MSU Women’s Basketball vs Penn State

Syndication: Lansing State Journal — Robert Killips | Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

6:30 pm tip on Wednesday

Tomorrow night (Wednesday) at 6:30 PM, the No. 21-ranked Michigan State women’s basketball team will host Penn State at the Breslin Center in what promises to be an solid (if not frozen solid) Big Ten matchup. With MSU sitting at 14-4 overall and 5-2 in the conference, the Spartans are teetering on the upper tier of the Big Ten standing – they can’t afford to overlook a Penn State team coming off a stunning upset of No. 9/8 Ohio State. That win earned the Lady Lions their first top-10 win since 2012.

Penn State enters the contest at 10-9 overall and 1-7 in conference play. Their record aside, the recent win against the Buckeyes shows they are capable of rising to the occasion – or, at least they tend to keep it close on their home court, we’ll see how they fare in the Bres’. The Lady Lions are led by Gracie Merkle, a force in the paint, averaging 15.7 points, 8.8 rebounds, and boasting 32 blocks this season. Gabby Elliott complements Merkle’s inside presence with her sharp shooting, averaging 12.3 points per game and hitting over 41% from beyond the arc. MSU’s defense will need to be locked in to contain this duo and prevent Penn State from finding their rhythm.

Statistically, the Spartans hold the advantage in nearly every key category. MSU averages 82.6 points per game while giving up just 59.8—a +22.8 scoring margin. The Spartans also dominate in ball movement, ranking 13th nationally in assists per game and dishing out nearly 50% more assists than their opponents. Additionally, MSU is 2nd in the nation in free throw attempts (5th in makes), underscoring their ability to attack the rim and put pressure on opposing defenses. Defensively, the Spartans have recorded 75 more steals than they had at this point last season, with Jaddan Simmons (39 steals), Nyla Hampton (34), Jocelyn Tate (39), and Theryn Hallock (33) combining to form a quartet of relentless thieves. Their smothering pressure, led by Tate and 6’3” true freshman Inés Sotelo, can make inbounding the ball a nightmare for opposing teams when pressing or trapping.

Speaking of Sotelo, her recent emergence as the Spartans’ starting center has allowed the versatile Grace VanSlooten to come off the bench, a shift Head Coach Robyn Fralick has emphasized is about getting the team in the right spots at the right times. The move is reminiscent of Draymond Green coming off the bench during the 2009-2010 season, ultimately earning Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year honors.

6’3” VanSlooten has thrived in her new role, showcasing her versatility as a forward who can impact both ends of the floor. She’s second on the team in points (14.2 per game), total rebounds (120), and blocks, while leading the Spartans in offensive boards (48) and free throws made. However, Fralick will be looking for her to improve her free throw percentage to capitalize on her frequent trips to the line. VanSlooten, a Toledo native who transferred from Oregon this season, celebrated crossing the 1,000-point milestone during the Acrisure Classic over Thanksgiving weekend in Palm Springs, where MSU secured the tournament title. Getting on the glass is what gets her going, and her ability to crash the boards and finish in the paint has been crucial to the Spartans’ success.

Depth has been a defining characteristic of this year’s MSU squad, almost as much as moving the ball around. The Spartans rank 14th nationally in bench points, and their ability to rotate fresh legs can wear down opponents (maybe that’s where Izzo got the idea(?)) Against Illinois MSU attempted 20 more shots than the Ladydiini, a product of their aggressive rebounding and defensive pressure. Jaddan Simmons, a 5’9” graduate transfer from Arizona State, epitomizes this scrappy mindset, at one point wrestling a rebound away from Illinois’ Kendall Bostic, to whom she gives up 6 inches.

Penn State’s upset win over Ohio State suggests they have something going, but look for MSU’s balanced attack and depth to slide those Nittany kitties into a sunbeam for some rest. If the Green and White can maintain their defensive pressure, control the boards, and continue their efficient ball movement, they should be able to take care of business at the Bres’. With the Spartans chasing the conference’s top teams—including undefeated UCLA and USC—every win is critical as they fight to stay in contention. Especially with a tough matchup down the road at No. 24 Saturday – but we’re not looking ahead.

Go Green.

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