Michigan State Spartans women’s basketball has struggled to regain momentum following its overtime loss to in-state rival Michigan Wolverines women’s basketball. In their last four games, the Spartans have dropped three, including a 86–63 blowout loss to No. 2 UCLA Bruins women’s basketball.
UCLA has been one of — if not the — best teams in the country this season, boasting a 24–1 record. The Bruins are led by All-American and projected top-five WNBA Draft pick Lauren Betts. Betts is averaging 16.4 points and eight rebounds per game, and she dominated the Spartans with 22 points on 10-of-14 shooting, along with seven rebounds and five assists.
For Michigan State, scoring was a major issue. No player made more than four field goals. Rashunda Jones led the team with 15 points, while Emma Shumate added 12. Both shot 4-of-10 from the field.
Grace VanSlooten and Kennedy Blair also struggled after strong performances against Penn State. Kennedy finished with 10 points on 3-of-13 shooting (2-of-5 from three), while VanSlooten scored just eight points on 3-of-14 shooting.
Now, Michigan State will travel down I-96 for a rivalry rematch in Ann Arbor, looking to avenge its 94–91 overtime loss to Michigan on February 1.
Spartans’ First Loss to Michigan
In their previous meeting, both teams delivered offensive showcases. Each shot 50% from the field across all four quarters and better than 40% from three-point range. The difference came in overtime, where Michigan shot a perfect 4-of-4 from the field, while MSU went just 2-of-8…