EAST LANSING, Mich. — In an impressive display of skill, Theryn Hallock led the scoring with 17 points, while Julia Ayrault contributed 16 points, as the 21st-ranked Michigan State women’s basketball team secured an 82-61 victory over Penn State on Wednesday night. This win marks Michigan State’s fourth consecutive victory.

With a record of 16-3 and 6-2 in the Big Ten Conference, Michigan State has now also achieved four straight wins against Penn State in their series, winning eight of the last nine matchups.

Jocelyn Tate kicked off the scoring for the Spartans by netting 12 of the team’s first 27 points, helping establish a comfortable 12-point lead early on. By halftime, Michigan State had stretched their advantage to 41-24, largely capitalizing on Penn State’s struggles with ball control, scoring 18 points off 18 turnovers.

The Spartans’ dominance continued into the third quarter, where they posted a remarkable 19-3 run, pushing their lead to as much as 31 points, with Ayrault adding eight points during this stretch. Michigan State’s outside shooting kept them ahead, as Hallock, Ayrault, and Tate each contributed to the team’s total of 13 three-pointers, countering Moriah Murray’s impressive performance of tying her career-best with eight 3-pointers for Penn State.

Tate finished the game with 15 points, five assists, and three blocks, while Grace VanSlooten also added 10 points to the scoreboard for Michigan State. For Penn State, Murray was the standout performer, scoring 24 points, although Gracie Merkle, who leads the team with an average of 15.7 points per game, struggled, managing only four points after a slow start with just two in the first half.

Murray was particularly effective in the first half, contributing 12 of Penn State’s 24 points and shooting 4-of-6 from beyond the arc. This game marked her sixth outing of the season where she made five or more 3-pointers, matching her career high established earlier against Bucknell.

Moving forward, Michigan State is set to face No. 24 Michigan on Saturday, while Penn State will return home for a three-game homestand, kicking off this stretch against Rutgers on Sunday.