EAST LANSING— The Michigan State women’s basketball team remained at No. 25 in the latest AP poll rankings after knocking off Oakland 94-56 on Dec. 22. 

MSU is one of six Big Ten teams that are currently ranked inside the Top-25.

The Spartans shot 65% from the floor against Oakland, including going 12-for-13 in the third quarter. Nia Clouden scored a team-high 15 points in the win over the Golden Grizzlies, and Julia Ayrault added 14 points as well as nine rebounds. 

Alyza Winston and Moira Joiner also scored in double-figures for MSU. 

MSU’s deep bench accounted for 37 of the Spartans’ overall points. Joiner led the bench scoring with 13 points, and Penn State transfer Alisia Smith scored nine off the bench.  

Janai Crooms had a solid game as well; she scored five points, dished out six assists and grabbed 10 rebounds. 

Eleven different players scored for the Spartans against Oakland. 

Overall, MSU is 2-0 in Big Ten play after beating Minnesota 81-68 and Iowa 86-82 in early December. 

The Spartans last started with a 2-0 record in the Big Ten in 2013-14; that team ended up winning 23 games, including a share of the Big Ten regular-season title, as well as a game in the NCAA tournament. 

MSU was scheduled to face off against Ohio State on Dec. 31, but a COVID-19 outbreak within the Buckeyes’ program caused the game to be postponed. 

The Spartans will look to improve to 8-0 for the first time since the 2012-2013 season when they take on Purdue on Jan. 3 in West Lafayette, Indiana. 

MSU will then host Maryland and Nebraska in East Lansing on Jan. 7 and Jan. 10.