Second-Half Surge Sends Spartans Past Colonels Thursday
11/14/2024 10:27:00 PM | Women's Basketball
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Despite a slow start, the Michigan State women's basketball team found its groove and cruised to a 96-54 win over Eastern Kentucky University Thursday night at the Breslin Center.
MSU has opened 4-0 for the second time in as many seasons under head coach Robyn Fralick. Michigan State also started 4-0 for the sixth-straight season since going 3-1 to open the 2018-19 season. EKU falls to 1-3 this season. The was the first meeting between the Spartans and the Colonels.
The Spartans had four players reach double figures led by 19 points and eight rebounds from graduate guard Julia Ayrault. Junior forward Grace VanSlooten scored 15 points with nine rebounds, while junior guard Theryn Hallock 14 points and added a season-high nine assists. Freshman guard Juliann Woodard dazzled the Spartan faithful in the fourth quarter with 16 points in the period. Michigan State scored 24 points from the charity stripe, going 24-for-33 on the night.
EKU was led by 17 points from Alice Recanati.
After a 3-pointer by Raphaela Toussaint, EKU took a 5-3 lead which was the first time that the Spartans had trailed all season. The Michigan State offense got off to a slow start, going 3-for-10 to start the game. MSU went over three minutes without a field goal but made four-straight free throws to tie the score at 11. The Spartans made five of their final seven baskets to take a 19-15 at the end of the period. Senior guard/forward Jocelyn Tate led MSU with six points after the first period.
In the second quarter, the Spartans shooting woes continued, but they were able to get themselves to the free throw line. MSU used a 7-0 run to take a 32-28 lead. At the end of the first half, Hallock, Ayrault and Van Slooten all scored seven points to led the Spartans, who were on top 39-35 at the break.
Michigan State scored the first six points of the third period to take its first double-digit lead 45-35 with under eight minutes left in the quarter. Back-to-back old-fashioned 3-pointers from Ayrault pushed the MSU lead 58-45. The Spartans used a 12-0 spark to take its first 20-points lead, 67-45 with 40 seconds left in the stanza. MSU out-scored EKU 30-12 in the period to create much-needed separation from the Colonels.
The Spartans scored the first 14 points of the fourth quarter, as MSU pulled away for good. Once Michigan State emptied its bench, it became the Juliann Woodard show. The freshman scored 16 points in just over six minutes, including going 4-for-4 from beyond the arc.
Michigan State will hit the road for the first time this season, traveling to Western Michigan on Sunday, Nov. 17. at 5 p.m.
Michigan State Women's Basketball Post-Game Notes
• Michigan State netted 95+ points for the fourth-consecutive game with 96 points Thursday night after 107 in last week's season-opener vs. Oakland on Nov. 5, 100 points vs. Yale on Nov. 8 and 95 points last time out vs. Eastern Michigan on Nov. 11 . . . it marks the first time since the 2017-18 season that MSU has scored 95+ points in its first fourth games when the Spartans matched this year's scoring through the first three games with 100 points in the season-opener (100-58 vs. Robert Morris on 11/11/17), 95 in game two (95-63 vs. Oakland on 11/13/17) and 107 in game three (107-43 vs. Charleston), before posting 97 in game four (11/21/17).
• MSU has opened 4-0 for the second time in as many seasons under head coach Robyn Fralick . . . Michigan State also started 4-0 for the sixth-straight season since a 3-1 start to open the 2018-19 season.
• The Spartans have won 17 of their last 19 home games at the Breslin Center, after starting this season 4-0 following posting a 13-2 ledger last season at home . . . overall, MSU has won 28 of its last 36 home games dating back to the 2022-23 season.
• MSU outscored EKU, 57-19 in the second half, pulling away from a 39-35 halftime score with a 30-point third quarter and 27 points in the fourth frame.
• The 57-point scoring output in the second half was MSU's season-high for most points scored in the second half, topping 50 points after halftime in the game vs. Yale (11/8/24) and was one point shy of the season-best for most points in a half, as the Spartans scored 58 in the season-opener vs. Oakland (11/5/24) and last time out vs. Eastern Michigan (11/11/14).
• The 19 points in the second half was the fewest allowed by the Spartans after intermission this season, bettering the previous mark of 24 second-half points by Oakland (11/5).
• MSU's 30 points in the third quarter was the most points scoring in the third stanza in the four games and was three shy of the Spartans' most points scored in a quarter behind the 33-point fourth quarter vs. Yale (11/8/24), and the third time scoring 30+ points in a quarter, joining 31 points in the first quarter in game one vs. Oakland (11/5/24).
• Michigan State's defense held the opposition to single-digit scoring in at least one quarter for the fourth-straight game by stymieing EKU to just seven points in the fourth quarter . . . overall it was the eighth time in 16 quarters through the first four contests this season that MSU has limited its opponent to single-digit scoring in a quarter . . . Thursday's fourth quarter was joined by holding EMU to nine points in the third quarter last time out, after limiting Yale to nine points in both the first and second quarters on Nov. 8 and to Oakland in the second and fourth quarter in the season-opener on Nov. 5.
• EKU was the first opponent through four games to score more than 50 points on MSU, as the Spartans held their first three opponents under 50 points (42 by Oakland, 45 by Yale, 49 by Eastern Michigan).
• Michigan State also netted 30+ field goals for the fourth game in a row with 31 field goals Thursday night, after making a season-high 38 field goals Monday night vs. Eastern Michigan . . . the Spartans also netted 50 percent or better in all four games, netting 51.7 percent (31-of-60) Thursday after making 57.6 percent (38-of-66) Monday night vs. EMU after 52.4 percent (33-of-63) vs. Yale and 50.0 percent (35-of-70) vs. Oakland.
• MSU made 10 3-pointers Thursday night, finishing a season-high 50 percent (10-of-20) . . . the 10 treys were the Spartans' second game this season with double-digit triples, joining the season-best 11 3-pointers in the season-opener vs. Oakland (11/5/24).
• Michigan State pulled down a season-high 46 rebounds, including 13 offensive boards, which led to a 15-3 second-chance points advantage . . . the Spartans pulled down 13 O-boards for the second game in a row after 13 last time out vs. Eastern Michigan, and the third game with double-digits offensive rebounds behind a season-best 17 in game one vs. Oakland.
• MSU swatted a season-high seven blocks, getting rejections from four different players, including a season-high three blocks by junior forward Grace VanSlooten and two by graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault, while junior guard Emma Shumate and redshirt-freshman center Mary Meng had one block apiece.
• Four or more Spartans scored in double-figures for the fourth time in as many outings after four MSU players posted 10+ points Thursday night, led by graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault's season-high 19 points, followed by freshman forward Julia Woodard's season-high 16 points . . . junior forward Grace VanSlooten returned to action with 15 points, followed by 14 points by junior guard Tharyn Hallock.
• Ayrault netted her season-high with 19 points Thursday, as she has recorded double-figures in all four contests this season and in 17-straight games and 28 of her last 33 ballgames played since the start of the 2023-24 season . . . Ayrault posted her 42nd career game in double-figures.
• The 19 points by Ayrault moves her career total to 964 points, just 36 points away from becoming the 31st Spartan women's basketball player to score 1,000 points in her MSU career.
• Ayrault drained a season-high eight field goals, while tying a season-high with one 3-pointer and was also perfect at the charity stripe for the first time this season at 2-for-2, but was her third game with multiple free throws made.
• Woodard doubled her previous season-high of eight points vs. Oakland (11/5/24) just in 3-pointers, making 4-of-4 and adding one field goal inside the arc to continue unblemished shooting night with a 2-of-2 outing at the free throw line for 16 points in just the final 6:31, an average of 2.5 points per minute, and all in the fourth quarter. Woodard checked in with 6:31 to play and promptly drained a triple on MSU's next possession, then after teammate Nyla Hampton made two free throws, Woodard netted MSU's final 13 points, tallying 16 of the Spartans' final 18 points, including draining 3-pointers on three-straight trips down the court.
• VanSlooten returned to action after missing last game due to illness, netting 15 points and pulling down a game-high nine rebounds . . . VanSlooten registered double-figures for the third time in as many games played this season and has netted at least 15 in all three games, with 15 both Thursday and in the season-opener vs. Oakland (11/5/24), while posting a season-high 19 points vs. Yale (11/8/24).
• With nine rebounds Thursday night, VanSlooten also tied her season-high, matching the nine boards from game one vs. Oakland and had snared five or more rebounds in all three games played with five rebounds vs. Yale.
• Hallock scored 10+ points for the fourth time in as many games this season with 14 points Thursday . . . the Spartan guard has netted double-figures in five-consecutive games and in seven of her last eight games played and 13 of the last 15 games dating back to last season . . . the junior has posted 10+ points in 21 of her last 29 games since Nov. 30, 2023, her first double-figure outing last season after scoring in single-digits the first six games of the season, and only scoring in single-digits in back-to-back games once during that span.
• Hallock also dished out a game and season-high nine assists, doubling her previous season-best of four Hallock helpers done twice previously, both coming in the last two games . . . Hallock has distributed 17 assists in her last three games (5.7 apg), and has led MSU in helpers twice this season.
MSU has opened 4-0 for the second time in as many seasons under head coach Robyn Fralick. Michigan State also started 4-0 for the sixth-straight season since going 3-1 to open the 2018-19 season. EKU falls to 1-3 this season. The was the first meeting between the Spartans and the Colonels.
The Spartans had four players reach double figures led by 19 points and eight rebounds from graduate guard Julia Ayrault. Junior forward Grace VanSlooten scored 15 points with nine rebounds, while junior guard Theryn Hallock 14 points and added a season-high nine assists. Freshman guard Juliann Woodard dazzled the Spartan faithful in the fourth quarter with 16 points in the period. Michigan State scored 24 points from the charity stripe, going 24-for-33 on the night.
EKU was led by 17 points from Alice Recanati.
After a 3-pointer by Raphaela Toussaint, EKU took a 5-3 lead which was the first time that the Spartans had trailed all season. The Michigan State offense got off to a slow start, going 3-for-10 to start the game. MSU went over three minutes without a field goal but made four-straight free throws to tie the score at 11. The Spartans made five of their final seven baskets to take a 19-15 at the end of the period. Senior guard/forward Jocelyn Tate led MSU with six points after the first period.
In the second quarter, the Spartans shooting woes continued, but they were able to get themselves to the free throw line. MSU used a 7-0 run to take a 32-28 lead. At the end of the first half, Hallock, Ayrault and Van Slooten all scored seven points to led the Spartans, who were on top 39-35 at the break.
Michigan State scored the first six points of the third period to take its first double-digit lead 45-35 with under eight minutes left in the quarter. Back-to-back old-fashioned 3-pointers from Ayrault pushed the MSU lead 58-45. The Spartans used a 12-0 spark to take its first 20-points lead, 67-45 with 40 seconds left in the stanza. MSU out-scored EKU 30-12 in the period to create much-needed separation from the Colonels.
The Spartans scored the first 14 points of the fourth quarter, as MSU pulled away for good. Once Michigan State emptied its bench, it became the Juliann Woodard show. The freshman scored 16 points in just over six minutes, including going 4-for-4 from beyond the arc.
Michigan State will hit the road for the first time this season, traveling to Western Michigan on Sunday, Nov. 17. at 5 p.m.
Michigan State Women's Basketball Post-Game Notes
• Michigan State netted 95+ points for the fourth-consecutive game with 96 points Thursday night after 107 in last week's season-opener vs. Oakland on Nov. 5, 100 points vs. Yale on Nov. 8 and 95 points last time out vs. Eastern Michigan on Nov. 11 . . . it marks the first time since the 2017-18 season that MSU has scored 95+ points in its first fourth games when the Spartans matched this year's scoring through the first three games with 100 points in the season-opener (100-58 vs. Robert Morris on 11/11/17), 95 in game two (95-63 vs. Oakland on 11/13/17) and 107 in game three (107-43 vs. Charleston), before posting 97 in game four (11/21/17).
• MSU has opened 4-0 for the second time in as many seasons under head coach Robyn Fralick . . . Michigan State also started 4-0 for the sixth-straight season since a 3-1 start to open the 2018-19 season.
• The Spartans have won 17 of their last 19 home games at the Breslin Center, after starting this season 4-0 following posting a 13-2 ledger last season at home . . . overall, MSU has won 28 of its last 36 home games dating back to the 2022-23 season.
• MSU outscored EKU, 57-19 in the second half, pulling away from a 39-35 halftime score with a 30-point third quarter and 27 points in the fourth frame.
• The 57-point scoring output in the second half was MSU's season-high for most points scored in the second half, topping 50 points after halftime in the game vs. Yale (11/8/24) and was one point shy of the season-best for most points in a half, as the Spartans scored 58 in the season-opener vs. Oakland (11/5/24) and last time out vs. Eastern Michigan (11/11/14).
• The 19 points in the second half was the fewest allowed by the Spartans after intermission this season, bettering the previous mark of 24 second-half points by Oakland (11/5).
• MSU's 30 points in the third quarter was the most points scoring in the third stanza in the four games and was three shy of the Spartans' most points scored in a quarter behind the 33-point fourth quarter vs. Yale (11/8/24), and the third time scoring 30+ points in a quarter, joining 31 points in the first quarter in game one vs. Oakland (11/5/24).
• Michigan State's defense held the opposition to single-digit scoring in at least one quarter for the fourth-straight game by stymieing EKU to just seven points in the fourth quarter . . . overall it was the eighth time in 16 quarters through the first four contests this season that MSU has limited its opponent to single-digit scoring in a quarter . . . Thursday's fourth quarter was joined by holding EMU to nine points in the third quarter last time out, after limiting Yale to nine points in both the first and second quarters on Nov. 8 and to Oakland in the second and fourth quarter in the season-opener on Nov. 5.
• EKU was the first opponent through four games to score more than 50 points on MSU, as the Spartans held their first three opponents under 50 points (42 by Oakland, 45 by Yale, 49 by Eastern Michigan).
• Michigan State also netted 30+ field goals for the fourth game in a row with 31 field goals Thursday night, after making a season-high 38 field goals Monday night vs. Eastern Michigan . . . the Spartans also netted 50 percent or better in all four games, netting 51.7 percent (31-of-60) Thursday after making 57.6 percent (38-of-66) Monday night vs. EMU after 52.4 percent (33-of-63) vs. Yale and 50.0 percent (35-of-70) vs. Oakland.
• MSU made 10 3-pointers Thursday night, finishing a season-high 50 percent (10-of-20) . . . the 10 treys were the Spartans' second game this season with double-digit triples, joining the season-best 11 3-pointers in the season-opener vs. Oakland (11/5/24).
• Michigan State pulled down a season-high 46 rebounds, including 13 offensive boards, which led to a 15-3 second-chance points advantage . . . the Spartans pulled down 13 O-boards for the second game in a row after 13 last time out vs. Eastern Michigan, and the third game with double-digits offensive rebounds behind a season-best 17 in game one vs. Oakland.
• MSU swatted a season-high seven blocks, getting rejections from four different players, including a season-high three blocks by junior forward Grace VanSlooten and two by graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault, while junior guard Emma Shumate and redshirt-freshman center Mary Meng had one block apiece.
• Four or more Spartans scored in double-figures for the fourth time in as many outings after four MSU players posted 10+ points Thursday night, led by graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault's season-high 19 points, followed by freshman forward Julia Woodard's season-high 16 points . . . junior forward Grace VanSlooten returned to action with 15 points, followed by 14 points by junior guard Tharyn Hallock.
• Ayrault netted her season-high with 19 points Thursday, as she has recorded double-figures in all four contests this season and in 17-straight games and 28 of her last 33 ballgames played since the start of the 2023-24 season . . . Ayrault posted her 42nd career game in double-figures.
• The 19 points by Ayrault moves her career total to 964 points, just 36 points away from becoming the 31st Spartan women's basketball player to score 1,000 points in her MSU career.
• Ayrault drained a season-high eight field goals, while tying a season-high with one 3-pointer and was also perfect at the charity stripe for the first time this season at 2-for-2, but was her third game with multiple free throws made.
• Woodard doubled her previous season-high of eight points vs. Oakland (11/5/24) just in 3-pointers, making 4-of-4 and adding one field goal inside the arc to continue unblemished shooting night with a 2-of-2 outing at the free throw line for 16 points in just the final 6:31, an average of 2.5 points per minute, and all in the fourth quarter. Woodard checked in with 6:31 to play and promptly drained a triple on MSU's next possession, then after teammate Nyla Hampton made two free throws, Woodard netted MSU's final 13 points, tallying 16 of the Spartans' final 18 points, including draining 3-pointers on three-straight trips down the court.
• VanSlooten returned to action after missing last game due to illness, netting 15 points and pulling down a game-high nine rebounds . . . VanSlooten registered double-figures for the third time in as many games played this season and has netted at least 15 in all three games, with 15 both Thursday and in the season-opener vs. Oakland (11/5/24), while posting a season-high 19 points vs. Yale (11/8/24).
• With nine rebounds Thursday night, VanSlooten also tied her season-high, matching the nine boards from game one vs. Oakland and had snared five or more rebounds in all three games played with five rebounds vs. Yale.
• Hallock scored 10+ points for the fourth time in as many games this season with 14 points Thursday . . . the Spartan guard has netted double-figures in five-consecutive games and in seven of her last eight games played and 13 of the last 15 games dating back to last season . . . the junior has posted 10+ points in 21 of her last 29 games since Nov. 30, 2023, her first double-figure outing last season after scoring in single-digits the first six games of the season, and only scoring in single-digits in back-to-back games once during that span.
• Hallock also dished out a game and season-high nine assists, doubling her previous season-best of four Hallock helpers done twice previously, both coming in the last two games . . . Hallock has distributed 17 assists in her last three games (5.7 apg), and has led MSU in helpers twice this season.
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