EAST LANSING, Mich. — In a standout performance, Grace VanSlooten tallied 22 points with an impressive shooting percentage of 10-of-13, leading the No. 22 ranked Michigan State Spartans to a decisive 91-71 victory over Wisconsin on Wednesday night.
Theryn Hallock contributed significantly to the team’s success, adding 18 points. In a noteworthy effort off the bench, Ines Sotelo achieved a personal best with 17 points, while Jocelyn Tate rounded out the scoring with 13 points.
For the Badgers, Serah Williams delivered a notable game, recording 23 points and securing 12 rebounds. Carter McCray supported the team with 16 points and nine rebounds. Despite this, the Badgers (11-14, 2-12) faced their fourth consecutive loss.
Michigan State showcased their offensive prowess, shooting an outstanding 59% from the field, successfully making 39 of their 66 attempts and netting eight 3-pointers throughout the game.
The first quarter saw the Spartans quickly establish control, sinking 12 of 19 shots, which led to a solid 26-15 advantage. Although Wisconsin managed to stay competitive in the second quarter, they concluded the half trailing 43-32. VanSlooten was particularly outstanding in the first half, netting 14 points on a perfect 7-of-7 shooting while the Spartans maintained their 59% efficiency.
A pivotal moment came late in the third quarter when Sotelo executed back-to-back layups, complemented by Emma Shumate’s two 3-pointers, contributing to a significant 14-0 run. This surge allowed the Spartans to pull away, with Hallock’s layup extending the lead to 70-44. Hallock was on fire during the third, scoring 12 points as Michigan State dominated with a 72-48 lead going into the final period.
The towering presence of VanSlooten and Sotelo, both standing at 6-foot-3, was evident as they combined for 18-of-25 shooting, ensuring that the Spartans outscored Wisconsin 60-40 in points in the paint. Additionally, Michigan State achieved a season-high with 31 assists against 39 field goals made.
Looking forward, the Spartans are preparing for a challenging matchup against No. 1 UCLA on Sunday, while Wisconsin heads to Penn State for their next game.