Big third quarter helps Michigan State women's basketball top Rutgers

Big third quarter helps Michigan State women’s basketball top Rutgers

Posted by author January 16, 2025 Sports

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Grace VanSlooten fueled a big third quarter for the Michigan State women’s basketball team.

And her contributions helped the No. 22-ranked Spartans win on the road for the first time in Big Ten play with their 70-60 victory over Rutgers on Wednesday night.

VanSlooten had eight points in a third quarter in which the Spartans outscored the Scarlet Knights 22-13 to take control after the teams were tied at 33 at halftime. Theryn Hallock capped the big third quarter with a basket just before time expired that gave MSU (14-3, 4-2 Big Ten) at the time its largest lead of the game at 55-46.

The Spartans extended their lead to as much as 14 in the middle stages of the final quarter while handing Rutgers (8-10, 0-7) a sixth straight loss.

VanSlooten finished with 11 points and six rebounds and was one of three players to score in double figures for the Spartans, who shot just 38% from the field.

Julia Ayrault and Emma Shumate each had 12 points to lead the Spartans. Shumate did all her scoring in the first half and matched a season-high in points. She scored in double figures for the second time this season and the first time since Dec. 8 against DePaul.

The early offense from Shumate was key for the Spartans, who shot just 36.1% (13 of 36) in the opening half. Shumate knocked down 4 of 7 shots from the field in the first half for MSU.

Destiny Adams had a game-high 15 points before fouling out for Rutgers, which shot 35.1% and committed 22 turnovers.

Contact Brian Calloway at bcalloway@lsj.com. Follow him on X @brian_calloway.