EVANSTON, Ill. — Grace VanSlooten had an impressive performance, contributing 20 points, while Emma Shumate followed closely with 12 points, including four shots from beyond the arc, leading the No. 16 ranked Michigan State to a commanding 89-75 victory over Northwestern on Sunday.

The Spartans, with a record of 18-4 and 8-3 in the Big Ten Conference, made a strong recovery after suffering their first home defeat of the season against Oregon, where they lost 63-59 on Thursday. Michigan State has been on a roll, winning six of their last seven games.

In addition to VanSlooten and Shumate’s contributions, Nyla Hampton showcased her skills with a season-high 16 points, while Julia Ayrault and Theryn Hallock added 14 and 13 points, respectively. The team demonstrated their shooting prowess, achieving a field goal percentage of 52.5% by making 31 of 59 attempts, and they excelled from three-point territory with 11 out of 25 successful shots.

For Northwestern, Taylor Williams was a standout, scoring 18 points and pulling down 12 rebounds, helping the team as one of five players in double digits. Despite shooting 50% from the field (29 of 58), the Wildcats struggled with ball control, turning the ball over 18 times during the game.

The turning point came in the third quarter when Hampton and VanSlooten each contributed significant points, allowing Michigan State to build a 65-55 advantage. Shumate’s three-pointer, along with a layup by VanSlooten, capped off an 11-3 run to start the fourth quarter, enabling the Spartans to maintain a comfortable lead for the remainder of the game.

At halftime, the score was tied at 40. In the first half, Northwestern’s Caileigh Walsh was prominent, scoring all 12 of her points before the break, while VanSlooten and Ayrault led the Spartans with nine points each.

Looking ahead, Northwestern will face Illinois on Thursday, while Michigan State is set to host their rival Michigan next Sunday.