. Following the game, the Spartans will celebrate their four seniors: Julia Ayrault, Nyla Hampton, Jaddan Simmons and Jocelyn Tate. The game will be streamed on B1G+ with Marin Klein and Charlie Schmidgall on the call.• Michigan State lost its road regular-season finale to No. 12/12 Ohio State, 89-78. The Spartans are now 20-8 overall and 10-7 in Big Ten play.
• Minnesota closes out the regular season in East Lansing after a 72-62 loss to Washington at home on Feb. 26. The Gophers are 20-9 overall this season and 8-9 in Big Ten play.
• The career-high 29 points by Theryn Hallock against Ohio State was also her 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.
• The Spartans are just 21 steals away from tying the single-season record for steals. Through 28 games, Michigan State has 354 steals. The school record is 375 set by the 2004-05 in 37 games. This season, MSU is ninth in the nation and first in the Big Ten, averaging 12.6 spg.
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SCOUTING MINNESOTA
Last time out, Minnesota fell at home to Washington, 72-62 on Feb. 26. The Gophers have lost six of their last eight games with the wins coming against Indiana and Purdue. Overall, Minnesota holds a 20-9 record and stand 8-9 in Big Ten action.
The Gophers stand ninth in the Big Ten in field goal percentage (.433), while standing sixth in the rebounding margin (+2.47). Minnesota is also fifth turnover margin (+2.24). Grace Grocholski (12.1 ppg) and Amaya Battle (11.9 ppg) lead the Gophers in scoring. Mallory Heyer is eighth in the Big Ten in rebounds with 8.2 rpg.
Minnesota head coach Dawn Plitzuweit is in her second season, leading the Golden Gophers with a record of 40-25 record. Overall, she has had stops at South Dakota, Grand Valley State, Northern Kentucky and West Virginia. She has an overall record of 405-166.
SERIES HISTORY VS. THE GOPHERS
Michigan State leads the overall series with Minnesota, 48-25. The Spartans have won five of the last seven meetings against the Gophers. Michigan State hasn't won in Minneapolis since 2020.
In East Lansing, Michigan State leads the overall series, 28-7. In Minneapolis, the series is tied 17-17. Last season, the teams split the series with both winning on their home territory. Minnesota won in Minneapolis on Jan. 20, 69-50. MSU rebounded with a victory on Feb. 5 in East Lansing, 76-65.
LAST TIME VS. MINNESOTA
Michigan State women's basketball built a huge 47-24 half time lead, and never looked back en route to a 76-65 win over Minnesota to celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day at the Breslin Center on Feb. 5, 2024.
Overall, four Spartans reached double figures in the victory, led by graduate guard Moira Joiner's 21 points, nine rebounds and five assists. Joiner has reached the 20-point mark four times this season. Graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault added 16 points to go along with seven rebounds and a game-high four blocks. Junior guard DeeDee Hagemann scored 13 points, while adding five helpers. Sophomore guard Theryn Hallock scored 10 points.
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PLAYING THE BEST
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.
VANSLOOTEN'S VERY GOOD STRETCH
Despite going 2-2 over the last four games, junior forward Grace VanSlooten has been exceptional the quartet contests. She has surpassed 20 points twice in that span. Against No. 4/4 USC, she tied her career-high with 29 points, including going 11-for-12 from the charity stripe. Against Wisconsin, she played 22 points. In the three-game stretch against Wisconsin, No. 1/1 UCLA and No. 4/4 USC, VanSlooten has averaged 21.0 points per game. in all four games.
HOW JADDAN GOT HER GROOVE BACK
Graduate guard Jaddan Simmons reached double figures for the first time in seven games, scoring 11 points against Indiana on Feb. 23. It was her first double-digit outing since scoring 11 at Michigan on Jan. 25. She added 10 points against No. 12/12 Ohio State. Overall, she has scored in double figures five times this season with her season high of 18 coming against DePaul on Dec. 8. Michigan State is 4-1 when Simmons reached double-figures in scoring.
NO CHARITY HERE
Graduate guard Jaddan Simmons was the first Spartans to make 10 free throws since All-American Nia Clouden against Ohio State on Feb. 27, 2022. Clouden was 10-for-12 from the line in that game, while Simmons was a perfect 10-for-10. She tied the school record, which was last set by Matilda Ekh against Minnesota on Feb. 22, 2023.
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DOWN THE HOME STRETCH
The Spartans have only one game remaining in the regular season. Much is at stake in the final game in terms of seating for the Big Ten Tournament, as the Spartans could still reach as high as the No. 6 seed in the tournament. This season, only 15 of the 18 teams will advance to the B1G Tournament in Indianapolis, which will be held March 5-9.
QUITE THE TRIO
With 1,310 points, 729 rebounds and 176 blocks, graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault joins a very small club. She is one of only three Spartans with over 1,300 points, 700 rebounds and 150 blocks. All-American Allyssa 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.
TATE JOINS THE 1K CLUB
With six points against No. 4/4 USC on Feb. 19, senior guard/forward Jocelyn Tate joined the 1,000-point club. She is now the fifth current Spartan with 1,018 points, joining Grace VanSlooten (1,308), graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault (1,310 points), graduate guard Jaddan Simmons (1,306 points) and graduate guard Nyla Hampton (1,297 points). Tate is the third of that quintet to reach 1,000 career points this season, joining Ayrault and VanSlooten, and all three netted their 1,000th career point in California, as Ayrault and VanSlooten reached the 1,000-point plateau in successive days when MSU played at the Acrisure Classic in Palm Springs, California, with Ayrault scoring hers against Cal on Nov. 26, and VanSlooten followed the next day against Vanderbilt.
NET RANKINGS
In the current women's basketball NET ranking, the Spartans stand No. 21. They are fourth among Big Ten schools behind No. 5 UCLA, No. 6 USC and No. 17 Ohio State. UConn stands No. 1. The Big Ten has four schools in the top 25 in NET rankings with Maryland standing just outside at No. 26.
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. 2, followed by No. 4 USC, No. 12 Ohio State, No. 19 Maryland and No. 23 Michigan State. This week, Illinois re-entered the poll this week at No. 25. Illinois and Iowa are both receiving votes in this week's poll.
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AYRAULT ASCENDS THE CHARTS
With her 11 points Wednesday against OSU, Ayrault 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.
With three boards against OSU, Ayrault's career total to 729 rebounds, remaining in the No. 12 spot on MSU's career rebounding list. She is now 36 boards from tying Tori Jankoska (2013-17) for the No. 10 spot.
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).
BY THE NUMBERS VS. OHIO STATE
• 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).
• Michigan State snapped a two-game losing streak against Indiana. The Spartans last win against the Hoosiers was 83-78 win against No. 4/3 Indiana in East Lansing on Dec. 29, 2022. Overall, Michigan State improves to 51-33 against Indiana, including 25-11 in East Lansing.
BALANCED ATTACK
Seven different Spartans have led the team in scoring. Grace VanSlooten has led the team in scoring 12 times. Julia Ayrault has led the team in scoring nine times and Theryn Hallock has been the leading scorer seven times, while Jocelyn Tate, Jaddan Simmons, Emma Shumate and Juliann Woodard have led once.
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YOUR STARTING FIVE
Michigan State used the same starting line for the seventh 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 ninth game overall this season with that starting five and MSU is now 4-5 with that starting five for the opening tip.
AROUND THE BIG TEN
Michigan State is second in the Big Ten in scoring offense, averaging 80.4 points per game. The Spartans are also fourth in scoring margin (+16.6). MSU is tied for third in the league in blocks (5.3 bpg). MSU are tied for first in steals with Ohio State with 12.6 spg and second in assists with 18.4 apg. The Spartans are second in turnover margin (+7.5).
Individually, junior forward Grace VanSlooten is fourth in the league in field goal percentage (.534) and 16th in scoring, averaging 15.6 ppg. Graduate guard Jaddan Simmons is fourth in the Big Ten assist/turnover ratio (2.17). Graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault is seventh in the league in blocks, averaging 1.48 bpg. Senior guard/forward Jocelyn Tate is third in the league in steals (2.29 spg). Graduate guard Nyla Hampton is sixth in steals (2.11 spg).
AROUND THE NATION
After 28 games, the Spartans are 13th in the nation scoring offense, averaging 80.4 ppg. Michigan State is ninth in the NCAA and second in the Big Ten in steals per game with 12.6 spg. MSU is 12th in the nation in assists with 18.4 apg and 13th in turnover margin (+7.5).
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.
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.
LOCKED IN DEFENSE
Senior guard/forward Jocelyn Tate is third in the Big Ten in steals, averaging 2.31 spg. Graduate guard Nyla Hampton is sixth (2.04 spg), while graduate guard Jaddan Simmons and junior guard Theryn Hallock are tied for ninth in the Big Ten in steals, averaging 1.85 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 12.9 spg. MSU is first in the Big Ten with 336 steals this season.
LAST TIME OUT
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.
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.
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).
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.
Preview courtesy of MSU Athletics.
