EAST LANSING- No. 23 Michigan State women’s basketball was able to bounce back against Indiana, following a tough trip to the West Coast after losing to two top five opponents.
MSU dominated the Hoosiers this past Sunday, leading for 32 minutes to secure the win 73-65.
Defense was the key to success for the Green and White, who were able to shut down the second best three-point shooting team in the conference. The Spartans held the Hoosiers to 27.3% from the arc, shooting 6-22.
MSU forced Indiana to 18 turnovers, resulting in 24 points off turnovers with 20 fastbreak points, and senior guard Jocelyn Tate finished with a team high of four steals with three rebounds.
Four Spartans finished in double figures, and junior forward Grace VanSlooten would earn another game-high, scoring 17 points and five rebounds.
This win was much needed for the Spartans, allowing them to break their two-game losing streak and defend the Breslin against a good Indiana team. MSU has only two more regular season conference games leading up to the Big Ten tournament.
Michigan State is currently projected as a five seed in the NCAA tournament, predicting that they will win one of their next two games at No. 12 Ohio State or against Minnesota.
The Spartans have the opportunity to earn a ranked victory at Ohio State, a team that lost to Penn State, who sits dead last in the conference at 1-15.
Scouting Ohio State
No. 12 Ohio State is coming off a 98-46 win over Purdue, after losing 71-61 to Indiana days prior. OSU is ranked third in the Big Ten with a 12-4 conference record.
Against the Boilermakers, guard Chance Gray led the team with 21 points and two rebounds, followed by guard Jaloni Cambridge who finished with 20 points and five assists.
Cambridge was also named Tamika Catchings National Freshman of the Week for the third time this season after her performance against Purdue.
Forward Cotie McMahon leads the team in scoring, averaging 16.9 points per game, and forward Ajae Petty leads the team in rebounding, averaging 6.8 rebounds per game. The Buckeyes average and 45.4% from the field and 33.5% from the arc.
MSU was swept in both meetings against the Buckeyes last season, OSU leading the series overall, 59-29.
No. 23 MSU and No. 12 OSU will tip off this Wednesday at Value City Arena at 7 p.m. on B1G+.
