Michigan State women's basketball put a hurting on Purdue, 86-65, on the road
The game wasn't even as close as the final score would indicate
The No. 13 Michigan State women’s basketball team delivered a complete performance on both ends of the floor Thursday night, cruising to an 86–65 road win over Purdue at Mackey Arena.
Michigan State was in control from the opening tip, overwhelming the Boilermakers with defensive pressure, rebounding, and pace. The Spartans improved to 19–2 overall and 8–2 in Big Ten play, while Purdue fell to 11–10 (3–7).
The 86-point outing marked Michigan State’s highest scoring total in Big Ten play this season, eclipsing its previous conference high from an earlier road win at Oregon.
Grace VanSlooten led the Spartans offensively, scoring 17 points on an efficient 6-of-8 shooting while pulling down eight rebounds. Kennedy Blair continued her breakout stretch with another all-around performance, finishing with 15 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists while leading MSU defensively with five steals. Ines Sotelo added 12 points, and Jalyn Brown chipped in 11 as the Spartans showcased balance throughout the lineup. Purdue was led by Avery Gordon’s 20 points, with Madison Layden-Zay adding 18.
The game tilted heavily in Michigan State’s favor almost immediately. The Spartans dominated the glass and forced eight turnovers in the first quarter alone, building a 29–15 lead after ten minutes. That defensive pressure fueled transition opportunities and allowed MSU to dictate tempo, while Purdue’s offense struggled to find any rhythm.
Michigan State’s control only grew in the second quarter. By halftime, the Spartans had opened a commanding 50–23 lead. MSU piled up 13 fast-break points, recorded nine steals, and dished out 15 assists in the opening half, consistently sharing the ball and capitalizing on Purdue mistakes.
Nothing changed after the break. Michigan State continued to own the paint, control the boards, and force turnovers, stretching the margin as large as 38 points at one stage of the second half. The Spartans finished the night with 46 points in the paint and added six more fast-break points after halftime, turning the final period into a comfortable close.
Michigan State returns home Sunday to face No. 7 Michigan. Tipoff is set for noon Eastern, with the game airing on FS1.
