Michigan State Set to Clash with No. 8 Maryland This Sunday!

EAST LANSING, Mich. – No. 19/19 Michigan State women’s basketball is set to resume play following the holiday recess, making their way to No. 8/8 Maryland on Sunday, Dec. 29 at 1 p.m. at the XFINITY Center. The match will be available via B1G+ streaming.
 
• The Spartans aim to bounce back after suffering their initial defeat of the season against No. 24 Alabama on Dec. 20. Currently, Michigan State boasts an overall record of 11-1 this season and 1-0 in Big Ten play. Sunday’s matchup serves as MSU’s Big Ten away opener versus the Terps.
 
• Ranked No. 8/8, Maryland remains one of only eight undefeated teams left in NCAA Division I, holding a record of 11-0. Additionally, three Big Ten teams remain unbeaten, specifically Ohio State and UCLA.
 
• With a record of 11-1, the 2024-25 Spartan team matches MSU’s best start through 12 games and is the first time since the 2018-19 season that the Spartans were also 11-1 after the same number of games. This marks the sixth occurrence in program history that Michigan State began with an 11-1 record, along with previous seasons of 2018-19, 2012-13, 2010-11, 2004-05, and 1973-74.
 
• With the women’s program now ranked No. 19 in the AP Top 25 poll and the men’s team sitting at No. 18, MSU is among eight institutions in the NCAA with both teams holding rankings, which include UCLA, UConn, Duke, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Ole Miss, and Kentucky.
 
SCOUTING MARYLAND
The Terrapins stand as one of eight undefeated teams in NCAA Division I, holding a record of 11-0. Maryland commenced its Big Ten season with a 78-69 victory over Purdue on Dec. 7 while on the road. The Terps have also secured wins against Duke and Syracuse this season.
 
Maryland showcases five players averaging double figures, led by Kaylene Smikle, who averages 17.7 points per game. Shyanne Sellers follows as the second highest scorer with 11.8 ppg. Smikle is positioned eighth in Big Ten scoring, while Sellers ranks second in assists with 5.5 apg. As a collective, Maryland is the second highest scoring offense in the conference, averaging 86.2 ppg.
 
Head coach Brenda Frese is in her 23rd season leading Maryland, possessing a record of 593-161. Overall, she has been at the helm for 26 seasons including her tenures at Ball State and Minnesota, with a cumulative record of 650-191.
 
SERIES HISTORY VS. THE TERRAPINS
Maryland controls the all-time series against Michigan State with a count of 18-3. The Terps secured seven consecutive victories in this series until the Spartans triumphed 74-69 in East Lansing last season. UMD also leads in East Lansing with a series record of 6-2. The Terps maintain a 7-1 lead in College Park and remain unbeaten at 5-0 on neutral ground. The Spartans’ sole win in College Park occurred in 2018 when MSU defeated Maryland, 82-68.
 
LAST TIME VS. MARYLAND
In their first home game after a three-week break, the Michigan State women’s basketball squad employed a strong third quarter to defeat Maryland, 74-69, at the Breslin Center on Jan. 9, 2024.
 
This victory marked only the third ever against the Terrapins for the Spartans, who now hold a 18-3 record against them. MSU’s last triumph before this was on Jan. 17, 2019, in East Lansing.
 
Michigan State featured four players scoring in double figures, headed by graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault, who achieved her third double-double of the season with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Graduate guard Moira Joiner also contributed 20 points alongside four assists and four rebounds. Joiner has consistently scored in double figures in all 15 games this season. Junior guard DeeDee Hagemann added 12 points and registered a game-high of seven assists, while sophomore guard Theryn Hallock came off the bench to score 14 points.

SINGLE-DIGIT QUARTERS

Michigan State’s defense restricted Alabama to just nine points in the initial quarter on Dec. 20, marking their second consecutive match with at least one quarter of single-digit scoring after they held Montana under ten points during the second and third quarters. MSU has achieved at least one quarter of single-digit scoring in nine out of the 12 games, managing to limit their opponents to single digits in 14 out of the 48 quarters played so far this season.

 

RANKED BIG TEN TEAMS

This week, eight distinct Big Ten programs are either ranked or receiving votes in the AP Top 25 poll. UCLA tops the list at No. 1, followed by No. 4 USC, No. 8 Maryland, No. 10 Ohio State, No. 19 Michigan State, No. 23 Michigan, and No. 24 Iowa. Nebraska and Illinois are also receiving votes in the current poll.

 

SPARTANS IN THE POLLS

As of this week, the Spartans are ranked No. 19 in both the AP poll and the Coaches Poll. The last occurrence of MSU’s ranking dates back to Jan. 4, 2021, when they were No. 23 in the AP poll and No. 24 in the Coaches Poll. The last time MSU reached No. 15 in the AP poll was on No. 18, 2019, when they were also ranked No. 16 in the Coaches Poll.

 

JOINING THE 1K CLUB

Currently, Michigan State has four athletes who have achieved at least 1,000 points in their collegiate careers. Most recently, junior forward Grace VanSlooten joined this elite group against Vanderbilt on Nov. 27. She currently boasts 1,045 career points from her time with Oregon and MSU. Graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault entered the 1,000-point club during the game against Cal on Nov. 26. Over her five years at MSU, she has accumulated 1,094 points. Graduate guard Nyla Hampton has scored 1,222 points throughout her tenures at Bowling Green, Ball State, and Michigan State. Another graduate guard, Jaddan Simmons, has also reached 1,222 points during her four seasons at Arizona State and afterward at MSU. Senior guard/forward Jocelyn Tate is aspiring to become the next member, currently with 892 points across her two seasons at Bowling Green and the two at MSU.

 

NET RANKINGS

In the latest women’s basketball NET ranking, the Spartans are positioned at No. 13. They rank third among Big Ten schools, following No. 4 UCLA and No. 7 USC. Texas is placed at No. 1.

 

BY THE NUMBERS VS. ALABAMA

• After making a season-low 13 free throw attempts on Thursday, Michigan State had 10 free throw attempts in the first half alone on Dec. 20, converting 8 out of 10 at the charity stripe in those first 20 minutes. They concluded the game at 18 of 23 (78.3 percent). MSU’s 78.3 percent marks their second consecutive game and fourth overall this season where they shot 75.0 percent or higher after making 76.9 percent (10-of-13) against Montana on Dec. 19.

 

• With her game-high of 18 points, Julia Ayrault has logged double-digit points in all 11 games this season, as she missed the Detroit Mercy match (12/20/24) due to injury. She has achieved double figures in scoring in her last 24 games consecutively, partaking in 35 of her last 40 games played since the commencement of the 2023-24 season. Ayrault surpassed the 10-plus points mark in her 51st career game, and the Spartans now have a record of 39-12 when Ayrault scores in double digits.

 

NO CHARITY

Michigan State’s defense madeschool history, as MSU did not permit Montana to take a free throw, with the Lady Griz executing 0-for-0 at the free throw line on Dec. 19 while Michigan State only accumulated 11 fouls, marking its second-least of the season, only above the 10 fouls at Western Michigan (11/17/24).

 

DOUBLE TROUBLE

When graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault and junior forward Grace VanSlooten each posted double-doubles against Western Michigan on Nov. 17, it was the initial occurrence since Dec. 17, 2023 against CMU. In that matchup, Ayrault achieved 13 points and 10 assists, while Theryn Hallock secured 17 points and 12 assists. Ayrault and VanSlooten followed up by both obtaining double-doubles in MSU’s 78-70 victory over Vanderbilt in the Championship of the Acrisure Classic on Nov. 27. VanSlooten scored 25 points with 10 rebounds, while Ayrault contributed 24 points and 12 rebounds, ultimately winning MVP honors.

 

ENDING STRONG

Although the Spartans managed only four points in the fourth quarter against Montana on Dec. 19, this final segment has been one of the most dominant periods for the team this season. The four points represented the least amount scored by MSU in a fourth quarter in program history.

 

In total, MSU has amassed 288 points in the fourth period, which is the highest of any quarter. The Spartans are averaging 24.0 points per game in the concluding 10 minutes of play. Conversely, opposing teams have netted 157 points in the fourth quarter, averaging 13.1 points per game.

 

BIG TEN OPENERS

MSU triumphed in its Big Ten Conference opener against Iowa and holds a 21-22 all-time record in B1G openers, having emerged victorious in eight of their last 14. This win against Iowa marked the first time the Spartans kicked off league play against the Hawkeyes since the 2021-22 season, and it avenged the earlier 88-61 defeat. The previous season, the Spartans lost to Nebraska at home 80-74 on Dec. 9. In the 2022-23 season, the Spartans were defeated by Purdue at home 76-71 in overtime. In the 2020-21 season, MSU achieved victory in its opener in Minneapolis, winning 81-68 over the Gophers.

 

BRINGING THE BOOM

For the 2024-25 season, Michigan State women’s has launched its new student section – the Breslin Boom. First introduced by Coach Fralick at Michigan State Madness, Spartan students will be encouraged to shout “BOOM” during significant MSU plays.

 

COMEBACK KIDS

MSU’s rally from a 16-point deficit to win against Cal on Nov. 26 marked the Spartans’ largest comeback since trailing by 19 points against Penn State on Feb. 22, 2017, overcoming a 46-27 deficit with 7:55 left in the third quarter for a 73-64 win for MSU. In that game, All-American Tori Jankoska was scoreless in the first half but scored 21 points in the second half for a palindromic double-double of 21 points and 12 rebounds.

 

UPDATE THE RECORD BOOKS

With a pair of free throws at 8.4 seconds remaining against Cal on Nov. 26, graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault recorded her 21st and 22nd points of the game, achieving the 1,000 career points milestone with the first free throw. Ayrault now ranks No. 27 on the Spartan scoring list with 1,094 points. She is now merely FOUR points away from the No. 26 position held by Jenna Allen, who scored 1,098 points from 2015-19.

 

Ayrault is also third in career blocks with 151. She is currently tied with Lykendra Johnson (2008-12). By grabbing five rebounds against Alabama on Dec. 20, Ayrault has now notched 607 rebounds for her career, just 22 short of entering MSU’s Top 20 career rebounding leaderboard, with Lil Preston (1980-83) holding 639 rebounds at the No. 20 position.

 

LOCKED IN DEFENSE

Graduate guard Nyla Hampton ranks third in the Big Ten in steals, averaging 2.4 steals per game. Graduate guard Jaddan Simmons is tied for sixth in the Big Ten in steals with 2.1 steals per game. Senior guard/forward Jocelyn Tate is tied for 12th in the B1G with 1.9 steals per game. The MSU defense has been formidable throughout the season. Twice this year, the Spartans totaled 22 steals in a game: against Detroit Mercy on Nov. 20 and against Oakland on Nov. 5. The only team in the Big Ten that has achieved more steals in a game is USC with 28 against CSUN on Nov. 12. The Spartans lead the B1G in steals, averaging 14.5 steals per game.

 

BRINGING HOME THE HARDWARE

Michigan State clinched its second consecutive tournament title after winning the Cherokee Invitational in North Carolina last season with victories over Richmond and Coastal Carolina. Prior to this, MSU’s last tournament championship occurred at the New Orleans Shootout in 2017.

 

AROUND THE BIG TEN

Michigan State ranks third in the Big Ten for scoring offense, averaging 85.6 points per game, slightly ahead of Ohio State’s 86.7 ppg and Maryland’s 86.2 ppg. MSU is also fourth in the conference in scoring margin (+30.3). MSU leads in steals with 14.5 and holds second place in assists with 19.3 assists per game. The Spartans are second in turnover margin (+9.7).

 

Individually, graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault is positioned 10th in the league in scoring (16.6 points per game). Junior forward Grace VanSlooten ranks ninth in field goal percentage (.518).

 

AROUND THE NATION

After 12 games, the Spartans stand 15th in the nation for scoring margin, winning games by an average of 30.3 points. Michigan State is sixth in the NCAA and first in the Big Ten for steals per game, averaging 14.5 steals. MSU also ranks 11th in assists per game (19.3) and is13th in the nation for scoring offense, averaging 85.6 points per game.

 

SEASON OPENERS

Michigan State achieved its 11th consecutive season-opener victory and its second in a row under head coach Robyn Fralick. MSU’s last season-opening defeat was on Nov. 11, 2013 at #6/#7 Notre Dame. The Spartans have secured 15 successive home openers, with their last loss in the first home game of the season occurring on Nov. 19, 2009 against #5/#6 Notre Dame.

 

LAST TIME OUT

No. 15/17 Michigan State women’s basketball faced its first setback of the season against RV/No. 24 Alabama, losing 82-67 at the West Palm Beach Classic on Dec. 20 at Rubin Arena.

 

Michigan State featured three players scoring in double digits led by 18 points and two steals from graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault. Junior forward Grace VanSlooten was close to a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds. Coming off the bench, junior guard Theryn Hallock chipped in 14 points along with two steals, scoring nine of her 14 points in the fourth quarter alone.

 

The Spartan defense again proved formidable, forcing 29 turnovers after prompting Montana to commit 30 turnovers on Thursday.

 

O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN!

Michigan State head coach Robyn Fralick has appointed guard/forward Julia Ayrault and guard Nyla Hampton as team captains, as voted upon by the players of the 2024-25 women’s basketball team.

 

This marks Ayrault’s second season as a captain for the Spartans. She is the first Spartan to serve as captain in consecutive seasons since Jenna Allen during the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons. Hampton is in her initial season with the Spartans but is already well-acquainted with head coach Robyn Fralick. She played three seasons with Bowling Green before transferring to Ball State last season.

 

VANSLOOTEN NAMED TO WATCH LIST

Michigan State Women’s Basketball junior forward Grace VanSlooten has been selected for the Cheryl Miller Award preseason watch list, as revealed by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA).

 

She is among five Big Ten players on the list alongside Indiana’s Yarden Garzon, Maryland’s Saylor Poffenbarger, Ohio State’s Cotie McMahon and UCLA’s Angela Dugalić. The award honors the top small forwards in the nation.

 

WELCOME TO SPARTAN NATION

Michigan State women’s basketball head coach Robyn Fralick announced the addition of three recruits on Wednesday: Jordan Ode (Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove High School), Anna Terrian (Pewaukee, Wis./Pewaukee High School), and Amy Terrian (Pewaukee, Wis./Pewaukee High School).

 

Ode is a 6-0 guard hailing from Maple Grove, Minn. She attends Maple Grove High School and is mentored by Mark Cook. Ode currently holds the No. 33 ranking in the ESPNW HoopGurlz Recruiting Rankings. 

 

Anna Terrian is a 5-8 guard from Pewaukee, Wis., competing for head coach Jim Reuter at Pewaukee High School. In her junior year, she averaged 9.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game.

 

Amy Terrian is also a 5-8 guard from Pewaukee, Wis., who plays for head coach Jim Reuter at Pewaukee High School. She is presently ranked No. 89 in the ESPNW HoopGurlz Recruiting Rankings. Terrian averaged 18.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game as a junior.