In front of a packed student section, No. 13 Michigan State women’s basketball gave fans everything they could ask for in the fourth quarter — intensity, uncertainty and ultimately, the taste of victory.
A double-digit fourth-quarter lead evaporated to two in a matter of minutes, turning what once felt secure into something far more fragile. But the Spartans regrouped late, sparked by redshirt sophomore guard Kennedy Blair’s and-one, and pulled away for a 74-68 win over USC.
“I love the way our group dug in,” MSU head coach Robyn Fralick said. “Giving up 10 points in a minute there at the end, that’ll be some good learning film. But what I was proud of is we didn’t collapse.”
The icing on the cake came with 30 seconds remaining, when senior forward Grace VanSlooten jumped USC’s inbound pass for a steal, effectively killing the Trojans’ final chance at a comeback.
It was a fitting ending for a game played by Robyn Fralick’s squad — the Spartans’ 14th steal of the night for a team that averages 12.3 per game. MSU proved its edge in a matchup between pesky defenses, forcing 24 turnovers while USC managed just 12.
“USC takes good care of the basketball and they feast on turnovers,” Fralick said. “So, we thought that was definitely a game within the game. Who can take care of the ball and who can force turnovers.”
Despite the back-and-forth runs late, the Spartans controlled the game early, with the livid student section playing a potential role.
USC, led by freshman guard Jazzy Davidson, looked uncomfortable from the opening tip. MSU jumped out to a lead of as many as 14 in the first quarter and carried a 24-17 advantage by the end. Davidson was held to just two points in the opening quarter, though senior guard Kara Dunn kept the Trojans afloat with 10 points.
The Spartans built that lead despite briefly losing VanSlooten, who limped off less than a minute into the game after tweaking her ankle before returning three minutes later.
Davidson settled in during the second quarter, scoring 10 points and accounting for half of USC’s output in the period. As she found her rhythm, the Spartans found difficulty.
The second quarter was far from pretty for MSU, shooting 25% from the field on 20 attempts and missed all of its 3-point shots. Blair, VanSlooten and sophomore forward Ines Sotelo were the only Spartans to score during the quarter, as the team managed just 12 points.
“One of the biggest things we said going into this game is you have to pass and move the ball. If we try to do things off one side or over dribbling, that’s where they [USC] feast,” Fralick said. “And second quarter, we forgot all those things.”
The struggles carried into the third quarter. The Spartans shot 35.3% from the field and again failed to connect from beyond the arc, but the defense held firm, allowing only 12 points. The result was a tightly contested period in which neither team led by more than four points.
MSU finally found an offensive spark early in the fourth quarter, scoring eight straight points to extend the lead to 12. It looked like the moment they would pull away — until they did not.
In a span of 41 seconds, USC scored 10 points and trimmed the deficit to two, capitalizing on three straight Spartan turnovers against its press.
“I should have called a timeout after the second [steal],” Fralick said. “We’ve been pretty good at breaking the press consistently throughout the year, and it’s something we actually feel pretty confident about.”
The sudden swing demanded leadership, and Blair delivered.
After a key offensive rebound by VanSlooten, Blair drilled a midrange jumper while drawing contact, then converted the free throw to complete the and-one to push the lead back to 69-64. MSU closed the game by outscoring USC 8-4 from that moment.
Blair led all scorers with 21 points, while VanSlooten and junior guard Rashunda Jones added 16 apiece. Sotelo chipped in 12 for a Spartans team that found scoring from multiple spots.
Four players reached double figures, but efficiency was lacking. The Spartans shot 38.2% from the field and 23.1% from 3-point range. Still, going 19-for-24 at the free-throw line allowed the team to find a way to win, reinforcing a message that has echoed in the locker room all season.
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MSU will have a week off before returning to action Jan. 29, when it travels to West Lafayette, Indiana, to face Purdue at 6 p.m. The Spartans then return to Breslin Center on Feb. 1 for a rivalry matchup against No. 7 Michigan, where Fralick hopes for a filled arena.
“Home court advantage is a thing for a reason,” Fralick said. “When you get a place filled with energy and enthusiasm, and it’s our kids [players] favorite place to play in the world. That’s what it’s all about for these student athletes and this league [The Big Ten] is deserving of it.”
