The 2024-25 NCAA women’s basketball season came to a close on Saturday, and ahead of postseason play, three Spartans earned All-Big Ten accolades, as voted on by the league's coaches and media.
Graduate forward Julia Ayrault was named to the second team along with junior forward Grace VanSlooten. Junior guard Theryn Hallock came just short of earning an official bid, being named an honorable mention by both the coaches and media.
Ayrault is second among all Spartans in scoring, averaging 14.7 points per game this season, along with 7.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks en route to her second All-Big Ten accolade. Ayrault could easily be seen as the anchor of this Spartan team as the most experienced player in her sixth year.
VanSlooten led the Spartans in scoring this season, averaging 15.6 points with 6.9 rebounds and 1.1 blocks. This is VanSlooten’s first All-Big Ten honor, as she transferred to MSU from Oregon during the offseason. As a Duck, she earned All-Pac 12 honorable mention in both her freshman and sophomore years.
Hallock was third on the team in scoring, averaging 13.9 points per game along with 2.9 assists and 1.9 steals. Last season, Hallock was the second Spartan to earn the Big Ten Sixth Player of the Year award.
Graduate guard Nyla Hampton also earned recognition, as she was named MSU’s representative for the Big Ten Sportsmanship award.
The Spartans finished the regular season 21-8 overall and 11-7 in conference play, good enough for fifth in the final Big Ten standings. Highlighted by stingy, hard-nosed defense, the Spartans were a consistent member of the AP Top 25 Poll this season, finishing the year at the No. 24 position.
The Spartans will begin postseason play on Thursday, March 6 as the No. 6 seed in the Big Ten tournament, facing the winner of the first round matchup between Iowa and Wisconsin. The game will be held at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana and streamed on BTN.
