EAST LANSING– While No. 21 Michigan State aims to build on an impressive road victory over Illinois, Penn State seems to have found a spark ahead of their matchup against the Spartans.
In the win over the Illini, it looked like business as usual on both sides of the floor for MSU. The Spartans once again became incredibly disruptive on defense, forcing 22 turnovers.
The MSU attack also did enough to take care of the ball and convert on giveaways to make this a real difference maker. MSU earned a plus nine turnover differential and scored 16 more off turnovers than UI.
MSU also displayed their best perimeter defense of conference play, as they ran the Illini off the three-point line and only allowed eight shots from long range.
Not only did they limit opportunities, but they also forced a 0% mark from beyond the arc. While UI is only 15th in three-point percentage in the Big Ten, consistent three point defending from MSU against better shooting teams can make their overall defense that much more suffocating.
PSU may also have to contend with a Spartan offense that’s on the verge of getting scarier. While graduate guard Julia Ayrault and junior forward Grace VanSlooten are almost a guaranteed factor, averaging 16.2 and 14.2 points per game respectively, recently it seems a third piece will get into double figures on a given night.
For now and potentially going forward, junior guard Theryn Hallock is staking her claim as that person. While MSU’s depth and anyone’s ability to score has been a strength all season, Hallock has elevated her game in her past four performances and may become a true third star.
Since the game against Nebraska, Hallock is averaging 16 ppg with her breakout moment emerging against UI. She recorded a career high 26 points, going 12-19 from the field, and made a difference defensively with four steals and a block. For the Nittany Lions, Hallock should be considered yet another two-way weapon for MSU.
Scouting Penn State
However, PSU has no shortage of confidence in pulling off another shocker. The Nittany Lions took down previously undefeated and No. 9 Ohio State in a 62-59 thriller. This was PSU’s first top ten victory since 2012 and their first Big Ten win of the season, climbing out of a tie for last in the conference.
PSU leaned on a team scoring effort from graduate guard Gabby Elliot (previously played at MSU from 2022-24), senior guard Jayla Oden, sophomore guard Moriah Murray, and sophomore center Gracie Merkle. Everyone in this group got into double figures, combined for 51 points, and accounted for 82% of all PSU scoring. The Nittany Lions will need another scoring by committee performance to match the Spartan depth.
A major battle between PSU and MSU will come between the dueling front courts and will take place in the paint. Merkle leads PSU in scoring, averaging 15.7 ppg, and contributed to the 12-point paint advantage over the Buckeyes.
She will contend with VanSlooten, emerging freshman center Inés Sotelo, and the rest of the Spartans who enter the inside.
This group is coming off one of their best offensive outputs this season, recording 52 points in the paint against UI but also allowing 40. For PSU, this is an advantage that must be earned against a tough presence on the block.
One glaring flaw for PSU that may be their downfall is their turnover habits. They lead the Big Ten in giveaways, averaging 20.4 a game, and defeated OSU in spite of committing 21 of them.
If the Nittany Lions can’t control the rock against the Spartans, who average 24.44 turnovers forced and ranks eighth nationally, PSU will have a hard time getting that second signature win.
The Breslin Center action between MSU and PSU goes down at 6:30 p.m. with the broadcast coming from Big Ten Plus.
