Golden Grizzlies Journey to East Lansing to Battle with Spartans

ROCHESTER, Mich. — The Golden Grizzlies put together to journey to East Lansing to tackle the Michigan State (MSU) Spartans on Sunday.

Oakland returns to the court docket after a weeklong break from motion, final taking part in on Nov. 15 and 16 within the Raising the B.A.R Invitational, hosted by the University of California, Berkeley.

The Golden Grizzlies suffered losses to Harvard and Charlotte on the invitational however noticed a pair of spectacular particular person performances from guard Filippa Goula. The graduate guard from Greece averaged 12 factors per sport — scoring in double digits in each contests — and 4.5 rebounds per sport in Berkeley, incomes an All-Tournament Team spot through the weekend.

The Golden Grizzlies and the Spartans face off for the seventeenth time of their histories, and for the fifteenth straight yr within the annual showdown. Oakland continues to be trying to find its first-ever win towards MSU.

The Spartans come into the sport with a 5-0 report, most not too long ago topping Eastern Illinois 101–53 at residence. MSU has performed all 5 of its video games in East Lansing, scoring 90-plus factors in every contest and 100-plus in three, as its offense will get off to a roaring begin.

Grace VanSlooten has led the cost for the Spartans, averaging a team-high 15.5 factors and seven.3 rebounds per sport, together with 1.2 steals and 1.1 blocks per sport. VanSlooten and the Spartans will present a robust check for a feisty Oakland protection that has compelled the sixth-most turnovers (82) of any Horizon League crew.

Lianna Baxter has been a defensive anchor for Oakland, rating second within the convention with 1.4 blocks per sport and main the league with seven complete blocks. She additionally ranks within the prime 11 in steals per sport (1.8), showcasing her skill to guard each the rim and the passing lanes.

Oakland’s offense should shoot at a excessive clip — nicely inside its skill — led by sharpshooting guard Cali Denson, whose 12 factors per sport lead the crew. Shooting .394 from three whereas averaging 2.6 triples made per sport (second-most within the Horizon League), she has scored 15-plus factors thrice already this season. Angie Smith has additionally discovered her function offensively for the Golden Grizzlies, averaging 10.4 factors per sport.

The Mitten State faceoff goes down on Sunday, Nov. 23 at 2 p.m. on the Breslin Center and might be streamed on Big Ten Plus.