Lady Spartans shake off recent losses, erupting for 104 points and a dominant Senior Night victory. Stellar performances fuel a commanding win.
The Lady Spartans dominated from start to finish on a special night dedicated to the team's seniors, cruising to a 36-point victory and dropping 104 points at the Breslin Center. They held Northwestern to just 68 in a complete rout—this marked Michigan State's seventh straight win over the Wildcats.
The Lady Spartans have been in a bit of a nosedive lately—losing four of their last five games, including the previous two by 20+ points while scoring well below their season average. Those losses came against very good, top-10 ranked teams, so with a struggling Northwestern Wildcats squad visiting East Lansing, it was the perfect opportunity for Michigan State to right the ship and get back on track.
Kennedy Blair continues to shine as not only an incredible scoring machine but a true floor general. Her uncanny ability to place the ball exactly where teammates need it helps everyone flourish. Blair notched her sixth double-double of the season—this one unique as her first with points and assists (instead of points and rebounds). She finished with 17 points and 10 assists, coming just three rebounds shy of her first career triple-double.
This wasn't a one-woman show, though—the Spartans got strong support from nearly everyone on the court. Leading the charge alongside Blair was Grace VanSlooten, who poured in a team-high 22 points (tied with Blair for second on the team with seven rebounds) and added four assists. VanSlooten played big and hungry on Senior Night, crashing the boards and finishing exceptional baskets—even some from right under the rim.
With Rushanda Jones sidelined nursing a foot injury from the Michigan game, it was next-woman-up mentality—and no one disappointed. The Spartans shot lights-out from deep: 13-of-26 (50%) from three, with zero coming from Blair or VanSlooten. They drained threes nonstop; whenever the paint was guarded, they'd kick it out to anyone for an open look. At one point, it felt like fans could have stepped on the court and added a few themselves.
- Sara Sambolic, Jalyn Brown, Emma Shumate, Amy Terrian, and Abbey Kimball each hit two three-pointers.
- Marah Dykstra led the team with three threes (a perfect 3-of-3) and paced the bench with 14 points.
The Spartans commanded the game early and never looked back, taking a commanding 55-28 lead into halftime. The second half was more of the same. Ines Sotelo led the team with nine rebounds and was a game-changer in the glass battle. MSU won the rebounding war overall 34-33, thanks in large part to a 10-6 edge in offensive rebounds that fueled second-chance opportunities.
Michigan State controlled the ball and forced turnovers—something they've excelled at this season (though it flipped against rival Michigan). They returned to form Wednesday, racking up 13 steals compared to just three for Northwestern. The Spartans committed only five turnovers while forcing 17 from the Wildcats.
Senior Night was all about the Spartans, as they laid down 104 points and gave the seniors a well-deserved standing ovation as they exited the court. A job well done, a career well deserved and earned.
The Spartans now turn their focus to the final two games of the regular season:
- At Minnesota on Sunday
- Regular-season finale the following Sunday, March 1, at home against Ohio State
A bounce-back performance to honor the seniors and build momentum heading into the stretch run. Can't ask for anything better.