Thursday, December 19
West Palm Beach, Fla.
12 PM
Michigan State University
11-0,1-0Big Ten
69
vs
38
Montana
4-6,0-0Big Sky
1
2
3
4
F
Michigan St.
18
23
24
4
69
Montana
13
6
5
14
38
Team Stats
MSU
Mont
FG%
.435
.327
3FG%
.227
.300
FT%
.769
.000
RB
35
32
TO
18
30
STL
16
9
Game Leaders
Pts
15
FGM
6
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
13
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
No. 15/17 MSU Defense Tames Lady Griz, 69-38
12/19/2024 4:12:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Four Spartans score in double figures in the win.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - No. 15/17 Michigan State women's basketball opened the West Palm Beach Classic with a dominating 69-38 win over Montana Thursday, behind a tough defense that forced 30 Lady Griz turnovers.
With the win, the Spartans improved to 11-0, which is extends their best start in program history. Montana falls to 4-6, losing three-straight games.
The Spartans had four players reach the double-figure mark led by graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault who scored 15 points in only 18 minutes of action. Off the bench, freshman center Inés Sotelo was stellar on both sides of the court. She tied her career high with 13 points and added two steals and one block. Junior guard Theryn Hallock scored 11 points with four assists and two steals off the bench, while junior Grace VanSlooten rounded out the double-figuring scoring with 10 points.
The was the first time in Michigan State history that the opposing team was held without a free throw attempt, while MSU was 10-for-13 from the charity stripe.
The Lady Griz had no players in double figures, but were led by seven points from Adria Lincoln.
Michigan State led much of the first period, but were not able to shake the Lady Griz. A steal and a score by Ayrault gave the Spartans a 16-11 lead with just over a minute remaining in the period. MSU forced four Lady Griz turnovers in the final three minutes of the quarter to lead 18-13 at the end of the first period. Ayrault led the Spartans with six points.
In the second quarter, the Spartans used a 12-0 run to take their first double-digit lead 30-15. Michigan State scored 14 of the first 16 points of the period. Montana went nearly six minutes without scoring, as the Spartans went on to score 21 straight before a basket by MJ Bruno made it a 39-17 game with under three minutes left in the half. At the break, Ayrault led all scorers with 13 points. MSU forced 15 turnovers in the first half.
Michigan State used another 10-0 run to increase the lead to 56-22 with 4:35 left in the third period. The run increased to 19-0 as the Spartans held the Lady Griz to only five points in the period. Eight different Spartans scored in the third quarter, led by Sotelo's six.
Montana scored the first five points of the fourth period. With the Spartan bench playing most of the fourth quarter, the Lady Griz out-scored the Spartans 14-4 in the final 10 minutes. Redshirt-freshman guard Kennedy Blair and freshman forward Helen Holley provided the scoring for MSU in the fourth quarter.
MSU will close out action before the holiday break against RV/No. 24 Alabama on Friday, Dec. 20 at 4:30 p.m. in the final game of the West Palm Beach Classic.
MSU Women's Basketball Notes
• Michigan State improves to 11-0 for the first time in program history, continuing to improve on its best start, topping the previous best starts of 8-0 in the 2012-13 and 2020-21 seasons, before losing their ninth game those two seasons.
• The MSU women's 11-0 start is just the third 11-0 start for all Michigan State basketball teams, joining two Spartan men's teams from the 2000-01 (12-0) and 2015-16 (13-0) seasons that all started 11-0.
• The Michigan State women remain one of four unbeaten teams in the Big Ten and one of nine in the NCAA Division I ... in the B1G, MSU is joined by Ohio State (11-0), UCLA (11-0) and Maryland (10-0) ... Tennessee, Portland, Buffalo, Georgia Tech and LSU are the other remaining undefeated teams in NCAA Division I.
• The Spartans have won their last 16 regular-season games dating back to last year, finishing with five-straight wins in 2023-24 and opening this season 11-0 . . . the 16-game regular-season win streak overlapping last year and this season betters MSU's longest winning streak of 14 regular-season games in a row during the 2010-11 season, and is the longest win streak of any kind since a 17-game win streak in 2004-05 en route to winning a share of the Big Ten regular-season crown and the Big Ten Tournament title.
• The current 11-game win streak is MSU's longest win streak in the same season since the Spartans won 14 in a row in 2010-11.
• Michigan State held Montana to just 38 points, a season-low for the Spartan defense, and the fewest points allowed since holding Delaware State to 37 points in an 86-37 Victory for MSU on Nov. 7, 2022.
• The Spartans held the Lady Griz to their season-low of 38 points, seven fewer than their previous low of 45, which also came against a Big Ten opponent in a battle of UM's as Montana lost at Minnesota, 84-45, on Nov. 24, 2024 . . . Thursday's 38 points was also Montana's fewest points Jan. 24, 2019 with 34 points in a 50-34 loss at Idaho State.
• MSU's defense also limited Montana to just six points in the second quarter and five in the third quarter . . . the five-point third quarter is the fewest points in a quarter allowed by Michigan State defense this season and ties the school record for fewest points allowed in a third quarter, matching five points scored in the third quarter done twice before vs. both Oakland (11/15/22) and Charleston (11/19/17) . . . it also tied for the third fewest points allowed in any quarter behind two points (first quarter vs. Davidson, 11/11/16; fourth quarter vs. Illinois, 2/24/16) and four points ( second quarter in aforementioned game vs. Oakland, 11/15/22).
• The two single-digit scoring quarters marked the fifth game in holding the opposition under 10 points in a quarter, joining the season-opener with second (8 points) and fourth (9) quarters vs. Oakland (11/5/24), first (9) and second (9) quarters vs. Yale (11/8/24), first (8) and fourth (9) quarters at Western Michigan (11/17/24), along with the first (8) and fourth (8) quarters vs. Detroit Mercy (11/20/24).
• MSU has now registered at least one single-digit scoring in eight of the 11 games, and the Spartans have stymied the opposition to single-digit scoring in 13 quarters out of the 44 total quarters played through 11 games.
• Michigan State's defense made school history as MSU did not allow Montana to shoot a free throw, as the Lady Griz were 0-0 at the free throw line, with Michigan State only committing 11 fouls, its second-fewest of the season, behind only 10 fouls at Western Michigan (11/17/24).
• The Spartans had an 18-0 fast-break points advantage, a season-low for an opponent.
• Michigan State dished out 20 assists, its seventh game with 20 or more helpers.
• The MSU defense forced 30 Montana turnovers, marking the fourth game this season that the Spartan D forced 30+ turnovers, behind the season-high 33 in the season-opener vs. Oakland (11/5/24), 32 vs. Detroit Mercy (11/20/24) and 31 vs. Yale (11/8/24).
With the win, the Spartans improved to 11-0, which is extends their best start in program history. Montana falls to 4-6, losing three-straight games.
The Spartans had four players reach the double-figure mark led by graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault who scored 15 points in only 18 minutes of action. Off the bench, freshman center Inés Sotelo was stellar on both sides of the court. She tied her career high with 13 points and added two steals and one block. Junior guard Theryn Hallock scored 11 points with four assists and two steals off the bench, while junior Grace VanSlooten rounded out the double-figuring scoring with 10 points.
The was the first time in Michigan State history that the opposing team was held without a free throw attempt, while MSU was 10-for-13 from the charity stripe.
The Lady Griz had no players in double figures, but were led by seven points from Adria Lincoln.
Michigan State led much of the first period, but were not able to shake the Lady Griz. A steal and a score by Ayrault gave the Spartans a 16-11 lead with just over a minute remaining in the period. MSU forced four Lady Griz turnovers in the final three minutes of the quarter to lead 18-13 at the end of the first period. Ayrault led the Spartans with six points.
In the second quarter, the Spartans used a 12-0 run to take their first double-digit lead 30-15. Michigan State scored 14 of the first 16 points of the period. Montana went nearly six minutes without scoring, as the Spartans went on to score 21 straight before a basket by MJ Bruno made it a 39-17 game with under three minutes left in the half. At the break, Ayrault led all scorers with 13 points. MSU forced 15 turnovers in the first half.
Michigan State used another 10-0 run to increase the lead to 56-22 with 4:35 left in the third period. The run increased to 19-0 as the Spartans held the Lady Griz to only five points in the period. Eight different Spartans scored in the third quarter, led by Sotelo's six.
Montana scored the first five points of the fourth period. With the Spartan bench playing most of the fourth quarter, the Lady Griz out-scored the Spartans 14-4 in the final 10 minutes. Redshirt-freshman guard Kennedy Blair and freshman forward Helen Holley provided the scoring for MSU in the fourth quarter.
MSU will close out action before the holiday break against RV/No. 24 Alabama on Friday, Dec. 20 at 4:30 p.m. in the final game of the West Palm Beach Classic.
MSU Women's Basketball Notes
• Michigan State improves to 11-0 for the first time in program history, continuing to improve on its best start, topping the previous best starts of 8-0 in the 2012-13 and 2020-21 seasons, before losing their ninth game those two seasons.
• The MSU women's 11-0 start is just the third 11-0 start for all Michigan State basketball teams, joining two Spartan men's teams from the 2000-01 (12-0) and 2015-16 (13-0) seasons that all started 11-0.
• The Michigan State women remain one of four unbeaten teams in the Big Ten and one of nine in the NCAA Division I ... in the B1G, MSU is joined by Ohio State (11-0), UCLA (11-0) and Maryland (10-0) ... Tennessee, Portland, Buffalo, Georgia Tech and LSU are the other remaining undefeated teams in NCAA Division I.
• The Spartans have won their last 16 regular-season games dating back to last year, finishing with five-straight wins in 2023-24 and opening this season 11-0 . . . the 16-game regular-season win streak overlapping last year and this season betters MSU's longest winning streak of 14 regular-season games in a row during the 2010-11 season, and is the longest win streak of any kind since a 17-game win streak in 2004-05 en route to winning a share of the Big Ten regular-season crown and the Big Ten Tournament title.
• The current 11-game win streak is MSU's longest win streak in the same season since the Spartans won 14 in a row in 2010-11.
• Michigan State held Montana to just 38 points, a season-low for the Spartan defense, and the fewest points allowed since holding Delaware State to 37 points in an 86-37 Victory for MSU on Nov. 7, 2022.
• The Spartans held the Lady Griz to their season-low of 38 points, seven fewer than their previous low of 45, which also came against a Big Ten opponent in a battle of UM's as Montana lost at Minnesota, 84-45, on Nov. 24, 2024 . . . Thursday's 38 points was also Montana's fewest points Jan. 24, 2019 with 34 points in a 50-34 loss at Idaho State.
• MSU's defense also limited Montana to just six points in the second quarter and five in the third quarter . . . the five-point third quarter is the fewest points in a quarter allowed by Michigan State defense this season and ties the school record for fewest points allowed in a third quarter, matching five points scored in the third quarter done twice before vs. both Oakland (11/15/22) and Charleston (11/19/17) . . . it also tied for the third fewest points allowed in any quarter behind two points (first quarter vs. Davidson, 11/11/16; fourth quarter vs. Illinois, 2/24/16) and four points ( second quarter in aforementioned game vs. Oakland, 11/15/22).
• The two single-digit scoring quarters marked the fifth game in holding the opposition under 10 points in a quarter, joining the season-opener with second (8 points) and fourth (9) quarters vs. Oakland (11/5/24), first (9) and second (9) quarters vs. Yale (11/8/24), first (8) and fourth (9) quarters at Western Michigan (11/17/24), along with the first (8) and fourth (8) quarters vs. Detroit Mercy (11/20/24).
• MSU has now registered at least one single-digit scoring in eight of the 11 games, and the Spartans have stymied the opposition to single-digit scoring in 13 quarters out of the 44 total quarters played through 11 games.
• Michigan State's defense made school history as MSU did not allow Montana to shoot a free throw, as the Lady Griz were 0-0 at the free throw line, with Michigan State only committing 11 fouls, its second-fewest of the season, behind only 10 fouls at Western Michigan (11/17/24).
• The Spartans had an 18-0 fast-break points advantage, a season-low for an opponent.
• Michigan State dished out 20 assists, its seventh game with 20 or more helpers.
• The MSU defense forced 30 Montana turnovers, marking the fourth game this season that the Spartan D forced 30+ turnovers, behind the season-high 33 in the season-opener vs. Oakland (11/5/24), 32 vs. Detroit Mercy (11/20/24) and 31 vs. Yale (11/8/24).
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