Michigan State University Athletics
Blair's 21 Points Helps No. 13 MSU Conquer Trojans, 74-68
1/23/2026 12:27:00 AM | Women's Basketball
The Spartans were led by four players in double figures.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Behind a 21-point performance from redshirt-sophomore guard Kennedy Blair, the No. 13/15 Spartan women's basketball team held off the tenacious USC Trojans, 74-68 on Thursday night at the Breslin Center on Breslin Boom Night.
Michigan State improves to 18-2 overall and 7-2 in Big Ten action. USC falls to 11-8 overall 3-5 in Big Ten play.
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The Spartans had four players in double figures led by Blair's fourth 20-point game of the season. She recorded 21 points to go along with six rebounds and five steals, which was a new career high. Senior forward Grace VanSlooten was just shy of a double-double with 16 points and nine rebounds to go along with a team-high three assists. Junior guard Rashunda Jones added 16, while sophomore Inés Sotelo returned to form with 12 points and seven rebounds, tying her season-highs for both points and boards.
USC was led by 23 points from Kara Dunn.
The Spartans defense forced 24 Trojan turnovers, which was a season high for USC. MSU also had 14 steals led by a career-hgih five swipes from Blair.
Michigan State jumped out to an early 9-4 lead after a 3-pointer by Sotelo with under seven minutes left in the first period. A VanSlooten layup gave MSU its first double-digit lead at 18-8. USC used a 6-0 run to trim the Spartan lead to 22-14, the streak was ended by a pair of Jones free throws. MSU was on top after the first 10 minutes 24-17. VanSlooten, Jones and Sotelo all had six points in the first period.
In the second quarter, the Trojans went on a 6-0 run to make it a 26-25 Spartan advantage, leading to an MSU timeout at the 7:55 mark. Londynn Jones put USC on top 35-34 with a 3-pointer as the Spartan offense stalled in the second quarter. MSU was 1-for-12 from the field to end the period, as USC led at the half 37-36. Sotelo and VanSlooten shared the bulk of the scoring with 10 points each.
The teams exchanged leads for much of the third period. The Spartans used a 6-0 run to take a 53-49 lead with under a minute remaining in the period. The MSU defense was tough, forcing six turnovers in the final 3:16.Neither team took bigger than a four-point lead in the tightly contests quarter. A Jones layup with 41 seconds left gave MSU the 53-49 lead.
In the fourth quarter, the Spartans used an 8-0 run over 1:50 to take their first double-digit lead since the first quarter, 64-52. The Trojans responded with a 10-0 run in 42 seconds to make it just a 66-64 MSU lead with four minutes remaining. An old-fashioned three by Blair put MSU back on top by five at 69-64 with 1:57 left. The home team made their free throws down the stretch to seal the Victory for MSU.
The Spartans hit to the road to take on Purdue on Thursday, Jan. 29. The game will be televised on the Big Ten Network.
Michigan State Women's Basketball Post-Game Notes: vs. USC
• No. 13/15 Michigan State improved to 18-2 overall on the season, which is the Spartans' best record in program history since 2010-22, when MSU was also 18-2 through the first 20 games of the season.
• MSU also improved to 7-2 in B1G action, which is also the top conference ledgers since 1996-97 when MSU was 8-2 through 10 league games.
• Thursday was the Spartans' third home game out of their last seven games in January, as MSU had played away from home in 10 of the last 14 games . . . Michigan State remained unbeaten at home at 10-0, while going 4-2 in road games and 4-0 in neutral contests.
• After scoring 80 or more points in the first four games of 2026, Michigan State has now been held under 80 in the last three games, winning two of those three . . . overall, Thursday was the seventh time this season that MSU was held under 80 points, while netting 80 or more points in 13 games . . . the Spartans are now 5-2 when being held under 80 points.
• Thursday was the first meeting between the Spartans and Trojans since 2005 and the first meeting in East Lansing since 1992, the first-ever meeting between Michigan State and USC . . . the Victory for MSU was the first since 2005, and only the second in the series, which is now 3-2 in USC's favor and the series is now 1-1 in East Lansing . . .Â
• MSU is now 5-0 on Thursday's, its second-most played day of the week behind 10 games on Sunday, going 8-2, with both losses of the season coming on a Sunday.
• Michigan State is now 11-1 in night games . . . MSU improved to 6-1 in games played in January.
• Thursday night's game was nationally televised on Big Ten Network, and the Spartans are now 4-2 in games played on BTN . . . Thursday was the third of MSU's four-straight games played on BTN, with the fourth and final of the televised game stretch next Thursday's game at Purdue (1/29/26).
• The Spartans forced the Trojans into 24 turnovers, which are a season-high for USC, topping the previous high mark of 21 turnovers,which came at No. 24 Notre Dame (11/24/25) . . . it was part of only the third game with 20+ miscues for the Trojans, with all three against ranked teams, joining 20 turnovers vs. No. 1 UConn (12/13/25).
• MSU's 24 turnovers forced by USC marked the second time in the last three games that the Spartans have forced 20+ turnovers by the opposition, joining 22 vs. Nebraska (1/15/26) . . . it marked the 12th total time this season that Michigan State's defense has forced the opponents into 20+ turnovers.Â
• Michigan State's 24 turnovers forced was just above the Spartans' season average of 21.74 turnovers forced per game entering Thursday's contest, ranking third in the Big Ten and 21st in the NCAA.
• The Spartans trailed at halftime for the second game in a row and only the fourth time this season, and MSU is now 2-2 when trailing at intermission.
• Michigan State was held to a season-low tying three 3-pointers for the second time in the last three contests including the second-straight home game and the third overall time . . . all three occasions with a season-low three 3-pointers have been home games, matching three triples vs. Nebraska (1/15/26) last home game, and also tying three treys vs. Rutgers (12/28/25).
• MSU started the same starting five for the sixth-straight game, with the feature five of junior guard Rashunda Jones, sophomore center Ines Sotelo, senior forward Grace VanSlooten, redshirt-sophomore guard Kennedy Blair and senior guard Jalyn Brown . . . it marks the Spartans' fifth different starting line-up of the season . . . Michigan State is now 6-1 with that starting five.
• Senior forward Grace VanSlooten, junior guard Rashunda Jones and redshirt-sophomore guard Kennedy Blair all made their 20th-consecutive starts, remaining the only three Spartans to start all 20 contests.
• After having three players in double-figures for the previous two games, the Spartans had four players in double-figure scoring Thursday night, with redshirt-sophomore guard Kennedy Blair spearheading the effort with 21 points, while senior forward Grace VanSlooten and junior guard Rashunda Jones tallied 16 points apiece, and sophomore forward Ines Sotelo tallying 12 points . . . Thursday marked the sixth time this season that four Spartans scored 10+ points, moving to 6-0 when four score in double-digits.
• Redshirt-sophomore guard Kennedy Blair got back in the double-digit scoring column with 21 points Thursday night after being held to just four points last time out at Iowa (1/18/26), snapping her career-long streak of six-straight games with 10+ points . . . overall it was Blair's 13th game this season in double-figures and the 16th of her career.
• Blair's 21 points was her second 20-point outing in the last five games, and both have come against West Coast B1G foes, matching the 21 points at Washington (1/8/26) . . . overall it was Blair's fourth 20-point game of the season and her career, joining her career-best of 25 points vs. Oakland (11/23/25), 22 points vs. Clemson (11/30/25) and the 21 points at Washington.
• Blair netted eight points in the first half, doubling her previous game total of four points at Iowa, and then more than tripled her previous game total with 13 points after halftime.
• Blair swiped a career-high five steals Thursday night, topping her previous top mark of four steals, done twice previous and last vs. Oakland (11/23/25).
• The sophomore guard also pulled down six rebounds, marking the 13th game in a row that she has registered five or more boards, as part of the 17th time out of the 20 games this season that Blair has snared five or more rebounds.Â
• Senior forward Grace VanSlooten tallied 16 points and nine rebounds in Thursday's game . . . VanSlooten now has 121 points and 59 rebounds in the last seven contests, since being held to eight points and four rebounds vs. Rutgers (12/28/25) . . . VanSlooten is averaging 17.3 points and 8.4 rebounds per game over the last seven outings.
• With the 16 points Thursday, VanSlooten has posted double-digit points for the 18th time out of the 20 games this season . . . she now has tallied 10+ points in 37 of the last 40 games . . . she now has logged double-digits in 47 of 51 total games played as a Spartans, being held to single digits twice this season and twice last season, and also missing one game last season due to illness.
• Thursday's 16 points was VanSlooten's 102nd game of her collegiate career logging double-digits, and she's now scored in double-figures in 102 out of the 114 career games, logging 10+ points in 55 games during her time at Oregon.
• VanSlooten pulled down nine rebounds for her 13th game with five or more boards, including doing so in six of the last seven games and seven of the last nine.
• After junior guard Rashunda Jones had her streak of double-digits halted at nine games in the loss at Iowa (1/18/26), matching MSU's win streak at nine-straight victories, Jones got back in the double-figure scoring Thursday night with 16 points . . . Jones now has 15 games with 10+ points.
• Sophomore forward Ines Sotelo tallied 12 points Thursday, tying her season-high and marking the second time this season with double-figures, matching the dozen points vs. Rutgers (12/28/25) . . . overall, it was Sotelo's ninth career game with 10+ points.
• Sotelo pulled down seven rebounds to also tie her career high, marking the second time in the last four games with seven boards, matching her career-best of seven at Oregon.Â
• Sotelo also tied a season and career-high with three steals, matching her season-high of three swipes for the second time this season, also with a trio of steals vs. Rutgers (12/28/25) and tying her career-best three steals for the sixth time of her career . . . Sotelo logged her fourth game this season with multiple steals, including the third time in the last five games . . . the Spartan sophomore has nine steals in the last five games.Â
• With the 12 points and seven boards on Thursday, Sotelo has 31 points, 21 rebounds and seven steals in the last four games, averaging 7.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game over the last four contests.
• Senior guard Emma Shumate had her streak of making at least one 3-pointer in a game halted at seven-straight games, marking her second streak of seven in a row this season, from 11/20/25 to 12/21/25 and also 12/28/25 to 1/18/26 . . . Shumate has made at least one triple in 17 of the 20 games this season.
• Despite not making a 3-pointer on Thursday, Shumate did make a field goal from inside the arc, just her fourth made field goal not a 3-pointers of the season, as she now has 45 total field goals, with 41 made 3-pointers.
• Shumate also added a block Thursday night, as she now has at least one block in seven-straight games as part of a total of nine blocks over the last seven games with a career-high tying three rejections vs. Illinois (1/4/26) . . . she also has at least one block in 11 games this season, with 13 overall blocks on the season.
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Michigan State improves to 18-2 overall and 7-2 in Big Ten action. USC falls to 11-8 overall 3-5 in Big Ten play.
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The Spartans had four players in double figures led by Blair's fourth 20-point game of the season. She recorded 21 points to go along with six rebounds and five steals, which was a new career high. Senior forward Grace VanSlooten was just shy of a double-double with 16 points and nine rebounds to go along with a team-high three assists. Junior guard Rashunda Jones added 16, while sophomore Inés Sotelo returned to form with 12 points and seven rebounds, tying her season-highs for both points and boards.
USC was led by 23 points from Kara Dunn.
The Spartans defense forced 24 Trojan turnovers, which was a season high for USC. MSU also had 14 steals led by a career-hgih five swipes from Blair.
Michigan State jumped out to an early 9-4 lead after a 3-pointer by Sotelo with under seven minutes left in the first period. A VanSlooten layup gave MSU its first double-digit lead at 18-8. USC used a 6-0 run to trim the Spartan lead to 22-14, the streak was ended by a pair of Jones free throws. MSU was on top after the first 10 minutes 24-17. VanSlooten, Jones and Sotelo all had six points in the first period.
In the second quarter, the Trojans went on a 6-0 run to make it a 26-25 Spartan advantage, leading to an MSU timeout at the 7:55 mark. Londynn Jones put USC on top 35-34 with a 3-pointer as the Spartan offense stalled in the second quarter. MSU was 1-for-12 from the field to end the period, as USC led at the half 37-36. Sotelo and VanSlooten shared the bulk of the scoring with 10 points each.
The teams exchanged leads for much of the third period. The Spartans used a 6-0 run to take a 53-49 lead with under a minute remaining in the period. The MSU defense was tough, forcing six turnovers in the final 3:16.Neither team took bigger than a four-point lead in the tightly contests quarter. A Jones layup with 41 seconds left gave MSU the 53-49 lead.
In the fourth quarter, the Spartans used an 8-0 run over 1:50 to take their first double-digit lead since the first quarter, 64-52. The Trojans responded with a 10-0 run in 42 seconds to make it just a 66-64 MSU lead with four minutes remaining. An old-fashioned three by Blair put MSU back on top by five at 69-64 with 1:57 left. The home team made their free throws down the stretch to seal the Victory for MSU.
The Spartans hit to the road to take on Purdue on Thursday, Jan. 29. The game will be televised on the Big Ten Network.
Michigan State Women's Basketball Post-Game Notes: vs. USC
• No. 13/15 Michigan State improved to 18-2 overall on the season, which is the Spartans' best record in program history since 2010-22, when MSU was also 18-2 through the first 20 games of the season.
• MSU also improved to 7-2 in B1G action, which is also the top conference ledgers since 1996-97 when MSU was 8-2 through 10 league games.
• Thursday was the Spartans' third home game out of their last seven games in January, as MSU had played away from home in 10 of the last 14 games . . . Michigan State remained unbeaten at home at 10-0, while going 4-2 in road games and 4-0 in neutral contests.
• After scoring 80 or more points in the first four games of 2026, Michigan State has now been held under 80 in the last three games, winning two of those three . . . overall, Thursday was the seventh time this season that MSU was held under 80 points, while netting 80 or more points in 13 games . . . the Spartans are now 5-2 when being held under 80 points.
• Thursday was the first meeting between the Spartans and Trojans since 2005 and the first meeting in East Lansing since 1992, the first-ever meeting between Michigan State and USC . . . the Victory for MSU was the first since 2005, and only the second in the series, which is now 3-2 in USC's favor and the series is now 1-1 in East Lansing . . .Â
• MSU is now 5-0 on Thursday's, its second-most played day of the week behind 10 games on Sunday, going 8-2, with both losses of the season coming on a Sunday.
• Michigan State is now 11-1 in night games . . . MSU improved to 6-1 in games played in January.
• Thursday night's game was nationally televised on Big Ten Network, and the Spartans are now 4-2 in games played on BTN . . . Thursday was the third of MSU's four-straight games played on BTN, with the fourth and final of the televised game stretch next Thursday's game at Purdue (1/29/26).
• The Spartans forced the Trojans into 24 turnovers, which are a season-high for USC, topping the previous high mark of 21 turnovers,which came at No. 24 Notre Dame (11/24/25) . . . it was part of only the third game with 20+ miscues for the Trojans, with all three against ranked teams, joining 20 turnovers vs. No. 1 UConn (12/13/25).
• MSU's 24 turnovers forced by USC marked the second time in the last three games that the Spartans have forced 20+ turnovers by the opposition, joining 22 vs. Nebraska (1/15/26) . . . it marked the 12th total time this season that Michigan State's defense has forced the opponents into 20+ turnovers.Â
• Michigan State's 24 turnovers forced was just above the Spartans' season average of 21.74 turnovers forced per game entering Thursday's contest, ranking third in the Big Ten and 21st in the NCAA.
• The Spartans trailed at halftime for the second game in a row and only the fourth time this season, and MSU is now 2-2 when trailing at intermission.
• Michigan State was held to a season-low tying three 3-pointers for the second time in the last three contests including the second-straight home game and the third overall time . . . all three occasions with a season-low three 3-pointers have been home games, matching three triples vs. Nebraska (1/15/26) last home game, and also tying three treys vs. Rutgers (12/28/25).
• MSU started the same starting five for the sixth-straight game, with the feature five of junior guard Rashunda Jones, sophomore center Ines Sotelo, senior forward Grace VanSlooten, redshirt-sophomore guard Kennedy Blair and senior guard Jalyn Brown . . . it marks the Spartans' fifth different starting line-up of the season . . . Michigan State is now 6-1 with that starting five.
• Senior forward Grace VanSlooten, junior guard Rashunda Jones and redshirt-sophomore guard Kennedy Blair all made their 20th-consecutive starts, remaining the only three Spartans to start all 20 contests.
• After having three players in double-figures for the previous two games, the Spartans had four players in double-figure scoring Thursday night, with redshirt-sophomore guard Kennedy Blair spearheading the effort with 21 points, while senior forward Grace VanSlooten and junior guard Rashunda Jones tallied 16 points apiece, and sophomore forward Ines Sotelo tallying 12 points . . . Thursday marked the sixth time this season that four Spartans scored 10+ points, moving to 6-0 when four score in double-digits.
• Redshirt-sophomore guard Kennedy Blair got back in the double-digit scoring column with 21 points Thursday night after being held to just four points last time out at Iowa (1/18/26), snapping her career-long streak of six-straight games with 10+ points . . . overall it was Blair's 13th game this season in double-figures and the 16th of her career.
• Blair's 21 points was her second 20-point outing in the last five games, and both have come against West Coast B1G foes, matching the 21 points at Washington (1/8/26) . . . overall it was Blair's fourth 20-point game of the season and her career, joining her career-best of 25 points vs. Oakland (11/23/25), 22 points vs. Clemson (11/30/25) and the 21 points at Washington.
• Blair netted eight points in the first half, doubling her previous game total of four points at Iowa, and then more than tripled her previous game total with 13 points after halftime.
• Blair swiped a career-high five steals Thursday night, topping her previous top mark of four steals, done twice previous and last vs. Oakland (11/23/25).
• The sophomore guard also pulled down six rebounds, marking the 13th game in a row that she has registered five or more boards, as part of the 17th time out of the 20 games this season that Blair has snared five or more rebounds.Â
• Senior forward Grace VanSlooten tallied 16 points and nine rebounds in Thursday's game . . . VanSlooten now has 121 points and 59 rebounds in the last seven contests, since being held to eight points and four rebounds vs. Rutgers (12/28/25) . . . VanSlooten is averaging 17.3 points and 8.4 rebounds per game over the last seven outings.
• With the 16 points Thursday, VanSlooten has posted double-digit points for the 18th time out of the 20 games this season . . . she now has tallied 10+ points in 37 of the last 40 games . . . she now has logged double-digits in 47 of 51 total games played as a Spartans, being held to single digits twice this season and twice last season, and also missing one game last season due to illness.
• Thursday's 16 points was VanSlooten's 102nd game of her collegiate career logging double-digits, and she's now scored in double-figures in 102 out of the 114 career games, logging 10+ points in 55 games during her time at Oregon.
• VanSlooten pulled down nine rebounds for her 13th game with five or more boards, including doing so in six of the last seven games and seven of the last nine.
• After junior guard Rashunda Jones had her streak of double-digits halted at nine games in the loss at Iowa (1/18/26), matching MSU's win streak at nine-straight victories, Jones got back in the double-figure scoring Thursday night with 16 points . . . Jones now has 15 games with 10+ points.
• Sophomore forward Ines Sotelo tallied 12 points Thursday, tying her season-high and marking the second time this season with double-figures, matching the dozen points vs. Rutgers (12/28/25) . . . overall, it was Sotelo's ninth career game with 10+ points.
• Sotelo pulled down seven rebounds to also tie her career high, marking the second time in the last four games with seven boards, matching her career-best of seven at Oregon.Â
• Sotelo also tied a season and career-high with three steals, matching her season-high of three swipes for the second time this season, also with a trio of steals vs. Rutgers (12/28/25) and tying her career-best three steals for the sixth time of her career . . . Sotelo logged her fourth game this season with multiple steals, including the third time in the last five games . . . the Spartan sophomore has nine steals in the last five games.Â
• With the 12 points and seven boards on Thursday, Sotelo has 31 points, 21 rebounds and seven steals in the last four games, averaging 7.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game over the last four contests.
• Senior guard Emma Shumate had her streak of making at least one 3-pointer in a game halted at seven-straight games, marking her second streak of seven in a row this season, from 11/20/25 to 12/21/25 and also 12/28/25 to 1/18/26 . . . Shumate has made at least one triple in 17 of the 20 games this season.
• Despite not making a 3-pointer on Thursday, Shumate did make a field goal from inside the arc, just her fourth made field goal not a 3-pointers of the season, as she now has 45 total field goals, with 41 made 3-pointers.
• Shumate also added a block Thursday night, as she now has at least one block in seven-straight games as part of a total of nine blocks over the last seven games with a career-high tying three rejections vs. Illinois (1/4/26) . . . she also has at least one block in 11 games this season, with 13 overall blocks on the season.
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