Sixth-Seeded Spartans Open Big Ten Tournament Thursday
The B1G Tournament returns to Indianapolis.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - No. 6-seeded Michigan State women's basketball will open action in the TIAA Big Ten Tournament second round on Thursday, March 6 at 9 p.m. in Indianapolis. The Spartans will face the winner of the game between No. 11-seeded Iowa and No. 14-seeded Wisconsin. Sloane Martin and Christy Winters Scott will be on the call for the Big Ten Network.• Michigan State concluded the regular season with a 73-58 win over Minnesota on March 1. The Spartans are now 21-8 overall and 11-7 in Big Ten play.
• The Spartans landed three players on the All-Big Ten team. Julia Ayrault and Grace VanSlooten both earned second-team honors. Theryn Hallock was named to the honorable mention team for the first time.
• MSU is 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 is only the third time that the Spartans have been the No. 6 seed. The last time that MSU earned the sixth seed was in 2017. That season, the Spartans fell to Maryland in the semifinals. The last time MSU faced Iowa was in the 2021 tournament in Indianapolis. The Hawkeyes stopped the Spartans, 82-72. MSU last faced Wisconsin in 2017, winning in the second round, 70-63.
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MICHIGAN STATE POSSIBLE OPPONENTS
SCOUTING IOWA
Iowa has won the last two games of the regular season, including an 81-66 win at home against its first round opponent Wisconsin. The Hawkeyes enter the B1G Tournament with a 20-9 overall record and 10-8 in league play.
Lucy Olsen was named to the first team by the coaches and the second team by the media. Hannah Stuelke was named to the All-Big Ten second team by the media and second team by the coaches. Olsen leads the team in scoring, averaging 18.0 ppg, while Stuelke is second with 13.0 ppg.
Jan Jensen is in her first season at the helm of the Hawkeyes. She took over for longtime coaching legend Lisa Bluder. Jensen holds a 20-9 record as Iowa's head coach.
SERIES HISTORY VS. THE HAWKEYES
Iowa leads the overall series with Michigan State 43-31. With the Spartans win in East Lansing on Dec. 15, MSU snapped a four-game losing streak against the Hawkeyes. In the game on Dec. 15, MSU trailed by as many as nine points in the fourth quarter, but came away with a 68-66 win. MSU was led by 19 points from graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault.
In East Lansing, MSU leads in the series 18-16. Iowa is on top of the series in Iowa City, 24-10. On neutral ground, the series is tied 3-3.
AGAINST IOWA IN B1G TOURNAMENT
The last time MSU faced Iowa was in the 2021 tournament in Indianapolis. The No. 6-seeded Hawkeyes stopped the No. 7-seeded Spartans, 82-72. Overall, Michigan State is 2-2 against Iowa in the Big Ten Tournament. MSU won the first two games on 2004 and 2005, while Iowa has won the last two in 2010 and 2021.
SCOUTING WISCONSIN
The Badgers have lost two-straight games, including their season finale on the road to Iowa, 81-66. Wisconsin is 13-16 overall and 4-14 in league play.
Serah Williams was named first-team All-Big Ten by both the coaches and the media. She also earned a spot on the All-Defensive team by both the coaches and the media. Williams leads the team in scoring, averaging 19.1 ppg.
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Wisconsin head coach Marisa Moseley is in her fourth season leading the Badgers with a record of 47-74 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 92-103 in seven seasons.
SERIES HISTORY VS. THE BADGERS
Michigan State holds the series lead over Wisconsin, 51-27. The Spartans have won seven of the last eight meetings, including the last three. On Feb. 12, the Spartans defeated Wisconsin, 91-71, in East Lansing.
In East Lansing, the Spartans lead the series 28-7. 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.
AGAINST WISCONSIN IN B1G TOURNEY
The last time that MSU has faced Wisconsin in the 2017 Big Ten Tournament, winning in the second round, 87-79. Overall, the Spartans are 2-1 against the Badgers in the B1G Tournament, including a win in the first Big Ten Tourney in 1995. MSU's only loss came in the quarterfinals in 2009, 56-50.
TOURNEY NOTES
This is only the third time that the Spartans have been the No. 6 seed. The last time that the Spartans earned the sixth seed was in 2017. That season, the Spartans fell to Maryland in the semifinals. Michigan State was the sixth seed in the first Big Ten Tournament in 1995. MSU reached the semifinals that season, losing to Ohio State in the semifinals, 70-63.
Last season, No. 4-seeded MSU fell in the quarterfinals to No. 5-seeded Nebraska, 73-61, in Minneapolis on March 8.
After last season's Big Ten Tournament, MSU stands 26-28 in the tournament.
PLAYING THE BEST
MSU's battle with No. 12/12 Ohio State on Feb. 26 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.
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VANSLOOTEN'S VERY GOOD STRETCH
Despite going 2-3 over the last five games, junior forward Grace VanSlooten has been exceptional during the five-game stretch. 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 five-game stretch, VanSlooten has averaged 19.2 points per game.
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 and 11 against Minnesota on March 1. Overall, she has scored in double figures six times this season with her season high of 18 coming against DePaul on Dec. 8. Michigan State is 5-1 when Simmons reached double-figures in scoring.
ENDURANCE IS KEY
Graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault played in her 136th career game at Michigan State in the win against Minnesota on March 1. 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.
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.
QUITE THE TRIO
With 1,323 points, 738 rebounds and 177 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.
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SIMMONS CLIMBING THE CHART
Graduate guard Jaddan Simmons is climbing the chart for single-season assist-to-turnover ratio. DeeDee Hagemann set the new school record last season (2.84). Simmons has a team-high 93 assists and 43 turnovers for a 2.16 assist-to-turnover ratio, which currently stands sixth in the single-season record book. She is currently third in the Big Ten in assist-to-turnover ratio.
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 1,021 points, joining Grace VanSlooten (1,323), graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault (1,323 points), graduate guard Jaddan Simmons (1,327 points) and graduate guard Nyla Hampton (1,307 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. 18 Ohio State. UConn stands No. 1. The Big Ten has five schools in the top 25 in NET rankings with Maryland standing No. 25.
RANKED BIG TEN TEAMS
Five different Big Ten teams are ranked or receiving votes in the AP top 25 poll. USC leads the way at No. 2, followed by No. 4 UCLA, No. 13 Ohio State, No. 15 Maryland and No. 24 Michigan State. Iowa is receiving votes in this week's poll.
AYRAULT ASCENDS THE CHARTS
With her 13 points Saturday against Minnesota, Ayrault now has 1,323 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.
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With nine boards against Minnesota, Ayrault's career total to 738 rebounds, remaining in the No. 12 spot on MSU's career rebounding list. She is now 27 boards from tying Tori Jankoska (2013-17) for the No. 10 spot.
With three triples Saturday, Ayrault now has 128 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. MINNESOTA
• 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.
BALANCED ATTACK
Seven different Spartans have led the team in scoring. Grace VanSlooten has led the team in scoring 13 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.
YOUR STARTING FIVE
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. Saturday 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.
AROUND THE BIG TEN
Michigan State is fourth in the Big Ten in scoring offense, averaging 80.1 points per game. The Spartans are also fourth in scoring margin (+16.5). MSU is tied for third in the league in blocks (5.2 bpg). MSU is second for first in steals behind Ohio State with 12.5 spg and second in assists with 18.3 apg. The Spartans are second in turnover margin (+7.4).
Individually, junior forward Grace VanSlooten is fourth in the league in field goal percentage (.533) and is tied for 14th in scoring, averaging 15.6 ppg. Graduate guard Jaddan Simmons is third in the Big Ten assist/turnover ratio (2.16). Graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault is tied for seventh in the league in blocks, averaging 1.46 bpg. Senior guard/forward Jocelyn Tate is third in the league in steals (2.28 spg). Graduate guard Nyla Hampton is seventh in steals (2.07 spg).
AROUND THE NATION
After 29 games, the Spartans are 16th in the nation scoring offense, averaging 80.1 ppg. Michigan State is 11th in the NCAA and second in the Big Ten in steals per game with 12.5 spg. MSU is 10th in the nation in assists with 18.3 apg and 14th in turnover margin (+7.4).
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 2.28 spg. Graduate guard Nyla Hampton is seventh (2.07 spg), while graduate guard Jaddan Simmons is ninth in the Big Ten in steals, averaging 1.86 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 12.6 spg. MSU is also second in the Big Ten with 362 steals this season.
LAST TIME OUT
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.
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.
THREE SPARTANS EARN ALL-CONFERENCE HONORS
Graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault was named to second team by both the coaches and the media. Junior forward Grace VanSlooten joined Ayrault with second-team honors by both the coaches and the media, while junior guard Theryn Hallock earned honorable mention honors by both the coaches and the media.
Ayrault, a native of Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan, earned her second All-Big Ten accolade during her sixth season with the Spartans. She captured second-team honors after being named to the first team last season. Ayrault is second on MSU in scoring, averaging 14.7 points per game. She also tied for seventh in blocks, averaging 1.46 bpg. Ayrault has scored in double figures 26 times this season.
VanSlooten, a native of Toledo, Ohio, captured her first All-Big Ten honor when she was named to the second team. She garnered All-Pac 12 honorable mention honors as both a freshman and a sophomore while at Oregon. VanSlooten currently leads the Spartans in scoring, averaging 15.6 ppg. She is currently fourth in the Big Ten in field goal percentage (.533). VanSlooten has played in 28 games this season, starting 20.
Hallock, a native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, earned her first All-B1G honor with honorable mention honors this season. She is currently third on the team in scoring, averaging 13.9 ppg. Hallock has played in all 29 games this season, starting 25. Last season, Hallock became just the second Spartan to earn Big Ten Sixth Player of the Year honors after All-American Kalisha Keane was voted Sixth Player of the Year during the 2009-10 season.
Graduate guard Nyla Hampton was MSU's representative for the Big Ten Sportsmanship award.
Release courtesy of MSU Athletics.
