EAST LANSING, Mich. — In a strong performance on Wednesday afternoon, Michigan State University secured a 77-59 victory over Purdue, with Jocelyn Tate leading the way, scoring 19 points and pulling down 11 rebounds. Julia Ayrault contributed to the success with a double-double of her own, registering 11 points along with 10 rebounds for the Spartans (12-2, 2-1 in the Big Ten Conference). The team’s defensive effort was notable, as they recorded 18 steals and capitalized on 25 turnovers by Purdue, resulting in 23 points from those mistakes.

In addition to Tate and Ayrault’s contributions, Ines Sotelo added 16 points, while Grace VanSlooten tallied 13 points and blocked three shots. Notably, every player on the Spartan roster recorded at least one steal during the game, showcasing a relentless defensive effort throughout.

For the Boilermakers (7-7, 0-3), Destini Lombard and Lana McCarthy each scored 10 points, but they struggled to keep pace with Michigan State’s fast start.

By halftime, the Spartans had established a commanding 48-21 lead, fueled by a strong first half where Tate scored 13 points and Sotelo added 11. Sotelo was particularly effective in the first quarter, hitting all four of her attempts and contributing nine points as MSU connected on four 3-pointers and shot 6 of 9 from the free-throw line, ending the quarter ahead 30-18. The team’s dominance continued into the second quarter, where they outscored Purdue 18-3, with Tate scoring 10 of those points during a critical stretch that saw MSU score the final 16 points of the quarter.

The Spartans maintained their offensive efficiency, shooting 50% from the field in the second quarter and hitting six 3-pointers, while the Boilermakers struggled, shooting just 1 of 12 and committing eight turnovers during that period. Tate played a pivotal role in this aspect, scoring eight points, including a pair of 3-pointers, helping the Spartans break away significantly.

In the second half, Purdue showed resilience, outscoring Michigan State 38-29 and narrowing the gap to 15 points with three minutes remaining. The Boilermakers improved their shooting to 47% after the break and cut down on their turnovers, committing only seven. In contrast, Michigan State struggled, hitting just 34% of their shots and making only one out of 16 attempts from beyond the arc.

Looking ahead, Purdue will be looking to bounce back at home against No. 1 UCLA on Wednesday, while Michigan State prepares for an upcoming match against Nebraska next Thursday.