No. 15 Spartans Return to the Road to Face No. 11 Iowa in Sunday Night Battle

EAST LANSING, Mich. - No. 15/14 Michigan State women's basketball hits the road to take on No. 11/13 Iowa on Sunday, Jan. 18. Tipoff time is set for 8 p.m. ET. The Hawkeyes will be the second-straight ranked team that MSU has faced. Chris Vosters and Brenda VanLengen will be on the call for BTN.

• The Spartans are off to their best start in school history, winning nine-straight games. After a 73-71 win over No. 24 Nebraska, Michigan State improved to 17-1 overall and 6-1 in Big Ten. MSU's 6-1 B1G record is also its best league record through seven conference contests since 1996-97.

• Iowa remains undefeated in league play after a 74-66 home win over Oregon. The Hawkeyes are 15-2 overall and are a perfect 9-0 at Carver-Hawkeye arena this season.

• With the 22 points and two rebounds Thursday, Grace VanSlooten has tallied 88 points and 43 rebounds in the last five games, since being held to eight points and four rebounds vs. Rutgers (12/28/25). VanSlooten is averaging 17.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game over the last five outings.

• Emma Shumate now has a team-leading 40 3-pointers on the season out of 43 total field goal. Shumate is averaging 2.2 3-pointers per game for the season.

SCOUTING IOWA
No. 11/13 Iowa holds an overall record of 15-2 and are 6-0 in Big Ten play. The Hawkeyes join UCLA as the only undefeated teams in B1G play. Iowa's only losses this season came against Iowa State and UConn.

Ava Heiden leads the team in scoring 15.8 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. Heiden is 13th in the Big Ten in scoring. Hannah Stuelke is second in scoring 13.8 ppg. She is also third in the league in rebounding with 8.5 rpg

The Hawkeyes are scoring 80.5 ppg, while only allowing 61.64 ppg. They are shooting 48.9 percent from the field. Iowa is solid on the boards, averaging 42.4 rpg.

Jan Jensen is in her second season at the helm of the Hawkeyes. She holds a 38-13 record in her two seasons. The long-time Iowa assistant coach is a 1991 Drake graduate.

SERIES HISTORY VS. THE HAWKEYES
Iowa holds the series lead with Michigan State, 44-31. The Spartans lead in East Lansing 18-17, while Iowa is on top in Iowa City, 23-10. On neutral ground, the Hawkeyes lead, 4-3.

Last season, the teams split their two meetings. Michigan State won the regular-season battle in East Lansing, winning 68-66 on Dec. 15, 2024. The Spartans trailed by as many as nine points in the fourth quarter, but came out on top in the Big Ten opener for both teams. Julia Ayrault led MSU with 19 points.

In the Big Ten Tournament in Indianapolis on March 6, the Hawkeyes upset the Spartans, 74-61. Grace VanSlooten led the Spartans with a double-double.

LOOKING TO TREND LIKE 2016
Michigan State looks to roll it back to 2016, looking for its first win against Iowa in Iowa City. On Feb. 7, 2016, the Spartans defeated Iowa 74-69. MSU was led by 25 points from Aerial Powers in the game.

FRALICK REACHES A MILESTONE
Michigan State head coach Robyn Fralick reached a career milestone against Illinois on Jan. 4. With the win, she earned her 250th career win. She now holds a 253-96 record in 12 seasons as a head coach. She has won 61 games at MSU.

DID YOU KNOW?
Michigan State's No. 14 ranking in the Coaches' Poll is its highest since Feb. 1, 2016. The Spartans have held strong at No. 15 in the AP for two weeks, last reaching that mark on Dec. 17, 2024.

DID YOU ALSO KNOW?
The Spartans have now won nine-straight games, their longest win streak since winning the first 10 contests last season, opening the 2024-25 season with 10-straight wins.

CARDIAC KIDS
The Spartans have won the last two games by a combined total of six points. MSU defeated Oregon on the road 85-81 on Jan. 11. Michigan State also fought to a 73-71 win over Nebraska on Jan. 15.

MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG
Michigan State improved to 17-1 overall, for it's best record in program history through 18 games, bettering the previous best start since 2010-11 when going 16-1 before losing game 18. MSU's 6-1 B1G record is also its best league record through seven conference contests since 1996-97 when also going 6-1 on the way to opening 8-1 in league play.

NO NONSENSE NINE
Winning nine-straight games, the Spartans hold the second-longest winning streak in the Big Ten behind UCLA, which has won 10 in a row. During the winning streak, Michigan State is scoring 82.4 ppg, while allowing only 64.3 ppg. Grace VanSlooten leads the team in scoring with 15.3 ppg. Rashunda Jones is second in scoring with 14.7 ppg. The Spartan have reached the 80-point mark seven times during the stretch. MSU is shooting 48.0 percent from the field and 34.1 percent from beyond the arc during the streak.

BY THE NUMBERS vs. NEBRASKA

Michigan State had six blocks Thursday, led by sophomore forward Juliann Woodard's career-high tying two blocks. The six blocks was MSU's ninth game overall this season with five or more blocks, as well as just the second time in a Big Ten game, joining the season-high nine rejections in the game vs. Illinois (1/4/26).
Michigan State played at home for only the second time in the last five games in the 2026 portion of the schedule, with the Spartans' only other home game on Jan. 4. MSU improved to 9-0 at home and are 4-0 in neutral games and 4-1 in road games.

RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT TIME
Sophomore forward Juliann Woodard netted three 3-pointers on Jan. 11 against Oregon, all coming at pivotal moments in the game. The three triples were Woodard's most in a Big Ten game this season and her second-most in a game this season behind her career-high five triples vs. Eastern Illinois (11/20/25). She continued her trend of being in the right place at the right time against Nebraska on Jan. 15. Woodard got an offensive rebound and drew a foul with five seconds left, hitting 2-of-2 free throws for the game-winning points.

GETTING IN THE STARTING LINEUP
After using the same starting lineup for seven games, Michigan State used a different starting lineup against Clemson on Nov. 30. After an injury to Theryn Hallock, MSU went with the lineup for senior forward Grace VanSlooten, senior forward Marah Dykstra, senior guard Emma Shumate, junior guard Rashunda Jones and redshirt-sophomore guard Kennedy Blair. MSU is 2-1 with that lineup. MSU rolled out its third lineup against Indiana State with Blair, Jones, Van Slooten, Inés Sotelo and Sara Sambolić, which is now 1-0. The Spartans changed it up for a fourth time against No. 15 Ole Miss and Rutgers with VanSlooten, Jones, Blair, Sotelo and Isaline Alexander making the starting five.

Yet another lineup was debuted against Indiana in Blair, Jones, VanSlooten, Sotelo and Jalyn Brown with that group improving to 5-0 after defeating Nebraska on Jan. 15. Overall, MSU has had five different starting lineups. VanSlooten, Blair and Jones are the only three Spartans to start all 18 games.

KEEPING UP WITH JONES
During the Spartans' nine-game winning streak, junior guard Rashunda Jones has been superb, reaching double figures in all nine games. She has averaged 13.0 ppg during that stretch. She has shot 52.7 percent from the field, 31.7 percent from beyond the arc and 86.3 percent from the charity stripe. She scored a season-high 23 points in the road win against Oregon on Jan. 11. She has been getting involved in all facets of the game with 3.6 rebounds per game and 3.9 assists per game. She registered her first Spartan double-double at No. 23 Washington with 17 points and 10 boards on Jan. 8.

TAKING DOWN THE BEST
No. 24/23 Michigan State knocked off No. 15/15 Ole Miss on Dec. 22 for the Spartans' highest ranked win under head coach Robyn Fralick. It was the Spartans' third overall win over an AP Top 25 team in their three seasons under Coach Fralick, with all three coming in last two years after beating No. 21 Iowa (68-66, 12/15/24) and No. 24 Michigan (88-58, 1/25/25). Michigan State improved to 3-0 against ranked teams this season after an 82-67 road victory over No. 23 Washington on Jan. 8 and a 73-71 win over No. 24 Nebraska on Jan. 15.

SPARTANS VS. THE NCAA
After the first 18 games, Michigan State stands sixth in the nation in assist/turnover ratio (1.64). The Spartans are eighth in the NCAA and first in the Big Ten in turnover margin (+10.1). Michigan State is 11th in scoring margin and fourth in the Big Ten (+28.7). MSU is sixth in the country in field goal percentage, 50.2 percent and 10th in 3-point shooting percentage (37.8 percent). Redshirt-sophomore guard Kennedy Blair is 21st in the NCAA in assists per game (5.7 apg). Emma Shumate is 18th in the nation in 3-point field goal percentage (.444).

STRONG BENCH
The Spartans' 59 points scored by their bench was more than Eastern Illinois' entire team scoring of 53 points on Nov. 20. Against DePaul on Dec. 14, the Spartan bench scored 44 of 90 points. MSU kept that trend up against Indiana State with 64 bench points. This season, the MSU bench has out-scored opponents 561-328. The Spartans are 13-1 this season when their bench out-scored their opponent.

HOME SWEET HOME
MSU played its sixth-straight game away from home on Dec. 22 against No. 15 Ole Miss as the Spartans are now 8-0 at home, 4-0 in neutral games and 2-1 in road games. When Michigan State faced Rutgers on Dec. 28, it had been 35 days since its last game at the Breslin Center against Oakland on Nov. 23. In January, the Spartans will play five of their eight games away from the Breslin Center. MSU is 8-0 at the Breslin Center this year.

SUNDAY FUNDAY
With the Spartans' win against Oregon on Jan. 11, Michigan State is now 8-1 on Sunday, their most-played day of the week. MSU is also 6-1 in day games.

BRINGING HOME THE HARDWARE
By winning the 2025 Cherokee Invitational crown, Michigan State not only defended its 2023 Cherokee Invitational championship, but also collected its second tournament title of the season after winning the Baha Mar Hoops Nassau Championship of the Junkanoo Division in the Bahamas on Nov. 30. It is also MSU's fourth tournament title in the last three seasons after winning the 2023 Cherokee Invitational and the 2024 Acrisure Classic crown last season in Palm Springs, Calif.

CONSISTENTLY FINDING BUCKETS
With the 22 points and two rebounds Thursday, Grace VanSlooten has tallied 88 points and 43 rebounds in the last five games, since being held to eight points and four rebounds vs. Rutgers (12/28/25). VanSlooten is averaging 17.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game over the last five outings.

Thursday was VanSlooten's 100th game of her collegiate career netting double-digits, and she's now posted double-figures in 100 out of the 112 career games, logging 10+ points in 55 games during her time at Oregon.

LOOKING AT THE NET
In the current women's basketball NET ranking, the Spartans stand No. 8. They are third among Big Ten schools behind No. 2 UCLA and No. 6 Michigan. UConn stands No. 1.

RANKED TEAMS IN BIG TEN
This Big Ten continues to be one of the toughest conferences in the country with seven teams in the top 15 in the rankings. In the AP poll, UCLA is No. 4, while Michigan is No. 8. Iowa moved up to No. 11 followed by Maryland (No. 12), Ohio State (No. 14) and Michigan State No. 15. Nebraska stands No.24, while Illinois is No. 25. Minnesota, Washington, USC and Oregon are all receiving votes.

BIG TIME BIG TEN NUMBERS
The Spartans are second in the Big Ten in scoring offense, averaging 88.7 ppg and fourth in scoring margin (+28.7). Michigan State is also first in 3-point field goal field percentage (.378). The Spartans stand third in assists per game, averaging 19.6 apg and second in steals per game with 12.2 spg.

Individually, Rashunda Jones is tied for second in the league in steals per game, averaging 2.61 spg, while senior forward Grace VanSlooten is tied for 10th (1.89 spg). Kennedy Blair is also fourth in assists with 5.72 apg. Jones is sixth in the B1G in assist/turnover ratio (2.45).

FINDING THE MAGIC NUMBER
Michigan State's 102 points against Oakland on Nov. 23 marked the Spartans' sixth time out of six games scoring 90+ points. MSU's 90 points against DePaul on Dec. 14 was the first time reaching 90 in the last four games, after the Spartans had scored 90 or more points in each of the first six games of the season. MSU is now 7-0 when scoring 90+ points.
The Spartans' 115 points in the win against Indiana State on Dec. 21 was MSU's second-most of the season, behind the season-high 125 points in the season-opener vs. Mercyhurst (11/4/25). It was Michigan State's fourth 100-point game, moving to 4-0.

WELCOME BACK
After tearing her ACL on Jan. 22, 2025 against Penn State, Juliann Woodard returned to the lineup against Eastern Michigan. Woodard entered the game at the 3:46 mark of the fourth quarter. At the 3:39 point, she drained her first shot, which was a 3-pointer. Her trey gave the Spartans a 32-point advantage.

ADDING UP THE ACCOLADES
Senior forward Grace VanSlooten was named to the 2025-26 Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy Women's College Player of the Year Watch List Presented by AXIA Time. She was one of 50 players named to the watch list that honors the best players in the nation.

VanSlooten is one of 13 Big Ten players named to the watch list, including her team USA teammate Hannah Stuelke from Iowa. VanSlooten was also named to the Preseason All-Big Ten team as well the Cheryl Miller Award Watch List.

HOLDING ON TO THE BALL
The Spartans only had three turnovers on Nov. 4 against Mercyhurst, also setting a school record for fewest turnovers, bettering the previous record of five done three previous times, first done in a 56-55 win at Northwestern on Jan. 22, 1989, then again in a 76-69 win vs. Stanford on March 29, 2005 and most recently in a 68-66 win over Toledo on March 18, 2018. Against Illinois, MSU had only six turnovers, which was the fifth time this season that the Spartans had single-digit turnovers.

BRINGING HOME THE GOLD
Three players earned gold medals for their home countries this summer. Grace VanSlooten won the FIBA Women's Americup for Team USA. Marah Dykstra won gold for Canada in the FIBA 3x3 Junior Pan American Games. Inés Sotelo and Spain won a gold medal in the 2025 FIBA Eurobasket.

O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN!
Michigan State head coach Robyn Fralick has announced senior forward Grace VanSlooten and senior guard Abbey Kimball as team captains, as voted on by the players on the 2025-26 women's basketball team. This is the first time that either has been named a captain for Michigan State. VanSlooten is in her second season with MSU after transferring from Oregon. Kimball is in her fourth season as a Spartan.

NEW DIGS
The Spartans welcome four transfers to the 2025-26 season. Rashunda Jones is a junior guard, who comes to Michigan State after two years at Purdue. Marah Dykstra is a senior forward who spent three season at Montana State in the Big Sky Conference. Jalyn Brown is the second-straight player to come to MSU from Arizona State. The guard played two seasons at ASU. Last season, senior Jaddan Simmons spent one season with MSU. Finally, Sara Sambolić is a junior guard from Slovenia who transferred from the University of Ljubljana.

ROBYN FRALICK RADIO SHOW
Michigan State women's basketball head coach Robyn Fralick started her weekly radio call-in show, the Robyn Fralick Radio Show, on Nov. 18 at One North Kitchen and Bar. Coach Fralick joins host Dalton Shetler, the Spartans' play-by-play voice, from 12-1 p.m., for an in-depth look into the MSU women's basketball program.

Radio Show Dates
Tuesday, Jan. 20
Tuesday, Jan. 27
Tuesday, Feb. 3
Tuesday Feb. 10
Tuesday, Feb. 17
Tuesday, Feb. 24

No. 15 Spartans Return to the Road to Face No. 11 Iowa in Sunday Night Battle

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Players Mentioned

Isaline Alexander

Julia Ayrault

Kennedy Blair

Jalyn Brown

Marah Dykstra

Theryn Hallock

Rashunda Jones

Abbey Kimball

Emma Shumate

Jaddan Simmons

Grace VanSlooten

Juliann Woodard

No. 15 Spartans Return to the Road to Face No. 11 Iowa in Sunday Night Battle

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Next Event

Players Mentioned

Isaline Alexander

Julia Ayrault

Kennedy Blair

Jalyn Brown

Marah Dykstra

Theryn Hallock

Rashunda Jones

Abbey Kimball

Emma Shumate

Jaddan Simmons

Grace VanSlooten

Juliann Woodard

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